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Do You Allow Anyone Else To Operate Your Rig?

No one touches my system...period.

At a dinner party about a year ago, I had a cd playing in the background. When the cd finished, I was busy in the kitchen and entertaining guests. After about 15 minutes of no music, a guest felt that he should start the music up again. I looked up and saw this guy pushing buttons and turning knobs trying to figure out how to get the system going. I must have given him a frosty stare that would have made Medusa proud. My 11 year-old son saw my expression and felt sorry for the guy and went over and told him, "sir, no one is allowed to touch my dad's stuff".

Do other family members play your rig? Do you allow guests to operate your system?

Sorry, but no one is allowed to touch my stuff and I don't apologize for it. I don't even allow anyone to dust it off. Once the housekeeper dusted off my turntable and bent the stylus, ruined it....$500 bucks gone just like that. I never said a word to her about it, I just told her not to ever dust of my equipment again.

In another incident someone tried to play an LP while I was not watching. He got the turntable going but couldn't figure out how to get sound from the system. When I went over to see what was going on, he had the volume turned all the way up to maximum but still had no sound...of course he had no idea what a phono preamp was and of course it was not turned on. Had he turned the source knob one turn to my tuner which was switched on, he probably would have done serious damage to my speakers and scared the heck out of all of my guests with a loud blast. I politely told him not to ever touch my stuff again.

I've never had a guest over that was an audiophile.
mitch4t
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
I'm not sure how fingerpints on CD can dirty lens, but it's easy to show your friend how to handle CD.

When I visit my friends I never touch their stereo or TV or VCR for the same reson that I don't open their drawers or refigirator but if my guest wants to set music himself I will show him how and politely instruct him not to turn volume knob beyond certain point (and explain why) if there is no sound. My 4 year old daughter was operating my TT doing better job than I did (being more carefull) - it's not rocket science folks.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
I generally allow anything that can be done with the remote. The TT is a different since I've found that even adults tend to not understand how fragile the stylus can be and how much it costs to replace it. I trust audiophile friends, but expect them to replace anything they might break, just as I would if I broke something in their system. (I never touch someone else's stuff without asking first).

Another good rule is no cleaning of equipment, including dusting. Speakers can be dusted, but new maids have to be taught not to run the vacuum into the side of the speakers. I assure you, if left to their own devices, they'll scratch the sides of your speakers with the vacuum.

Dave
jim_swantko
301 posts
 
Kenny -

You use a processor as a pre-amp... any monkey can operate one of those!!! :)

I kid.. I kid!!
phd
1,008 posts
 
Let me give you a case scenario. I was entertaining six guests. Some of these people brought over their own CDs. I put on a CD adjusted the volume and left the room for a couple of minutes to answer the phone. One wanted to kick up the volume but accidently touched the rotary input selector (it is the soft touch electronic type). Apparently this person had turned the volume up all the way up trying to get sound. When I returned I pointed out it was on the wrong input, (not knowing the volume was still all the way up) I turned the rotary input selector to CD and was immediately blasted out. I panicked but was able to turn it down fast. Fortunately no damage occured to my speakers because of my immediate action. But this is how too many hands spoil the pot.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,486 posts
 
Phd......I was one input click away from the same thing that happened to you. Four monoblocs each rated at 1200 wpc uleashed at maximum volume...I still shudder at the thought of what I would have heard and the potential damage that could have been caused.

I feel better now about my hands-off policy. I knew I couldn't be the only person that felt that way.
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