Is there something 'they' really like?

A lot of people don't know what it is when they see it, age dependent. But they find it so ridicules they want to hear it so they can make fun of it. Most are very surprised by the sound, never heard anything good before. Then the laughing stops. Sad they've never heard decent speakers.
Guys that remember it from back in the day can be left alone to play with it till whoever they came with says it's time to go, just keep them fed and watered. It's a simple setup, very user friendly. No blown units yet.
My 35 year old restless nephew will sit and listen by himself for hours on weekend evenings till deep into the morning. If he and I listen together we don't talk, we just listen.Typing in tunes and changing only the volume. Somewhere in the past he discovered the 60/70's, rarely picks a dud.
My sister (his mother) who listens to it as much as I do now changes receivers and speakers more than I do. I can go for days without a change, she last less than an hour. She knows what combo she wants for different songs. She knows and remembers far more about music than I do, never plays a dud. After a long unrealized absence from the benefit of music in her life it's back, and she's not slowing down, it's always on. Her cooking is better than ever. And she dyed her hair. Red.
Watching these two soak it up is having an effect on me. And my 90 year old Dad is having a blast out back in the guest house twice a week when his friends come over for music parties.
A year ago I didn't see any of this coming. All priceless. I now see stimulating SQ in the house can be invaluable. To bad so few are getting the benefit.

YES,TWO CHANNEL VINTAGE ROCKS!
 
quiet said:
A lot of people don't know what it is when they see it...
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Dude, that is an absolutely epic post. My favorite part is "just keep them fed and watered" but frankly it's all a knockout and I think I could listen to you talk for days. Or, as you say, just listen to music with you. This internet thing ain't all bad. If you were a block away rather than a thousand miles I'd be over all the time. Is that bad or good? Well, now I've just confused myself again.
 
The Martin Logans get attention, but I suspect it's mostly due to size. My apartment is quite small, they... Are not.

Some do the "are those speakers" thing, but as for really positive responses, none of my gear really stands out to average Joe/Jane.

Granted I can count the number of people who've seen it on one hand. Time will tell.
 
SoCal Sam said:
When I used to have a SX-1980, visitors would gravitate towards it... Interestingly to me at least, the 1980 was the worst sounding piece in my display rack.
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Not surprising at all since many value cosmetics over substance. Or don't know the difference. :)
 
quiet said:
Or the 1980 is an impressive vintage unit in general.
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I'll take Sam's word for it that it was the "worst sounding piece" in his rack.

I was very happy with the sound quality using an Audio Research SP-6C/Threshold Stasis 3 in that era.
 
Everything else he had may have sounded very good. I bet it did and does or he would not have had it. Even the Pioneer. Somethings got to be on the bottom of a good group.
And it appears many think the SX-1980 looks the best. I agree it looks very nice.
 
quiet said:
And it appears many think the SX-1980 looks the best.
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I confess that then as today cosmetics has taken a decided back seat to audible performance for me. Then again, I find the "instrument grade" aesthetics of Audio Research gear to be compelling.

After an Electrophonic T600 purchased when 13, I skipped the entire receiver thing altogether. Continued with an AR integrated at 15 and by 17, was using separates.
 
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You have to remember that depending on the type of music they perform and the type of music they like to listen to maybe totally different. And if they play instruments that require electronic reenforcement what they hear on stage maybe totally different from whats captured for public distribution. Musicians who play acoustical instruments are looking for a different presentation all together. So having a system that might appeal to a pianist will probably turn off a rock and roller and may be just acceptable to a brass player and disgust a percussionist. I was a brass player that sat in front of percussionist some of the time, so I listen for different sounds than my better half who was a professional reed player and also sang in massed choir. We settled on speakers that did almost everything right, where only a few db difference in the highs and bass below 100 hz, would make us both happy. Strong highs bothered me where strong highs and to much midrange really bothered her. Neither one of us like mushy bass or distorted and muffled highs, so most tube amps or pre-amps weren't tolerated. A few could be, pre-amps mostly. Amps, no way, except for the little 275 on a particular speaker on rare occasions. SS amps that used Autoformers weren't my favorite on my speakers, but when the 2255 came along I had to admit on the right speaker it did very very well. Todays SS amps with Autoformers are superior in so many ways from amps from the70's and 80's, even the 90's. If speakers depend on the amps for cone control then changing amps will give lots of different results. If speakers basically have self control of cone movement then amps don't make that much difference. So getting the right combination can be a damned if you do and a damned if you don't situation.
 
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Most visiting people do not care about the gear. Oh sure some like to see tubes glow or marvel at a turntable spinning but unless they were into audio back in the day they just pass on through.

Some young people like to listen for awhile and they like what they hear but few are trading in their earbuds.
 
I get your point. The youngsters might like the good sound but I don't expect them to go for it. They already have their own way of life with conveniences.
Maybe later they will. I think so.
 
Don't even try to tell someone that you do woodworking and build speakers. It leaves almost everyone speechless.

At least home brewing is more common...though most lose interest instantly once they discover brewing a batch takes 8 hours (counting prep & cleanup) and won't be ready to drink for a month or so.

I'll fire up a movie to demo the HT system and everyone digs that since there is a 75" TV to stare at.
 
Poultrygeist said:
When company comes I avoid this room unless they show a definite interest. Too much explaining to do otherwise. A local guy I met on AK came by and my OB gear was so unorthodox compared to his monkey coffins he couldn't relate. He sat in this room all saucer eyed and said little while I went from one system to another. I never heard from him again but perhaps that was due to me giving him a modded PS1 on loan which he never returned. OTOH I've had several AK visitors who dropped by and became instant OB converts.

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Love the doggo investigating that speaker. Looks just like the ol' RCA/Victor logo with the dog checking out a grammophone
 
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