Is your hi-fi & music a solo hobby?

[Alex_UK]

Just curious, really - my wife and kids have no real interest in hi-fi, they all love music, but don’t seem bothered about listening to it on a “decent” system.

So most evenings, I’m sat on my own listening, whilst they’re all on their tablets, computers or phones or watching TV.

Assuming you live with a significant other and/or family, do they listen with you, or are you a Billy no mates like me?

[Barry]

My partner likes music, but her tastes are either the Blues, or music you can dance to. I can't dance for toffee, so I have to be quite selective as to what I play. Much of my collection she would find dull if not depressing, so I listen to that when I am alone.

I have a large collection of "world" music, and she does like a lot of ethnic music from African countries. Since she is African herself, that is not really surprising.

[Pigmy Pony]

Another Billy no-mates here. Almost all of my listening happens when Anita is out, though sometimes she's happy for me to be playing stuff when she's there, as long as it's something she can stand (no Zappa, no Beatles or Paul McCartney, and definitely no Bjork). And she's never really listening, she's always doing something else while it's on.

My oldest mate really couldn't care less either, though he looked like he might do in the early 80s (bought himself an ancient AR turntable, some huge AR speakers and a NAD 3020 amp). I've tried over the years to maintain that interest, "lending" him CDs with no intention of getting them back, and giving him my old speakers (B&W DM603), but it's all been in vain. Now his system comprises said B&W, a TEAC t/t and Sony CD player (both bought for pennies at auction) and the same NAD amp from 1982.

The only "hifi" folk who've ever come here were Macca, Firebottle and JacHawk of this forum.

But that's ok, this kit and this music is here for me, nobody else. It's a pretty selfish hobby all things considered, but then most hobbies are.

[CageyH]

My wife has no interest in music. TV is her thing.
When I have music playing, it is apparently always too loud. To fix this I bought her some headphones.

My daughter loves music, but not the majority of mine.

So I am a "Billy no Mates" with my closest HiFi friend being an hour and half away.

[Pete The Cat]

It's mostly 'me time' for a couple of sessions each week.

I usually plan to listen to a particular album or two and then I move on to random tracks. Since my wife's tastes are more melodic than mine the chosen albums generally aren't to her liking, but sometimes if the rest hits a spot she'll ask me to open the door and let the music flow through the house.

I have a few friends who are still into music and a couple of times a year we'll have a session outside. The strange thing about adult life is that your calendar gets filled up for you as if by magic. We'll suggest arranging a get-together and then after several days of to and fro we realise that the next date we can all make is about six months away. When we were kids we could just decide to do something this weekend - what happened?

[Tim]

As I live alone, there's only one answer really - I don't really think of listening to music as a hobby though.

You might remember Charlie Alex, who was my last girlfriend - we shared the same tastes in both music and cinema. I don't think I've ever had a partner that liked both, or that were perfectly aligned with my tastes.

So historically it's mostly been a solo venture.

[Alex_UK]

100% agree, Tim, music is as much of a necessity to me as oxygen and food (well not quite, but you get the idea!) I can live with good music on a crap speaker, if I have to, but would much rather hear it as well produced as possible. I think that’s kind of what I’m getting at, Sue doesn’t seem to notice (or care) that it’s on a decent sounding system rather than an Amazon Echo Dot (although I have to say the Echo Show speakers sound surprisingly good!)

I do remember Charlie, and agree it is a rare thing to find someone with the same tastes, and how that may or may not contribute to domestic harmony!

[Alex_UK]

When I have music playing, it is apparently always too loud. To fix this I bought her some headphones.

Love that, did she buy you a bag for your head to stop you watching her telly? :lol:

[CageyH]

No need - she watches it on a tablet. One privacy filter later.... :eyebrows:
Makes the big telly in the lounge almost redundant.

[Pigmy Pony]

And another thing, Anita has hearing like a bat, whereas I hear bog all above about 5 kHz. Doesn't seem fair :(

[rmcin626]

As my listening takes place in my garden room, its usually a solo experience, although my wife does enjoy the music in the good weather when sitting on the decking and I open the doors .

[Filterlab]

When I upgraded from the Edifiers to the Emotiva and Motives, my other half said she probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Once set up, I played Touch by Yello.

She could tell the difference. :D

[Pigmy Pony]

When I upgraded from the Edifiers to the Emotiva and Motives, my other half said she probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Once set up, I played Touch by Yello.

She could tell the difference. :D

Especially the bass when the volume's turned up. Next best thing to a massage chair :)

[shane]

90% of my listening is on a pair of Sennheiser IEMs while wife and daughter watch TV. Speakers in the sitting room (Wharfedale Diamond 11.1s these days because they’re small and unobtrusive but way better than they have any right to be at that price) are virtually redundant, but the stereo in the car gets a good workout when I’m driving alone!

[Andy831]

My Anita is a TV watcher, she likes music provided she can dance and sink a pint or two while doing it. So like many I am a " Billy no mates listener" so 20 years ago I built myself an extension to create a listening room away from the TV, and where volume is not an issue, which turned out to be the best upgrade to date.

[Barry]

My Anita is a TV watcher, she likes music provided she can dance and sink a pint or two while doing it. So like many I am a " Billy no mates listener" so 20 years ago I built myself an extension to create a listening room away from the TV, and where volume is not an issue, which turned out to be the best upgrade to date.

Good move if you have the means. It also allows you to tailor the room's acoustics for optimum effect. Sadly though, not everyone has the means to do it.

I believe someone here converted their stone basement into a listening room. Being below ground they had to 'tank' the room walls and floor to prevent the egress of moisture, but the acoustics would be very hard without suitable treatment.

[Puffin]

Converted half of double garage, fully soundproofed and only me in there....I could go deaf in there if I wanted.....WHHHAAATTT? Converted about 15 years ago as wife doesn't like the music I like and only ever listens to any music in her car.