Wonder What the Rich Folks Are Doing

jmasterj

While reading my latest Stereophile mag I came across a interesting statement. Art Dudley wrote " even rich people have cheap, junky hi-fis---that, or no hi-fis at all. I've met some very well-to-do people and visited homes where the rairty and grandeur and sheer costliness of the furnishings have left me breathless--and the best "music system" I've seen in the vast majority of those setting was a Bose Wave Radio".

I just can't fathom having money, or being well-to-do, and not having at least what I have now. Let me see get this priceless painting and listen to a Bose Wave Radio. Or get a real real nice system and look at some cheap reproduction. I really need to get my priorities in order. I would simply die without my music & movies. What ya say fellas

MxStYlEpOlKmAn

gimmie 10 mil, 1 mil on audio - 2-100,000 on a house, 90,000 on a car (preferably a dodge viper), the rest in my bank account and on food, clothing-etc

MxStYlEpOlKmAn

lmao - and a bose POS clock radio in every room for giggles and laughs (i wouldnt own nething bose if someone paid me.....)

LiquidSound

I wonder what it would cost to have Polk custom fabricate a speaker to your style and preference. If I had just won the powerball, ya damn right I'd be asking!! Soon too..as an excellent system would be a very high priority, once I got filthy rich.

TroyD

Well, audio is just not a priority for some folks. For many, music is just ambient noise and for those folks, hey, Bose isn't a bad choice.

BDT

cheapbeemr

The observation is generally accurate - the rich tend to have 'nice' furnishings because the wife has paid an interior decorator to stuff the place with whatever's currently high-status. They tend to have little actual appreciation of quality; they'll have a huge kitchen with professional range and fridge, but the chef's knives will be some cheap knockoffs from Target. In addition, in our current conservative business world, music simply isn't done. Golf is, and watching football weekends, but not music. Any attention paid to music implies a possible insufficiently butch sensibility, which absolutely cannot be risked.

Jstas

I positivly hate Bose.

Most over-rated craptastic pile of junk I have ever seen.

Like so many people say of cars, there is no replacement for displacement. There is no way that a 6 inch sub driver in a tuned enclosure is going to out punch a 10 inch sub driver backed by a couple hundred watts.

Sure they sound nice but there is no feeling behind them. I have friend who is looking at getting the top of the line Bose stereo speakers and I keep telling him to go and listen to the new LS Polk speakers. For what he is going to pay for the Bose, he could have an entire Polk home theater.

Anyway, I used to do installs in rich folks houses with a friend. Some would get the hint and I would see everything from Klipsch, Polk and Machintosh stuff to higher end Carver and other companies with very German names. Others would want the cheap Realistic or RCA ProAudio or ProVideo junk. One guy even wanted an entirely wireless Recoton system. My friend looked at him and said "Why do you need me then? Look, don't waste my time." Then he promptly walked out.

A few old addages I have heard the describe this type of situation to a T:

"More money than brains."
"More money than they know what to do with"
"Doesn't use the brains they were born with."

Granted like what was already mentioned, audio/video is not everyone's priority. But even if it wasn't my priority and I had the excess cash, I wouldn't be going to K-Mart for the latest AIWA pile of garbage.

brettw22

Originally posted by Jstas
I positivly hate Bose.

....I wouldn't be going to K-Mart for the latest AIWA pile of garbage.

I used to have one of those Bose Wave-Radio, and while true that overall their sound has something to be desired, I was pretty impressed with the sound that came out of the little thing. I don't have a lot of listening time with their full size speakers (other than a pair of the 901's about 10 years ago), but I'll defend the wave radio for doing what it's built for. Pricey? yes....that's the only 'issue' that I'd say that I had with it. Same goes with the Aiwa systems. Granted, they're not for the person that has a ton of money, but for a college kid on a budget, they can't go wrong.........

Jstas

Operative words here:

"Granted, they're not for the person that has a ton of money...on a budget"

Which is the exact opposite of the entire premise of this thread. Not trying to be a jerk but if you are going to quote me out of context, at least do it when the thread is concerning what you are chastising me about.

Also, I agree that the Bose stuff is impressive, for what it is. I believe that I stated that in the other 90% of my post that you chose not to nitpick on. However, I do feel that it is not worth the money you have to pay for it, it's way overrated and I know I could do better for my money.

