Snobbery in Hi-Fi. Why are people so stupid and turn their noses up at gear costing much less which is just as good?

[PristineSound]

This has never happened to me.
The only negative response I've ever gotten was "I really don't listen to music that loud"

Which means, no one cares about your HiFi system.

This hobby is so niche, I have zero friends in this hobby. Not one, literally not one single soul gives a crap about my system. Not even my wife that I live with. Even if I wanted to brag about it, I will only garner laughter. That is how uncool our systems are to someone who is not in this hobby in this day in age.

 

[JeffS7444]

I just may get dressed up to drive this, something that I rarely do, but by doing so, it may further accentuate the snobbery.

I think of dressing-up as a courtesy to those who gotta look at me

 

[EJ3]

One may laugh at this car, but when you were a teenager growing up in a working-class household of 7, this bad boy earns a poster on the wall.
View attachment 526799

My friend bought a brand new USA spec, bright yellow, CIVIC SI (5 spd manual trans) and we could not leave it stock (the story of my life with any car that I have ever owned, also). We used the European cylinder head (a real double overhead cam deal as opposed to some funky fingers operating 2 of the 4 valves per cylinder [thus making a European engine hood necessary, due to needing a bulge in it for the extra camshaft] {also some minor head port blending was done}), and Jackson racing headers with a moderately loud exhaust (we still needed to be able to enjoy the custom tri-amped stereo). Now, with 134 HP at the front wheels, it needed better turning capabilities. Hence, we added: Tokiko 5 way adjustable shocks, Yokohama 008 tires, Jackson Racing anti-sway bars, all graphite impregnated suspension bushings and a custom 2" deeper front air-dam was the icing on the cake. And just to mess with people, we installed a set of European model rear seats (Good for a 4'10" 80Lb female we knew [or 2 grocery bags]).
A stock 5.0 Mustang could not pass it off the line (in a drag race) until it hit 3rd gear. In slalom racing we had both better times and higher speeds than the Ferrari folks.
Driving for 4 hours at 100+MPH, it still got over 30 MPG.
It is to this day, the only front wheel drive car that I have ever TRULY enjoyed driving.

 

[antcollinet]

I think you meant, "hit the brake pedal".

LOL - where's the "sticking the middle finger up" emoji when you need it

 

[tineared]

Which means, no one cares about your HiFi system.

This hobby is so niche, I have zero friends in this hobby. Not one, literally not one single soul gives a crap about my system. Not even my wife that I live with. Even if I wanted to brag about it, I will only garner laughter. That is how uncool our systems are to someone who is not in this hobby in this day in age.

On the contrary, 95% of visitors are greatly impressed with my system, both for music and for movies. The other response was an extreme outlier from the occasional elderly lady visitor (in-laws)

 

[antcollinet]

Er, Care to give an example here because your logic seems a bit disconnected?

Er. Please don't argue with our Frank about cars. You will lose - spectacularly.

 

[Axo1989]

Who you are doesn't give you license to talk nonsense does it?

I agree in principle of course, but long since stopped following specific arguments here. If anyone can appreciate a good car analogy, it would be Mr Dernie, surely? I didn't mean to attack you though, the funny part for me was him disavowing use of car analogies. And everyone commenting to that effect is right. This has entirely morphed into a members-area nonsense thread—maybe it started that way, at least there was a hint of audio—but with less humour.

 

[PristineSound]

On the contrary, 95% of visitors are greatly impressed with my system, both for music and for movies. The other response was an extreme outlier from the occasional elderly lady visitor (in-laws)

Oh with the older generation who actually grew up with HiFi? And for home theatre? Well, yeah, that would be different, everybody likes a good movie especially with bass.

I am at the tail end of the gen x. The culture of my generation largely forgotten about home HiFi by the time they were born, if not, definitely by the time they were toddlers.

To them a sound bar is good enough, maybe if you added some surround speakers then you are fancy, add a sub, you are special. Anything more than that, they think you're crazy. Don't believe me? Go to Best Buy and ask a soccer dad in his 40's what he thinks.

 

[Sal1950]

But it was meant to be facetious, sometimes facetious comments highlights a point better than any PC and well spoken statements.

I know, I get in trouble for it all the time..

From a bit earlier in the thread…

Perhaps the most understated curves I’ve seen on a convertible. Gorgeous.

View attachment 526778

The Viper converts are just gorgeous, the low slung lines are killer.

From the specifically tuned V8 powertrain to the raft of aerodynamic enhancements, extremely limited–production AC GT SuperSport stands as a supreme expression of power, precision, and prestige.

Nice, another great nostalgic option would be to order one of Dave Kindig's C1F "Corvette"
The cars feature full carbon-fiber bodies (or hand-formed aluminum), Roadster Shop chassis, and Lingenfelter V8 engines. Price $500,000+.

 

[tineared]

Oh with the older generation who actually grew up with HiFi? And for home theatre? Well, yeah, that would be different, everybody likes a good movie especially with bass.

I am at the tail end of the gen x. The culture of my generation largely forgotten about home HiFi by the time they were born, if not, definitely by the time they were toddlers.

To them a sound bar is good enough, maybe if you added some surround speakers then you are fancy, add a sub, you are special. Anything more than that, they think you're crazy. Don't believe me? Go to Best Buy and ask a soccer dad in his 40's what he thinks.

We have visitors between the age of 5 and 72 over, so no particular group. A couple of months ago we had a 28 year old woman visit and after I played some ACDC she said the hairs on her arms were standing on end. Very few are left unimpressed. Does it make me a snob to say so?

 

[Sal1950]

My friend bought a brand new USA spec, bright yellow, CIVIC SI (5 spd manual trans) It is to this day, the only front wheel drive car that I have ever TRULY enjoyed driving.

