Lamp cord and speaker hanger audiophiles


I am retired now, but while I was working - I had probably a dozen or more coworkers within different departments reach out to me about system building. 

The enthusiasm was certainly there - but what’s missing is their commitment to actually building a system; or a decent one at that. 

These so-called gentlemen were the same people who pulled up to corporate dinners in their semi-high end luxury cars (i have a Bentley so I’m not picking on anyone) but it seems the best most of them could afford was BMW or Mercedes Benz. I sold my Maybach last year and acquired a Bentley; and I’m never going back! 

With that said - the point I’m trying to get across is  - they have the MEANS to spend, (doesn’t have to be excessive) but cheap out on everything. You find out later that they’ve been leasing their vehicles, don’t own any or very basic real estate, etc. 

Sometimes they complain when a steak dinner is about 50 dollars or a pasta dish is just over 30 dollars. This is not even expensive. I told some of them to get with the program, and they apologized to me in person and over email.

And with rising gas prices, they’ve been complaining even more, and trying to save money at every turn. 

These guys don’t really live their lives. They just live to exist and impress their wives - You know, happy wife - happy life. And they are miserable. 

Before I retired, one such fellow was annoying the daylights out of me.

Showed me an all plastic low-fi system from the 1990s that he had inherited from his deceased brother. Told me he had 100 dollars to spend to make it sound better. I told him that was not good enough considering the amplifier was just so lousy.

Well guess what? He passed away a month ago. He died in his sleep. He was going through a very turbulent marriage and his daughter wanted to move to Nigeria to live with some guy she met online.

The one thing he told me that he had was - alone time, because his wife would barely talk to him. It’s sad and unfortunate that he never got to enjoy his money.

He was earning about 150k a year, which is kind of okay.

What’s not okay was trying to save money at every turn. You can’t take any of the things you acquire with you; and we only have this one life... 

He was the perfect example of a lamp cord and speaker hanger audiophile. 

At one point, he tried using bent coat hangers on speaker terminals. I am actually serious. he found an article that was linked to Audio Science Review.

Godspeed.

frank009

Interesting post,

I have friends like that. I learned the hard way. I spent 1 year in Vietnam. Yes you can’t take it with you. What do I drive? My daily driver is a 2009 HUMMER H2 Lux. seventeen years old. And my fun car (Money Pit) is a 1965 Corvette with a 502 Big Block and 5 speed. 

My Audio gear is all Old school Marantz Separates..Model 500 PA..3300 PRE..150 Tuner.. And 4 Sentry III  Studio Monitors. I’m 82 an spending my money.

What I would love to Own before I go is a "Bentley GT" which I think is one of the most beautiful designs.  I too have coat hanger friends that have made many dollars and live the life that I can’t.  I hold no animosity towards them but praise them for a job well done in life to get to the point where they want for nothing.

Except what does concern me is what has been mentioned here. Complaining about the coast of a Pizza or Gas prices. That has its place with lessor income people..I truly understand. 

There are a great collection of posters here all with their own opinions which I respect. However....Remember enjoy your life the way you want. I found out the hard way that it can be taken from you in as they say a heartbeat.

 

My best to everyone here:  Crank it up to 13 and tip that waiter or waitress so he or  she doesn’t need a Coat hanger for speaker wires.

@noromance 

I didn’t intend to hurt his feelings - only to provide some constructive criticism. 

I guess it can be fun either way, and thanks for your response.

@ozzy62 

My tone may be harsh, but this is when people listen to me. It was honest feedback. 

@campoly 

You don’t have to feel that way. I don’t have an ego that prevents me from interacting or spending time who earn less money than me, or even poor people. I donate to charities often, and even have close friends who live in tiny bungalows and drive cheap cars.

What’s amazing about them though; is they are consistently happy, very polite, and overall a joy to be around. When we go out to restaurants, I always offer to pay; but they have often paid for everything just as soon as I got back to the table from the restroom and told me not to worry about it  - I’ve got this my friend, they say. 

They are not that concerned about money and some of them; despite having small houses and inexpensive cars and a small investment portfolio + very little disposable incomes have built amazing audio systems with consistent effort and dedication over many years. Slow and steady, like the tortoise that wins the race...

The saying goes - find what you love, and let it kill you. 

I can rephrase that: Find what you love, and let it set you free.

They are living examples of that philosophy.

Meanwhile, some of my well of friends with a net worth close to mine are stingy and never offer to pay at restaurants. Many of them are also coupon clippers and can’t visit a grocery store without a binder full of them. Nearly every word that comes out of their mouths is about saving money and investment portfolios. 

 

@mrkrichman 

Are you talking about the 2026 Bentley Continental GT Speed?

That’s exactly the car I have. 

It’s a joy to drive. A lot of people stare - especially when they’re walking on the sidewalk. The nice things in my life are for me. I never show of. If someone asks the price tag, I tell them. But I try not to converse too much with strangers in public, as crime and violence could be a problem almost anywhere on earth.

Matter of fact, a former friend was flaunting his Rolex at a bar and was robbed at gunpoint last week by the staff of the restaurant. His wife told me all about it. He was in Mexico, on vacation with his wife. His wife is originally from Mexico, so they were visiting family there. Thankfully, nobody was harmed but he lost a 50k timepiece.  

If I feel like wearing a Patek or a Rolex or a Vacheron, then I have superclones I wear in public. I only wear the real stuff around friends and family; people I trust, where the environment is 100% trustworthy. I mostly have worn Timex watches and Casio watches on business trips and never had anyone try to take my watch.

... some of my well of friends with a net worth close to mine are stingy and never offer to pay at restaurants ...

You can't ascertain someone's wealth by looking at their house or car. Many of the quite well-to-do appear only average. Many of those who appear superficially wealthy are anything but.