As far as college kids go, for the price of some of the AIWA stuff, I could pick up a JVC, Kenwood, Yamaha or Sony unit and do alot better for my money and time. The AIWA stuff does sound nice but thier quality control leaves very much to be desired and they seem overly complicated and way too busy in design. I used to work at a local department store that carried AIWA's entire line save for the car stereo stuff. I had the chance to audition many systems from them and truthfully, I found Magnavox stuff to be on the same level for sound quality but easier to operate and cheaper than the AIWA stuff. Also, for every Maganvox returned for faulty operation or defect, there were 2-3 Aiwa units returned. Kinda says somethings to me.

My opinions are not pulled out of thin air. I have a good deal of experience with this stuff for a person my age. I'm not trying to be arrogant or cocky. I am merely offering my brutally honest opinions based on my experience from lessons learned. Sometimes learned the hard way. I learned at an early age, you get what you pay for and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Hence my position on Bose and the AIWA stuff.

MxStYlEpOlKmAn

I've seen a bunch of Aiwa'a Shelf System goes down the drain, I would take JVC over ne other brand ne day! I have heard the bose waveradio, it sounded nice - for a clock radio. The only thing i heard wrong with it was, boooooomy bass, the bass was toooooooooooo loud, there really was noooooooooo highs, i just couldnt see it being worth 300-500 dollars, thats insane

MxStYlEpOlKmAn

wtf u talking about? i want it accurate, tight, clear, detailed, wide soundstage and perfect.........right...........sure.....if its loud, clear, and detailed, and a wide soundstage - im cool

Ja Rule gets a new car every 6 months...

davew43

Maybe those music writers on MTV are sick of music and dont really want to bring there jobs home with them...

madmax

First of all, I'm wondering what this statement means: "Any attention paid to music implies a possible insufficiently butch sensibility, which absolutely cannot be risked". I'm not disputing it, just don't understand what it means.

I'm with ATC on his comment about people under 25. They normally want impact and rawness. I think it is because they cannot yet appreciate what they are hearing. Listening is a tough skill that takes a lot of time and patience to learn. I became a listener at about 35. I thought I was at 25 but when I look back on it, I really was not. Everyone starts learning somewhere.
madmax

Jstas

I'm 25 and the only reason I do not have a home theater system is that I don't own my own house yet. The only reason I goto Circuit City and hang out in the car audio section is because I'm looking for fuses that they don't have or wire that they don't have.

I have always put clarity and accuracy over noise. Noise is not appealing to me. It's usually laden with distortion and sounds bad. I have sensitive ears and I can hear and even pinpoint distortion and other noises that other people need equipment to locate. I've done it on a few occasions.

So ATCVenom, I do believe that you are like most older folk who blindly believe that the young generations have nothing to offer and that you can't learn anything from them. Well, all I have to say is, your loss.

As far as Circuit City goes (or any other large chain like Best Buy or Tweeter) my opinion of them is also very low. My experience with thier sales staff has been less than ideal. Only twice have I had salesman (one at Circuit City and one at Tweeter) stop thier pitch and say, "OK, you obviously known what you are talking about so what are you looking for?" Which is far too rare. It's actually kind of sad that so many places think they know what thier customers want and have generic solutions for everyone.

Jstas

I do believe that your "exception" is more likely the norm at this site. If you do not wish to be mistaken or taken out of context, consider your frame of reference. As far as putting words in your mouth, I did nothing of the sort. I made an assumption based on what little information I have of you and your statement. Kinda sucks when someone pegs you without knowing anything about you huh?

I do not require the "advice" of experts. All I require is a spec sheet. If you know what the numbers mean, you can get a good idea of the capabilities of the equipmnt without ever hearing it. As far as hearing it goes, the best expert is me because these ears are attached to my head.

Don't get me wrong, I don't go to little guy stereo shops drooling all over everything and humping the salesguy's leg either. I dislike teh expert opinions and advice. All I want is for them to answer my questions and most of them, big and little store alike, can't do that. I've been around this stuff for a long time. At least 10 years I have been avidly into accurate sound reproduction. Like I said before, I have opinions for reasons based on experiences.

mantis

While reading my latest Stereophile mag I came across a interesting statement. Art Dudley wrote " even rich people have cheap, junky hi-fis---that, or no hi-fis at all. I've met some very well-to-do people and visited homes where the rairty and grandeur and sheer costliness of the furnishings have left me breathless--and the best "music system" I've seen in the vast majority of those setting was a Bose Wave Radio".

