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what is it in audio that you dislike most?


Hello everyone,

The positives in the audio hobby are extensive. incredible preserntations. sound which reaches out and grabs you physically and emotionally. it can be both soothing and exciting simultaneously.

despite its innate attraction, from time to time there is something related to the audio past time that can be absolutely irritating, disparaging, or is just plain offputting.

Now and then there is soemthing in the presentation, or at a dealership/seller you simply can not abide.

maybe it is how you were/are treated in a dealership or showroom by the salesman. Maybe its just his or her attitude that hits you wrong.

could be the system being shown is setup incorrectly.

could be too that various components are not even plugged in properly and the supposed demo is just clumsy and unprofessional.

maybe even the speakers have not been appropriately configured to the space, or the amp to speaker matching is off, reversed, or out of phase.

worse still, various items are not run in well.

Perhaps all is great at the showroom or show but in the sonic depiction there is no bass, or not enough, or it is merely a one note affair.

could be its a bright shrill, top end.

as well, maybbe you hate to find the demonstration dry or without detail and without depth.

what is the thing in or about audio dealers, demos, or listening that you find unacceptable, irritating, or that you simply will not put up with for long, or at all?

Examples
1 A sterile or analytical presentations. highly detailed yet uninvolving.
2 A bright strident top end.
3 ill defined imaging
4 Poor lower range representation.
5 A dealers condescending attitude " if they don't sell it, it is not worth owning."
6 Dealers that say, Why in the world would you want tubes and all that distortion they bring to the table?
7 Dealers that say Yes, we are an authorized seller of XYZ but we don't inventory any of their products, but we can order them for you.
8 no dealerships near by.
9 snake oil
10 price
etc....

I'm sure you've run across something about the sound or the transaction experience which you have found
makes you walk away, or want to turn it off.

what is it IYO?

thanks
blindjim
skyscraper
825 posts
 
The disappearance of record stores, and the high price of good equipment. Fortunately I don’t have small children to starve to afford further upgrades.

James, I had the same experience of a dealer upping the quoted price $200 at the register. I was so excited about the purchase I didn’t catch it until I got home several hours later. He did return the overcharge the next day when confronted, offering up a lame excuse. I was going to buy a $6000 amp from him too, but took my business elsewhere.

Mike.
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,000 posts
 
Most dealers operate on a shoe string.  They don’t have inventory to demo and if they do, they assume you will not buy the higher end lines.  Their show rooms are usually low budget and they don’t bother to master set their speakers.  They want to sell things like REL subwoofers, but they aten’t even hooked up with their high level Speakon cable.

Albert Sportis at Precision Audio in Chicago is the real McCoy.  He had huge inventory and does things right.  And, no I do not work for him!
markcdaniel's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
markcdaniel
45 posts
 
I concur on snobbery and would add trolls on the forums. My least favorite para-phased scenarios that chap my hide -

“You asked about component X, but let me impart my sage like wisdom upon your pitiful brain by telling you how component y sucks so bad that you need not worry about component X”

”I happen to be a dealer for the aforementioned component Y”

”if you are an audiophile, you must have unlimited funds, so let me tell you how component Y can bring you nirvana for a mere sum equal to the national deficit.”

“Cost equals performance, no way you can get sound from $10K speakers paired with a $5k amp. And that $1K preamp has to go.”

I thoroughly enjoy this hobby and 99% of the people, but a few bad apples easily spoils the bunch.

My personal rules - 
1) Always be respectful
2) Never poo poo other people’s gear
3) Listen to other’s questions without bias
4) Answer with your knowledge, not your sales quota or personal agenda
5) My Mom always taught me that if you don’t anything nice to say, don’t say anything

keegiam
730 posts
 
Not really a dislike - more of a frustration:

The extreme expense and added complications of reproducing the bottom octave.
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
People who are not articulate, use incorrect terminology or cannot concisely acquit themselves. The expressions: “vinyl deck” or “rig”, etc... are as meaningless and awkward as an elephant riding a unicycle on a high wire. 

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