But, But, But why, it's still so freakin fugly?

 

[PristineSound]

We have visitors between the age of 5 and 72 over, so no particular group. A couple of months ago we had a 28 year old woman visit and after I played some ACDC she said the hairs on her arms were standing on end. Very few are left unimpressed. Does it make me a snob to say so?

No, not snotty at all. I am willing to bet if you sent these people back in time in the 90's, they will also be impressed by my mini Yamaha system. I will play it really loud for their hairs on their arms to stand up too. I am almost willing to bet that my Casio boombox before my Yamaha will have the same effect.

Oh wait, perhaps the OP is right after all. We all should go back to a boombox.

 

[EJ3]

Quite the most surprising (ie wrong) post I've read on ASR for quite some time.

Hifi isn't seen and used as a purchase vehicle for status?

Crikey. That's a whopper.

I don't know about that being a whopper. For me, anyway, very few are aloud at & less into my home.
My mother, 4 of my friends and their wives are the only ones ever (since I moved in in 2019) allowed in.
And it is extremely rare to invite anyone to here.
And only 2 of those friends have a stereo or AVR.
I only know one person that seems to have a need to show off her purchases. She used to be quite poor, but she married an ex-military guy (8 years of service) guy that started & owned a business that he then patented some things, he then sold the business for millions and the business then hired him for $15,000 a month. He has never been pretentious at all. However, the women he married (whom my wife and I knew long before he did), is just an enthusiastic and fun person who is like a child going: "look what I found".
She comes across (to those that don't know her well) as being vane but she is not actually vane (at least, my wife and I do not think so).

 

[EJ3]

But, But, But why, it's still so freakin fugly?

Warning: opinion here: Kind of like Mick Jagger, I guess: so ugly some people think that he is cute.
Simply because he liked the way it handled. Previously he had an S-10 truck. When he sold the CIVIC with 225,000 miles, he bought a 2 door Blazer with the Z code V6. That vehicle also did not get left stock. For him, handling well and space to set up a good stereo are priorities. His wife, she just never has liked to drive and doe not care. To her, if it is not about cooking, it is just a utilitarian thing.

 

[Axo1989]

We have visitors between the age of 5 and 72 over, so no particular group. A couple of months ago we had a 28 year old woman visit and after I played some ACDC she said the hairs on her arms were standing on end. Very few are left unimpressed. Does it make me a snob to say so?

In my experience many who would not contemplate paying what I consider reasonable for a good audio reproduction system can enjoy listening to same, and even appreciate the sonic differences. One interesting feedback I've had though is along the lines of 'but I'd have to sit down and listen to that, I couldn't play it in the background'.

I think a key difference between the audio agnostic and the audiophile (in the literal/non-pejorative sense of the term) is the desire/interest to listen to reproduced music for its own sake, rather than just as an ancillary activity. In terms of 'snobbery' we could describe this habit as such, but that's not particularly useful/insightful. Any focused practice has that characteristic, and there are better terminologies and concepts to employ to discuss them.

 

[EJ3]

In my experience many who would not contemplate paying what I consider reasonable for a good audio reproduction system can enjoy listening to same, and even appreciate the difference. One interesting feedback I've had though is along the lines of 'but I'd have to sit down and listen to that, I couldn't play it in the background'.

I think a key difference between the audio agnostic and the audiophile (in the literal/non-pejorative sense of the term) is the desire/interest to listen to reproduced music for its own sake, rather than just as an ancillary activity. In terms of 'snobbery' we could describe this habit as such, but that's not particularly useful/insightful. Any focused practice has that characteristic, and there are better terminologies and concepts to employ to discuss them I think.

I rarely SIT down to actively listen but I am usually actively listening if I have the stereo operating.

 

[Axo1989]

I rarely SIT down to actively listen but I am usually actively listening if I have the stereo operating.

Fair enough, I was of course paraphrasing, and they did mean 'focus' really even though 'sit' was the word used.

I do listen to music while doing things at times of course, but (like you I think) I live somewhere where the ambient soundscape is mostly natural and pleasing so I don't often require music as a masking background. And I do like to listen (to new material especially, but also just things I just like a lot) while entirely focused, it seems a waste to do otherwise.

 

[PristineSound]

I do want to say that this 30 page thread has been incredibly civil and at times light hearted given the topic of the conversation. I want to thank everyone for your polite engagement.

 

[tineared]

In my experience many who would not contemplate paying what I consider reasonable for a good audio reproduction system can enjoy listening to same, and even appreciate the sonic differences. One interesting feedback I've had though is along the lines of 'but I'd have to sit down and listen to that, I couldn't play it in the background'.

I think a key difference between the audio agnostic and the audiophile (in the literal/non-pejorative sense of the term) is the desire/interest to listen to reproduced music for its own sake, rather than just as an ancillary activity. In terms of 'snobbery' we could describe this habit as such, but that's not particularly useful/insightful. Any focused practice has that characteristic, and there are better terminologies and concepts to employ to discuss them.

Sure. Almost everyone "loves" music, but few devote time to only listening to it.
I'll spend one or two nights a week just listening to music or watching concert videos

 

[EJ3]

Fair enough, I was of course paraphrasing, and they did mean 'focus' really even though 'sit' was the word used.

I do listen to music while doing things at times of course, but (like you I think) I live somewhere where the ambient soundscape is mostly natural and pleasing so I don't often require music as a masking background. And I do like to listen (to new material especially, but also just things I just like a lot) while entirely focused, it seems a waste to do otherwise.

I just cannot stay in one position long. So, I do things while I listen. Not usually like going into other sections of the house, just not sitting still.