Horrific Confession and Question


While shopping for classical music in one of the mega retailers recently, I found myself quite carried away by whatever they were playing, finding the selection as well as the sound very pleasing. At the risk of never being allowed to post on this forum again, I am ashamed to admit that I discovered I was listening to BOSE mini speakers which were sticking out haphazardly from the ceiling. This leads me to wonder if background listening presents totally different challenges than focused, attentive listening. Against my audiophile background and judgement, I am wondering if I should install boomier "mid-fi" gear for multi room and entertaining guests when I renovate the house. Any thoughts?
constantinegustavia6142

Showing 1 response by tubegroover

I would guess from some of the "True Confessions" above that for casual listening, which is what most people do, it isn't so important what you listen through so long as you are enjoying the music. So far as the Bose products go, I for one don't understand the animosity by Audiophiles against them. Maybe a little resentment that most people don’t acknowledge or care as much as we do at the well reproduced audio our systems make albeit at great expense? I would hope that other manufacturers of high-end gear might learn from their marketing methods. Funny thing is that I recently stopped in one of their retail "Showrooms" and they did a very credible presentation in a really well set-up small theater. They had blankets covering their jewel speakers and the subwoofer and the sound for home theater wasn't bad and would be satisfactory for my home theater listening which isn't near as critical as music to me. The presentation was quite theatrical itself. The young enthusiastic salesman (most high end dealers would benefit from having someone as good as he was) did a well choreographed point and gesture as the music was playing and finally, OLA, he swished the blankets off to reveal the tiny jewel speakers to the ooohs and ahhhhs by the 8 people listening to the demo with me. I was laughing inside and knew it was more the well set-up room than the system. Where the young salesman lost me (little did he know) was when he told me how Bose puts their profits back in R&D. I laughed out loud, couldn't help it. He asked me what was so funny but I didn't have the heart to burst his bubble so I told him how impressed I was but the price (3,700) for the system was a bit more than I was willing to pay right then. I would have to talk it over with my wife.