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So, What do you play?

Anything by ABBA :biggrin:

I generally just pick a nice recording of whatever the person likes. This is especially easy now with all the available streaming choices. It’s quick and keeps them from losing interest as has been mentioned.
 
Usually I just throw on some drum track tapes, then I fire up the SVT and play along. ;)

I presume most of your guests are fellow musicians.:dunno:

IME most guests visit for reasons other than listening to me play an instrument.

Even I, as much of an egotist as I am I wouldn't pull out one of my bass's and start playing for guests.:)

That is, of course, unless one of them asks. Those people are easy to recognize They bring their axe with them.:D
 
If someone's staying over (visiting), I sometimes test the water, and ask if he is into music. Meanwhile while the SO's while are testing out their vocal cords, talking on what ever, we proceed to the Cave.

And, when getting a handle on what genre (mostly into) I look for what I think is a good example, or ask for one. It's a hit and miss time, eh?

Having two pushback, comfortable chairs, we sit back (with beverage in hand) and take in the first selection, usually at muted volume. After the first listen, I can tell if they are into the audio thingy. And, if they seem to, I ask what else they want to hear, or I might suggest if they are so inclined to go with. The volume often changes at this time!:music:

I only stay with maybe two selections per LP/CD and have several ready to go, so no time is spent hunting.

After the first 15 or so minutes, if the interest is still evident, I carry on with tunes, and occasionally check on the progress of the SO's. Often they don't even see me!:biggrin:

If a great sunny day,:cool: we might end up on the deck as I've got lossless (FLACK) format and to share on some pretty decent BT speakers (stereo).

Often the shares and topic of music presides...sometimes not. Sometimes music tunes surface, and being the host, I try to go with the "wave" of music that my guest prefers. Thankfully, I'm pretty eclectic when it comes to genres, save opera/rap.

By the end of the day, if there's positive feedback, I'll know that I've had someone on board in the way of listening. Finally, If I get asked about brands and cost factors...then I know that it's been a great visit for the both of us. This is where I mention AK!:bigok:

Q
 
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If someone's staying over (visiting), I sometimes test the water, and ask if he is into music. Meanwhile while the SO's while are testing out their vocal cords, talking on what ever, we proceed to the Cave.

And, when getting a handle on what genre (mostly into) I look for what I think is a good example, or ask for one. It's a hit and miss time, eh?

Having two pushback, comfortable chairs, we sit back (with beverage in hand) and take in the first selection, usually at muted volume. Usually after the first listen, I can tell if they are into the audio thingy. If they seem to, I ask what else they want to hear, or I might suggest if they are so inclined to go with. The volume often changes at this time!:music:

I only stay with maybe two selections per LP/CD and have several ready to go, so no time is spent hunting.

After the first 15 or so minutes, if the interest is still evident, I carry on with tunes, and occasionally check on the progress of the SO's. Often they don't even see me!:biggrin:

If a great sunny day,:cool: we might end up on the deck as I've got lossless (FLACK) format and to share on some pretty decent BT speakers (stereo).

Often the shares and topic of music presides...sometimes not. Sometimes music tunes surface, and being the host, I try to go with the "wave" of music that my guest prefers. Thankfully, I'm pretty eclectic when it comes to genres, save opera/rap.

By the end of the day, if there's positive feedback, I'll know that I've had someone on board in the way of listening. If I get asked about brands and cost factors...then I know that it's been a great visit for the both of us. This is where I mention AK!:bigok:

Q
Most of my friends have a more than passing interest in listening to music and appreciate hearing it on a good system, but I can only think of a handful of people that can just sit really listen with someone else in the room. I once watched an interview with Henry Rollins where he said that he never plays music for others because they always want to talk through it.

Background music is fine, but I find it really rare to find someone who can be in the room with someone else and really shut up and listen.
 
Most of my friends have a more than passing interest in listening to music and appreciate hearing it on a good system, but I can only think of a handful of people that can just sit really listen with someone else in the room. I once watched an interview with Henry Rollins where he said that he never plays music for others because they always want to talk through it.

Background music is fine, but I find it really rare to find someone who can be in the room with someone else and really shut up and listen.


I hear you.:thumbsup:

This is the acid test at times, if they are not into the listening game...appreciating.

The "degree of interest varies inversely to the degree/amount of talk that takes place"! ;)

I find the playing of "American Prayer" (DOORS) to be a definitive filter to assess this event.

Q
 
I have a friend that lives around the block that composes music and has a few CDs. He does not play anything but does all the mixing and tweaking.

He always asks if he can listen to his stuff on my system to see how it really sounds. Together we talk thru what is missing, out of place, or too much. He appreciates the feedback and makes some of the changes I suggest.
 
If I have friends over who are really into music, I'll "play DJ" and put on a selection of my favorite tracks. Usually though, folks are just hanging out to chat, not really to listen to music. That being the case, I'll put on something that's not too distracting which is often some sort of exotica type music, like Martin Denny...
 
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Great idea for a thread!

I tend to go asking them what they like. If I have it, I will put it on. If I don't, I'll find something I think is comparable. Then, if they are interested, we will go on from there.

I was quite surprised one time when my cousin and his girlfriend from the west coast dropped by for BBQ while visiting. He used to live here. While we were talking, we started discussing music. She said she absolutely loves Beth Hart! Well, I had just gotten the Beth Hart/Joe Bonamassa vinyl, and it was pristine! I brought them down to the "Critical Listening Room" and played I'd rather go blind. They were stunned! Their jaws actually dropped.

Then I put on, at their request, the CD I created to test audio equipment. It is my 5th revision Test CD. In there,

I have all the songs that all my previous systems (until I found my way in audio) could not reproduce without distortion. Songs like Sarah Brightman's Anytime, Anywhere from Eden, Genesis Carpet Crawlers from the Lamb, Pink Floyd's Shine on you Crazy Diamond, Janice Joplin's Summertime, and my all time favourite song to test a systems capabilities, Sade's Love is Found!

This song has caused many an amp or speakers to stumble. If something is off in any system, this song will bring it out. I got to see her do it live in Montreal, and the whole stadium was stunned to silence when that song ended, and then burst into a long applause. I will never forget it!
 
I don't turn it on unless they really seem interested and ask for demo, anymore. Especially since tubes are involved. It's very RARE to find anyone interested in good audio. I've been left too many times, standing by myself after two minutes, with power tubes still warming up. Just to shut it off again.

Yep.... lotta times stuff that we music (and music playback gear) heads think's gonna knock socks offa folks gets little more than a "that's nice", after which they're off to a different room to yap about whatever. BTW, this scenario has occurred eve in instances @ which I "put on" something per the request of (a) guest(s), only to end up - per ususal - bring the only person listening to what they requested. (Thinking ... "Do I take it off - not really interested in it myself, not @ the moment.")

Learned long ago to play material to please me, and if others in the vicinity should happen to hear and express approval or otherwise share in the appreciation, well that's just dandy ... but I have come to not expect it.
 
^^ PS: Perhaps, henceforth, I should make a point of "demoing" my system by playing (only) this number?

 
^^ PPS: Not exactly "audiophile" material, but as OP @Hyfi pointed out in the opening of this thread, "forcing Audiophile grade music" does not seem to be the way to go these days .... if it ever was.
 
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