I just can't fathom having money, or being well-to-do, and not having at least what I have now. Let me see get this priceless painting and listen to a Bose Wave Radio. Or get a real real nice system and look at some cheap reproduction. I really need to get my priorities in order. I would simply die without my music & movies. What ya say fellas

As said in this thead already,I'll put it in my own words.
People with alot of money,well off rich,whatever are no different then you and I my friend.I can see your point but the stock one puts in to what they buy is as that.I'm around "THE RICH" just about everyday.They buy in at a level as they are into it.....meaning if they"THE RICH" are buying for novality,then less of systems come out.Die hard audio/videophiles buy good stuff.SOme of them invest there money in whole house systems and Theater all in one shot.Dropping like 80k.The gear is mostly average at best and sometimes you will see killer gear in killed rooms due to WAF...........You will find them in Toll Brothers houses 1 million and up,B&W's everywhere and now Hummers.Maids,cooks,butlers,name it......

TroyD

Kids, Kids, Kids

Do you know what the most important thing in life is? (think Three Kings, here)

Neccessity.

At age 25, despite my interest and desire for audio gear, there were more important things in life. Food, rent, utilities, gas, car insurance and dating the lovely Wendi. Those things were neccessary. As all young lads hopefully learn. What you want takes a backseat to what you need. It wasn't until close to 30 that I was able to afford some of the things I want and even today, I am probably the Fred Sanford of audio because it's not something i will go into debt over.

Also bear in mind, that to many folks, regardless of income. Audio (and video) means zilch. Sort of like me, computers mean nothing. I am plunking away on an old 166mhz computer with a dark 14" monitor and a busted printer. Guess what, I don't really care. It serves my purpose.

Remember lads, not everyone has the same frame of reference as you do.

BDT

SPEAKER7

Mantis! your back....good to see I guess you must be waiting around for me and my future Rotels/speaks.

Anyway's in my case I'll speak for the working middle class.......I do not own my own place but living with my folks and the wife and my big interest is in audio and video and also playing some ball hockey. I have a great HT set up but I am waiting around to save up enough to pay for my 2ch system.......I have a great time learning more and more about stereos from my present receivers to separate amps which I don't have yet but hopefully soon early next year and I have a learned alot from everyone on this board.........Lots friends and family has been bugging me to buy a place of my own but I do not find that is my big interest and I don't want to be tide down with a huge debt/mortgage for ever but I rather take my pay cheque and go for a great audio/video system that I will enjoy everyday of the week. I would still park some money aside for a rainy day/future and not go in to debt....however if the wife can't stand living here anymore or if I get the boot then I will think again but right now the roof over my head is rent free. On the other hand alot of RICH or WEALTHY folks will definitely like to live in a huge monster homes and have the greatest furniture,art work,wine and nice cars but audio/video equipment they may not know what's the best around because some may be too busy at the office making money or jet setting but there are some exceptions who do know their stuff....ie. Mark Leviston/, Classe,......etc....lots of other stuff that I might never of heard of.......I guess depending on the who the person and their taste.


Sonytv! .......sorry, I thing I'm getting off track!!!!!

TroyD

Agreed Sean, I'm not trying to pass judgement on anyone but it would seem that in our society, the line between 'wants' and 'needs' is pretty hazy. This would somewhat explain the trend for people staying at home longer. Mind you, I'm not passing judgement, rather just observing.

The other end, well, maturity (and I don't mean this in a negative way at all) comes with age. What we like at 20 WILL differ from what we like at 30.

BDT

mantis

The other end, well, maturity (and I don't mean this in a negative way at all) comes with age. What we like at 20 WILL differ from what we like at 30.

I'll just have to agree with this one.The same thing goes with sound.I believe someone once said it.Loud and clear to detailed and depth........or something.

speaker7,
hey bud.Thank you very much.......I'll be watching you.

brettw22

Jstas........

Do me a favor and pull the stick out of your **** and wind down a bit. I'm not sure what you're problem is, but lose the attitude. If you have information to provide/share, so be it. Am I to be somehow impressed that you pick what sounds good to you by a spec sheet? ATC didn't say that YOU were the one that went for boomy because you're younger........he said in general. If you don't fit into the generality, yay.....take a **** pill.

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your less high-strung and antagonistic posts......oh ya......Thanks for sharing your special source of information......

Jstas

Don't preach to me. This didn't and still doesn't involve you and incase you didn't notice. It's been done and over with for a while now. ATC should take his own advice and that's that. I was rather put off the the comment he made and I have every right to be. I voiced my piece about it and that was that.

You did say yourself that he said "in general" and I myself fall into his age grouping and fit his stereotype. Why am I not to take offense? Why cannot I not show that the majority does not fit that stereotype? That exact stereotype is the same reason why I get told I am a "know-nothing kid" by older people who refuse to listen to me and then told by people my own age that I'm either "old" or "have a stick/bug/whatever up my ****". I don't fit the stereotype and I'm sure than many people here who were stereotyped by that statement don't fit it either. ATC himself obviously doesn't. I'm just the only one who spoke up about it.

