View Full Version : Does Your Stereo Sound Different when others are in the room?
Of course it doesn't, not really. Does it? What I'm talking about is the psychological effect of having someone else in the room listening with you. When I'm home alone, and play an album, I listen deeply, I crank it up to my satisfaction, I don't worry about content or if the bass is too loud.
But when I'm entertaining, then I'm conscious of what the other person is thinking, is this too loud? Do they like this record? Probably more than anything I am concerned about my selections, and usually try to get them to suggest what they want to hear. In an effort to be a good host. I don't want to just blast away whatever odd music that appeals to me and run them off! Unless, of course, I want to run them off!
Anyway, it just occurred to me that listening to my stereo alone is quite different from listening with someone else in the room. So is it even more different with more than two in the room? Does it multiply? So I drop back and start playing all my best recorded stuff like I was at an audio show or something? And how does alcohol affect this phenomena?
Personally I like having others over to listen, to spin records and have a few drinks. It beats watching reruns on tv. But somehow it is a much different activity than listening alone.
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Probably sounds worse. Does for me anyway.
In that situation if you ask someone what they want to listen to they always say 'Oh, anything.' So don't bother asking anymore. I figure if they really wanted to hear something in particular they would have brought it with them. I try not to cheat by playing 'audiophile' recordings. Don't have many of them anyway.
Worst is when you go to some other enthusiast's gaff and it sounds so objectionable that you want to ask them to turn it down but you don't in case it is seen as rude. That's happened to me a couple of times. Not with anyone who is a member here though :)
Only if they have BO! :D
Marco.
RobbieGong
29-05-2017, 21:17
Only if they wont stop nattering :D
walpurgis
29-05-2017, 21:19
Dunno. I normally have headphones on. :)
Only if they wont stop nattering :D
Or you invite this guy along:
xe2cnd7n0Dk
:D :eyebrows:
Marco.
Only when other people mess up the room balance.
A few moving 200 lb lumps tends to do that ;)
In that situation if you ask someone what they want to listen to they always say 'Oh, anything.' So don't bother asking anymore. I figure if they really wanted to hear something in particular they would have brought it with them. I try not to cheat by playing 'audiophile' recordings. Don't have many of them anyway.
Worst is when you go to some other enthusiast's gaff and it sounds so objectionable that you want to ask them to turn it down but you don't in case it is seen as rude. That's happened to me a couple of times. Not with anyone who is a member here though :)
I have been there! Too many times I've been invited to someone else's house to hear their system, and it's terrible! And after torturing me, they look at me with that expression of wanting my approval. To which I usually answer it has potential! And of course the one guy who has all solid state Harman Kardon. So shrill to make the fillings in your teeth rattle! So, after being tortured by this guy, I invite him to my house to hear my stereo, and he refuses, says he already owns the best so no reason for him to hear anything else! What a pompous arse! I wanted to tell him slam off, but held my tongue and laughed to myself. I guess it's easy to own the best stereo in the world with an attitude like that.
When it comes to entertaining others, if they pick something they want to hear that's good, but some folks just aren't into it. But I've got a few friends that come just to hear the stereo! They feel it is much cheaper to bring beer to my house than to have one of their own. Of course nothing pleases me more than for someone to come to spin records. With these people I worry less about content, and welcome their selections, they will pick something different from my regular rotation. But if I've got 4 people listening, then I feel more pressure to pick some Audiophile grade recordings. Either way, it's always a much different experience from listening by myself. And I do believe the stereo sounds better if I am alone. Much of the listening experience is psychological, we can try to separate ourselves from it, and be logical and objective, but what's the point?
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Only if they wont stop nattering :D
That's when you crank up the volume until you can't hear them!
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RobbieGong
31-05-2017, 08:38
That's when you crank up the volume until you can't hear them!
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Indeed ! and enough deep bass to turn their guts over 'til they throw up :eek: - That'll teach 'em to ever compromise the audio nirvana :lol:
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