To impress friends and family with systems

Of course I bought my sound system solely to impress my rivals, I mean my family and friends. Otherwise, what fun could one get out of sitting in front of the boxes all alone? Just to see the look on their face, mouth wide open, admiring my 30 Watts powerhouse, the player whose tray cannot be opened by a remote, the humming power supplies and the speakr wires resembling towing cables is worth all the fortunes sunk into the Hi Fi machines.

Bart posted:

Even friends (not hi fi nuts) who are somewhat interested . . . I start playing music and they start talking and I'm thinking, "How the heck can they be interested if they just talk over the music??"

I just leave it at that . . . 

This is the thing, with people who appreciate music you stand some chance of impressing them with a decent hifi.  However, many people don't think of music as something you sit and listen to, it's something in the background while you work on other stuff, and might occasionally sing along or dance to.  The idea of being at home and doing nothing other than listening to music is pretty alien to many people.  The attention span in a social setting is often not there, and within a few seconds the urge to create their own noise becomes overwhelming.  

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

Sorry to add to the throng, but without a doubt yes. It’s for my benefit. Wife & kids are apparently scared of doing any harm to this stupidly expensive pile of boxes so they steer clear of it, and letting any of my siblings know that the hardware for listening to music has cost well beyond what than any of them would consider a sane amount to spend on a stereo would be an open invitation to some well deserved flak. One brother is vaguely aware that it cost more than £800; that’s enough for me.

Far from wanting to impress, my view would be one of concern that anyone who doesn’t get or understand hifi [i.e. virtually everyone I know] would be less than impressed at something that doesn’t blow their heads off with a disco bass throb where the devil really is in the detail and requires a level of attention that just hearing music doesn’t reveal, and would dismiss the idea of paying this much for a stereo as the mark of a madman. And really, it’s a bit naff, inviting people to be impressed at a stereo that shouts “look what I can afford”. No, definitely no. What are Naim thinking of?

On this, we had an old friend round tonight with her new beau. We’re old school; they got on with a good chin wag in the kitchen, we got acquainted in the living room over a glass of red. He got onto his B&O system, I demoed the Muso under the tv (to a positive response). The real stuff in the other room remained hidden and unmentioned. Maybe next time when I’ve sussed him a bit more. ????

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

Very easily answered in the affirmative. My system has always been for my personal enjoyment. It just so happens my wife enjoys it too.

It's pretty funny actually. There really are people like this though.

Personally the only person I try to impress is myself. I made it to a good system that has broadened my musical tastes. I sometimes look at my system and marvel at how this bunch of silly stuff educated me so much about music.

As for others, it depends. Most couldn't care less. And the rest? I go out of my way to keep a low profile and if possible misdirect the conversation when these things are brought up. I have some in-laws who are are always bragging about the size of their TV and it's features (that they don't use being shoved in a corner unconnected to anything but the aerial). They will quite crassly tell me they bet my TV is smaller (I won't invite them round to judge me). I always respond with something like "It works, that's good enough. And yes you have a big telly".

Regarding the hifi, my father in law saw it, whistled, and said, "I bet that cost a fortune. How much? $2k? $3k?" Again, I just respond "Oh something like that", and change the subject.

I feel it might be similar for people into model train sets or something. They themselves might get a kick out of it and like looking at it but they would also prefer to not have attention drawn to them so tuck it away in a loft or garage. 

The only time I every try and show off a system is never to other audiophiles (I'll give a track a spin if they specifically ask), it's to music buffs. Friends who have utterly massive music collections they play via some micro system. In those cases, I'm not trying to impress them so much as show them a window onto their own music. That sometimes results in them asking for help in building and setting up a budget real hifi system. And we know those budget systems are often more fun to put together.

I think it is commendable that most cringe at the idea of “trying to impress” anyone with expensive possessions.  

OTOH, I defend my right to be impressed by what cool hi-fi can deliver, and the lengths and expense my friends here on the Forum go to, in pusuit of thrills beyond the ordinary.  Sincere thanks for sharing.