There is no "stick in my ****". If I don't agree with something to a point where I feel the need to speak I will. If that is not liked here then I will leave graciously. I'm not trying to "impress" anyone. I am merely trying to avoid having to explain myself and my background to those who feel threatened by me.

I do have alot to offer and I offer it freely and willingly. I do not take kindly to close minds, arrogance and loud mouths. I am not implying that anyone I have conversed with so far is any of the above but I don't give **** and I'm not going to take it. It's sad that a person can't stand up for what they believe in because they will be ridculed by the status quo.

I said before, we are all after the same goal here. Don't close your mind to possibilities. Don't hold blind stereotypes or allegiances. There shouldn't be any sides here because we are all already on the same team, <super cheesy>team Polk Audio.</super cheesy>

brettw22

Originally posted by Jstas
I was rather put off the the comment he made and I have every right to be. You did say yourself that he said "in general" and I myself fall into his age grouping and fit his stereotype.

Why you are "put off" by something that ATC has noticed in his experience with people and their systems is amazing. He also didn't say you didn't know what you were talking about. He said if you don't know anything about the person(subject) then don't make assumptions. Pretty simple.....I'm not sure how old you are exactly, but I presume you're as pissed at the insurance company because you're charged more since "generally", the younger age bracket drives worse.........

Originally posted by Jstas
If I don't agree with something to a point where I feel the need to speak I will. If that is not liked here then I will leave graciously. I'm not trying to "impress" anyone. I am merely trying to avoid having to explain myself and my background to those who feel threatened by me.

That last statement alone puts you in the disregard category with me. Feel threatened by you? I'm assuming that if I call you an arrogant ****, that wouldn't be the first time you've heard it........Should I apologize for making that assumption?:rolleyes:

Originally posted by Jstas
It's sad that a person can't stand up for what they believe in because they will be ridculed by the status quo.

There's a difference between standing up for what you believe in and acting like your own age groups martyr. Learn to relax......

Originally posted by Jstas
There shouldn't be any sides here because we are all already on the same team, <super cheesy>team Polk Audio.</super cheesy>

A LOT of the guys here don't feel that this is a "<super cheesy>" forum or hobby. If you wanna treat it as such and within your first 10-15 posts act the way you have, maybe you're better off somewhere else that doesn't mind the "angry youth" approach you're goin with.......I personally grew out of it around 18......

gidrah

Well, I got my 18yr old girlfriend a diamond encrusted butt-plug, and a seaside apartment.

Buzz-buzz-buzz

My wife got lypo and inplants.

Buzz-buzz-buzz

My daughter a pony and an appointment to Julliard.

Buzz-buzz-buzz



Actually I bought myself a new alarm clock so I can stop that damn buzzing when I'm having a happy dream.

madmax

Originally posted by Jstas

All I require is a spec sheet. If you know what the numbers mean, you can get a good idea of the capabilities of the equipmnt without ever hearing it.

I have to dispute that. Some of the cheapest crappy sounding Sony receivers out there have specs better than any of my equipment. I'm sure the specs are correct but they are several classes down in sound quality. The problem with specs are that they tell you a few parameters which do not adequatly describe sound, they are just a few measureable bench marks which can be used by a marketing department. I don't think I own an amp that is less than about 5% distortion. The Sony line generally has about 0.1% or less of Harmonic distortion and about 0.001% intermodulation distortion. These numbers are truthful but not very telling. Given that, I guess you would pass up an Adcom, Carver, McIntosh or Sunfire amp and go for the Sony? I don't think so. Speakers are even worse. 100-200 wpc, 18 - 22,000 hz describes most of the stuff out there. Just pick one?
madmax

Jstas

Geez Brett talk about a bug up an ****.

I live in New Jersey. Insurance is a moot point at any age.

I know what ATC said and I asked him how it felt because his assumptions were along the same lines. Again, it's long since over. Why are you beating a dead horse? We were both wrong and that is that. On top of that, my original statement, while probably not put forth in the nicest way, was merely to point out that in his present company, his stereotype was not the norm but the exception. I accepted his answer and can see his point of view without needlessly prolonging a thread that becomes painful for other users to view and completely diverges from the original intent of the thread's author.

