McIntosh & the Bachelor Pad


I came across an article about bachelor pads. That peculiar piece of real estate where your masculinity can be celebrated. To quote Hef,
We like our apartment. We enjoy mixing up cocktails and an hors d’oeuvre or two, putting a little mood music on the phonograph and inviting a female acquaintance for a quiet discussion on Picasso, Nietzsche, jazz, sex.
Clearly music is a central element in the BP. The article provides three stereo tips. I will quote the first two:
Stereo tip No. 1: McIntosh makes a boss receiver ($6,500 for a MAC-6700).
Stereo tip No. 2: The average bachelor should not ask for stereo advice from guys who are really, really, really into stereos. Above a certain level, the world of the audiophile becomes an alien atmosphere—an ultraexpensive echo chamber of inaccessible acoustics. If you have to ask, you don’t want to know. Bang & Olufsen has probably got you covered.
Note that Hef's uses vinyl, not R2R and that the BP is for stereo, not multi-channel.

My question is addressed to those who are really, really, really into stereos, have a McIntosh receiver and reside in a bachelor pad -- what's a good cocktail to serve when discussing Nietzsche with that special female acquaintance?
128x128onhwy61
I had a sweet bachelor pad for 8 years from the age of 31 through 39. My mailman referred to it as The Skinnin' Pad, which I never understood.

The answer to your question is a Knob Creek Perfect Manhattan. You need to add a little bit of the cherry juice (1tsp) and just give her a quick swirl in ice. Your date will go wild for it, but take it slow. It's not just the stereo either. Get a cheap DSLR with a cheap kits lens and mount it on a Manfrotto tripod off to the side. Talk about how fast the lens is, the bokeh and 4k video.

For music, always go heavy and then apologize and tone it down from there. I.e. Start with Motor Head's 'The Ace of Spades' and do a quick switch to The Thompson Twins 'Lies Lies Lies' or even some Carly Simon.
To quote from Fast Times At Ridgemont High:

Mike Damone: "And five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV."
BEST thread this year--thanks Onhwy61 for a great start and to Donjr and Mofimadneess for making this a fun read. Just in time too--was about to give up on Audiogon forums and the endless recycle of XLR vs. RCA, digital vs. analog, power cable obsession vs. 'makes no diff,' yadda, yadda.
I think we should start talking about Hobbies. I'm beginning to consider audio a job.
Oh yeah. . .forgot to answer. Tequila Slammer--the ultimately ironic drink when discussing Nietzsche, Waiting for Godot, the sexual politics of "The Graduate", international diplomacy in the post-nuclear era, or the descent of objectivity in modern media channels.
Seriously, if you are discussing Nietzche with your dates, convince them that clothes are a matter of perception...and that the cheap beer you are serving is really a 100 year old cognac. For that matter your clock radio is a macintosh if they look at it the right way?
Hef is right: it's all about appearances. If one gets too esoteric about stereo, her eyes will glaze over and that 2012 Olivi Coreno will take her down a different path, usually the one to your door.

And most important: if you gaze long enough into her eyes, she will gaze back into you and hopefully not see any monsters. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise
"My question is addressed to those who are really, really, really into stereos, have a McIntosh receiver and reside in a bachelor pad -- what's a good cocktail to serve when discussing Nietzsche with that special female acquaintance?"

Its a trick question. People that are really, really, really into stereos, never have money for anything else, like drinks. And to let a girl talk while there's music playing? You must be on crack.