So, What do you play?

[Shadowfax]

I had the opportunity to show off my system last week to my boss, who is into music but not gear. This was the first time he had been to my house, but we have had discussions about my kit before. Also, in a discussion his wife was involved in, she asked why you need all that big equipment.

I have a set of music I use to demo gear for purchases and to know how whatever I am replacing sounds before the demo.

Most people do not have the same eclectic and wide range of music likes I have so if I played something I thought sounded great, and the listener never heard it before, they may not be so impressed or hate the genre.

Knowing he is a big Pink Floyd Fan, I had one of the Pulse disks spinning at low volume when they arrived. In seconds, he mentioned how good the music sounded. I played some xmas music including a Kenny Rogers xmas Album I had just opened to let them hear how good records can still sound. I never got around to forcing Audiophile grade music and just played things I knew he liked.

As the conversation about what all the gear was in my rack, the question was posed to me....

So what do you play for demos and showing off the sound?

Nobody ever asked me that before and I was thrilled with the question. So I pulled out a Compilation Disk I got from Amsterdam during my Comp Trading days at Audio Review-Rave Recordings before MP3s ruined everything. Almost every song on the disk is of good recordings and SQ but my most recent selection to show off or demo is now Keb Mo - There's More Than One Way Home. It has everything needed to to show off vocals, guitar, rim shots on the drums and so on. I cranked it up and let it rip. Both my boss and his wife sat there in the sweet spot in amazement since they had never really heard a decent system aside from maybe walking past a Magnolia.

As they enjoyed the track, I commented to his wife how I have been waiting since last March to let her hear and answer the why question she posed 9 months ago.

I may not have convinced them to run out and buy a high end setup, but I think I introduced them to good sound. They commented on how fabulous my 20 y/o Dynaudios sounded and were having a hard time figuring out how much better the Fynes will be once they arrive. I hope to have them back next year and can show them in person.

So, how do you show off your system to newbies? Do you ask them what they like? Do you play whatever you think is good?

What track do you use to show off your whole system?

 

[brad225]

I generally start with tracks from a play list that I created for an event I hosted with our local audio group. There is about 30 tracks that I choose and then printed it up for people to choose something from to listen to. That saves a lot of wasted time searching for requests at the beginning.

With one or two persons I will pick something from the list. Maybe Melody Gardot "My One and Only Thrill" from the Live from Paris CD.

Then Maybe a coral "Nothing Else Matters" from Scala & Kolacny Brothers.

Jazz and vocals "The Nearness of You" by Nils Landgren & Jan Lundgren.

After that I'l ask what they would like to hear. Many times people's minds go blank and they can't come up with anything specific.
I have tried handing them the iPad with Qobuz but that is usually overwhelming for them.

I want them to hear something they want but secretly hope they aren't going to choose something that was probably never recorded well. Even if they do they are usually surprised at how much different it sounds from their reference.

 

[brad225]

This is part of that list. You can generally find something a person would choose.

 

[tino27]

Depending on their level of "newb-ness", I might also go into a very simple explanation of what each of the main boxes in my system does. I'll get more detailed if they want specifics.

But, I agree with brad225, I have a pre-picked demo list that I think shows off my system in various genres in music. Maybe I'll do a few tracks from that and then ask them if they have a favorite composer, band, or artist and try and pull up sample tracks on Qobuz. I'd rather they listen to music they are already familiar with.

My only caveat is that I sometimes need to explain that electrostatic speakers do certain kinds of music REALLY well and other kinds (e.g., thrash metal, thumpy club music) not so well.

 

[brad225]

My only caveat is that I sometimes need to explain that electrostatic speakers do certain kinds of music REALLY well and other kinds (e.g., thrash metal, thumpy club music) not so well.[/QUOTE]

Well, I don't even go that far. When I ask for a request of that which has only happened a couple times.
I jokingly say, that can't be made to sound like music on my system, sorry.

 

[hifinutt]

my son who loves thumpy music , adored my martin logan summit x electrostatics , they went REALLY low and made the chest heave if you wanted .

 

[TheOctopus]

Reminds me of the time I was invited to a couple's house and the husband was very much into cooking. Wealthy guy, had converted one of the bays in a 3 car garage into a professional grade kitchen. He was showing me ranges, rotisseries and other cooking apparatuses I have no idea what to even do with. All professional/restaurant grade appliances. He was throwing prices at me that made me cringe... $45k for a range, $40k refrigerator, $24k rotisserie, etc.. My head was spinning. Down in the basement he had a wine collection worth over a few million dollars in all kinds of wine preserving coolers and such.

Of course he was going to show off his hobby and passion for cooking and wine pairing. We were eating and drinking all day. Lamb, chicken, beef, all kinds of cheeses and the best wine I have ever tasted in combination with food. I was very grateful and he opened my eyes to culinary delights...

At no point on my journey home, did I once think I would acquire any of those restaurant ranges/rotisseries/refrigerators/wine coolers or $10k+ bottles of wine or even pretend that I enjoy cooking 1/10 as much as he did. My grill and my grilling skills are just fine for me and my wife...

I've noticed similar reactions from people listening to my systems over the years. It was eye opening but not moving enough for them to run and buy tens of thousands of dollars of gear to listen to music they enjoy over their car radios... Like any other hobby, you really have to be into it to appreciate it.