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I live alone.
Reader Louis McFarlane asks a question that may touch a nerve or two among audiophiles.
Friends...if they know a thing or two about audio. You don't want people pressing buttons and doing God knows what to your precisly set up system (especially when gain is different than volume...good lord nobody understands that)!
I encourage my wife to use my Hi-Fi; I figure it will only increase my chances of upgrading my speakers,preamp,and cables. Once the music sounds to her the way it does to me. Although, I think to her the sony clock radio is a little more spouse friendly.
Hey! Ten years ago, the little woman (viola player, music teacher, and angelic-voiced church soloist) told ME that my 1968 KLH Model 21 system just didn't cut it anymore. Three systems and probably $10,000 later, how can I tell her not to play Suzuki CDs at lessons and, generally, to enjoy it any time she wants? I am delighted when she does.
Basically, my son! The reason I let him use my system is to let him get the hang of it so he also learns something and does not ruin it out of curiosity as to how the damn thing works while I am away from home. He is 9 years old and he has been at it since he was just 3. I started using my Dad's system when I was less than 3. He sure feels proud of it, and is my companion when I get new music or a new piece of equipment once in a blue moon.
What fun is having a great-sounding system if you don't encourage other people to enjoy it? As long as they're careful, I show them how to load CDs, how to adjust the volume, and tell them to have fun! I do limit use of the Thorens to people who listen carefully and try to be careful.
I chose "Friend" for two reasons. One, I get lazy, and he'll flip the LP (another vinyl convert) and adjust the volume with my full confidence and blessings (he picks out good tunes, too!). Two, I would let my wife, but she's afraid of our system despite all my instruction in proper care and procedure. You see, when we were dating many moons ago, I fell asleep with the stereo on. She was going to "help" by turning the system off, which she did starting with the preamp and without turning the volume down. With a snap! and thaWOOUUNK!! and the flash of the internal fuse blowing, all went quiet and dark. She thought it was over---the stereo, the relationship, everything. Happily, I love her more than that silicone contraption (tubes may be another matter), and the amplifier was a Heathkit I had built, so the problem was eaisily fixed. However, to this day, she is extremely hesitant to operate any of the equipment, despite my encouragement to do so. I will keep trying to get her interested in this hobby.
I want everyone in my family to be interested in good sound and, especially, music. This required some compromising, like choosing a Rega RB900 arm instead of the Graham, but I think that the tradeoff is worth it. Music, vinyl included, should be for everyone in the family.