No shame in this, as long as the light bill is paid, and the family and pets and community are given their due, first. 

Cheers, sisters and brothers!

Nick

As most others I buy the stuff for my own music pleasures. Avoid talking about price, if the question comes up I discuss that I’ve been building/upgrading the system since the late 70’s.

It also doesnt match peoples expectations of how an expensive system should sound. Big sound with a bigger cushy  bass.  But sometimes they suddenly ”gets it” :-)

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

Without a doubt...yes

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

No. I could devote all spare cash to it without diversions such as bathroom updates and school fees. To such an extent that the 272 would end up as my clock radio.

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

To be absolutely honest, if I were living alone, I would almost definitely be spending more.   A free hand with interior decor would invariably result in a more extensive pre/pwr/psu system. As for impressing family & friends,  I have not done so in the past,  any comment that has been made was positive, some interest on how it works etc. & I’ve helped as much as I can if asked, that’s it.

One line in the OP is the copy/paste from the Naim communique that bothers me  “We're incredibly excited......”     Come on Naim, [@mention:77737380917463397],  that style of corporate commercialised  marketing speak is not required.   It seems to be creeping into a lot of your marketing blurb of late,  we are not impressionable consumers,  it’s not required,  and you can do better than that.

Any other opinions on that ?

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

I did live alone with this hobby for years. Back then I earned much less but went all out with a projector massive screen, blacked out windows, sound absorbant floor tiles used in cinemas, the works.

No one ever saw this system but me. So yes, if left to my own devices, even if I was the only person to appreciate it, I'd absolutely spend more than I do now.

Unfortunately I think we're all missing the point here Naim Audio has been taken over by people whose target demographic is actually people who do buy things to impress others.  They want to turn Naim Audio into a brand Bose for the better paid and more well off why else do you think they have compromised on sound quality to squeeze a whole three or four box system into a shiney little box with a colour screen it is to appeal to the fashion conscious among us.                                                                                                              

No one who sees my system is the slightest bit interested or impressed. The only thing anyone ever says is ”how much did this cost?”

Stepping back it’s actually pretty embarrassing and, of course, ridiculously indulgent.

I suspect, in time, I’ll properly come to my senses and sell it all to fund the ever increasing cost of family life and then miss it like crazy????

I don’t care what anyone says on here like “it’s all about the music etc”. It’s actually an addition to climbing a very expensive ladder!

"So what do all these boxes do then?"

"I could tell you, but you'd be asleep in five seconds"

"So what's the purpose?"

"Well, it's a sort of larger iPod"

"Oh, plays music then. Bet it must cost nearly £10K!"

"A bit more than that. £10K wouldn't buy one of the main units new. Maybe second-hand..."

"I see...Anyway, what are you doing for Christmas this year?"

Bob the Builder posted:

Unfortunately I think we're all missing the point here Naim Audio has been taken over by people whose target demographic is actually people who do buy things to impress others.  They want to turn Naim Audio into a brand Bose for the better paid and more well off why else do you think they have compromised on sound quality to squeeze a whole three or four box system into a shiney little box with a colour screen it is to appeal to the fashion conscious among us.                                                                                                              

Actually, I think you’ve attached the top of the nail directly to the hammer.

Although I’d love to be proved wrong, it seems the door on NAIM’s era of the pursuit of excellence for it’s own sake is starting to slowly close.

tonym posted:

"So what do all these boxes do then?"

"I could tell you, but you'd be asleep in five seconds"

"So what's the purpose?"

"Well, it's a sort of larger iPod"

"Oh, plays music then. Bet it must cost nearly £10K!"

"A bit more than that. £10K wouldn't buy one of the main units new. Maybe second-hand..."

"I see...Anyway, what are you doing for Christmas this year?"

 

 

????????