You only believe that I am acting like a martyr because you are not standing on this side. I'm not going to make any assumptions about age or anything else with you. But obviously certain "assumptions" have gotten to you too so how can you honestly sit there and chastise me for something you yourself are doing? If you think that standing up for myself puts me in your disreagard category well then, I have a big **** you for you. If you can't see past your own prejudices and approach things with an open mind then take you stereotypes and assumptions and stick them where the sun don't shine. I'm not here to make enemies and I'm not here to piss in anybody's Wheaties. I try to answer in intelligent and thought-out responses but I'm not going to be preached to by someone who is most likely marginally older than myself and thinks they have it all figured out. I know I don't and I don't try to make believe I do.

Lastly, I DON'T think the club is cheesy. If I thought it was cheesy, I wouldn't even be here! The cheesy remark was due to the last statement that I made that I thought was rather sappy and cheesy. However, I couldn't think of another way to end it without hearing about how I was on some kind of a soapbox or have a "holier than thou" attitude. So I gave it a "tongue-in-cheek" twist and tried to show sarcasm and an ability to laugh at myself. Of course though, in your fit of needless and blind rage, you failed to see the "smiley" winking at you at the end.

I'm not an "angry youth". You are antagonizing something that was settled and left to die. You have no idea who I am. You haven't even given me a chance to get to know me. I can count on one hand the number of people here who have and you aren't on that list. All you have done is give me a hard time. I don't know if it's part of some initiation or what but I've tried to act with nothing but honesty and respect here and I get BS shoved in my face for it. If this is how you people treat new users here then I can see why you have to beg them to post.

If you don't think I am not threatening then why is this continuing? You obviously think I have attacked you in some way so that would make me a threat, would it not? Here is some advice for you Brett. Don't take things at face value. Use your head for more than a hat rack and think about things instead of acting on emotion.

Oh yeah and try to relax. <-- See, smiley. Laugh, it's all in good fun! No hard feelings here but I hope you can see my point. Even if I'm seemingly not the nicest person.

Jstas

Originally posted by madmax001


I have to dispute that. Some of the cheapest crappy sounding Sony receivers out there have specs better than any of my equipment. I'm sure the specs are correct but they are several classes down in sound quality. The problem with specs are that they tell you a few parameters which do not adequatly describe sound, they are just a few measureable bench marks which can be used by a marketing department. I don't think I own an amp that is less than about 5% distortion. The Sony line generally has about 0.1% or less of Harmonic distortion and about 0.001% intermodulation distortion. These numbers are truthful but not very telling. Given that, I guess you would pass up an Adcom, Carver, McIntosh or Sunfire amp and go for the Sony? I don't think so. Speakers are even worse. 100-200 wpc, 18 - 22,000 hz describes most of the stuff out there. Just pick one?
madmax

Check that post again. I'm not disputing you at all. I agree with you but, you are quoting me out of context. Here is my entire statement below:

I do not require the "advice" of experts. All I require is a spec sheet. If you know what the numbers mean, you can get a good idea of the capabilities of the equipmnt without ever hearing it. As far as hearing it goes, the best expert is me because these ears are attached to my head.

What I meant was that I do not require having an "expert" blabbering numbers in my ear. All I need to see is a spec sheet to answer questions I have about technical specifications. I do not need an expert to tell me how it sounds either, I have my own two ears for that and that makes me an expert in what I think sounds good. So where is my need for an "expert"? I have spec sheets, I have a listen to the equipment and I can figure out for myself if the spec sheet is an accurate representation and if I even like the equipment.

As far as the specs you have mentioned, you need to tell me what you are planning to use that equipment in. Is it a car or is it a home? Two different environments. Favorable specs for a home theater are quite different from a car stereo mainly because a car is a much more elctronically hostile enviroment than a home. (Please don't tell me, it was more of a rhetorical statement. I understand your point.)

Please do not take me out of context. I'm trying to approach things with the assumption that I am speaking to people of an average intelligence level or higher. I do not want to have to explain every little idea in my head to an umpteenth degree just to get my point across without people getting upset at me. Fair enough?

brettw22

You overreacted and that's what I took issue with.......

Nite.......

Jstas

Originally posted by brettw22
You overreacted and that's what I took issue with.......

Nite.......

Then I have to ask, why did you react the way you did instead of just simply stating that you felt I was over-reacting?

I apologize for upsetting your or hurting your feelings or what have you.

faster100

geezus!!! Cry no more people... good rant though.. i was sitting here getting my daily read on the forum and here we go again. enjoy the rest of the Holiday !!! Guys because guess what tomorrow is??? Thats right New years EVE brotha.. LOL

madmax

BTW,
I think I won the "when will Mantis be back" poll!!! Heh heh!