Bob the Builder posted:

Unfortunately I think we're all missing the point here Naim Audio has been taken over by people whose target demographic is actually people who do buy things to impress others.  They want to turn Naim Audio into a brand Bose for the better paid and more well off why else do you think they have compromised on sound quality to squeeze a whole three or four box system into a shiney little box with a colour screen it is to appeal to the fashion conscious among us.                                                                                                              

This is along the lines of my original posting as I have a concern that my two main manufacturers are talking less and less about music, which to me is what it is all about, and more and more about lifestyle, ie Linn, and now I fear Naim talking about impressing others with your system. I hope I am wrong.

Thete again it all goes to show that I am actually a flat earth dinosaur and the world has moved on and left me behind with my music and system.

Richard

My Neat Motive SX2 speakers always impress all those that ever hear them. Not the HiFi, the speakers. There, I've said it!

FangfossFlyer posted:

Bob the Builder posted:

Unfortunately I think we're all missing the point here Naim Audio has been taken over by people whose target demographic is actually people who do buy things to impress others.  They want to turn Naim Audio into a brand Bose for the better paid and more well off why else do you think they have compromised on sound quality to squeeze a whole three or four box system into a shiney little box with a colour screen it is to appeal to the fashion conscious among us.                                                                                                              

This is along the lines of my original posting as I have a concern that my two main manufacturers are talking less and less about music, which to me is what it is all about, and more and more about lifestyle, ie Linn, and now I fear Naim talking about impressing others with your system. I hope I am wrong.

Thete again it all goes to show that I am actually a flat earth dinosaur and the world has moved on and left me behind with my music and system.

Richard

 

I don't think that's very fair. There's no way Naim are going to survive on marketing a handful of ugly black boxes to those very few of us who still wish to buy such things. Just because folk don't want horrid antiquated old stuff cluttering up their living space doesn't mean they don't appreciate and enjoy music as much, or maybe even more, than us old fossils do. The latest Naim single-box units sound fab, and certainly look the part.

Naim have been here before and had to smack down their marketing agency for writing bumpf about the PowerLines that drew the ire of Trading Standards.

I'd not assume their marketing necessarily represents what Naim want to really say.

I'd stick to just judging them on the products they make rather than marketing messages. I agree, I'd like them to pay more attention to this stuff. A fair few (very stupid) web site errors have slipped through over the years to be caught by forum members and later corrected too. A bit more editorial oversight of the marketing going out would not be amiss.

I’d be more impressed if whoever wrote this could string a meaningful sentence together. That first comma is completely wrong...

It’s hard to know what they mean. Are they suggesting we buy hifi for our families and friends? Or, which seems more likely, that we improve our setups and then show off about it? Maybe Naim really are appealing to people who like to show off about their possessions. If so, they are bloody idiots. Perhaps they should commission Harry Enfield to reprise his Loadsamoney character - ‘shut your mouth and look at my massive stack......’

Fashion conscious, me! You're 'avin a giraffe. I don't have to explain my system to visitors because I never get any and if I did, why should I have to explain to anyone how I like to spend my £££

I have recently downsized a non Naim multi box system and speakers for an all in one with a pretty coloured screen and a rather lovely pair of Harbeth P3ESR's

Why,? Because it suited the way I wish to listen to music, fitted in with my available space and above all, sounded great to my ageing lugholes.

I just don’t get concerned about this.  A friend who is a golf obsessive was round one day and said “I bet that lot cost a fair buck”.  I said “yeah over the years but I see it as akin to green fees or a premiership season ticket”.  

Regards,

Lindsay

hungryhalibut posted:

 

“We're incredibly excited for the festive period, we're sure you'll agree it's the perfect chance to impress friends and family with new systems!”

I’d be more impressed if whoever wrote this could string a meaningful sentence together. That first comma is completely wrong...

It’s hard to know what they mean. Are they suggesting we buy hifi for our families and friends? Or, which seems more likely, that we improve our setups and then show off about it? Maybe Naim really are appealing to people who like to show off about their possessions. If so, they are bloody idiots. Perhaps they should commission Harry Enfield to reprise his Loadsamoney character - ‘shut your mouth and look at my massive stack......’

“I couldn’t help noticing that I’m considerably Richer Sounding than yaw...”

I don't need the amps to impress my friends, the Naim tattoo was much cheaper and black too...