If you’ve been following my high-end audio show reports over the years, you know I always reserve time for the Joseph Audio, Doshi Audio, Cardas, Aurender, J. Sikora and Berkeley Audio Design room. It’s a personal respite from the sometimes aggravating atmosphere during the shows where too many people are chatting and trying to get your attention or, even worse, acting as if they’re at home listening to their own systems. Jeff Joseph, ever the consummate gentleman, understands this. He’s always polite and generous and helpful to show attendees, even if they’re not quite familiar with high-end audio show etiquette. We should all be more like Jeff Joseph.
I’m not nearly as patient and kind.
Words and Photos by Marc Phillips
The Florida International Audio Expo is still a new show, and sometimes it takes a while for show attendees to learn the ropes. When AXPONA first landed in Chicago, for example, I occasionally fielded strange and obnoxious questions from the crowd that indicated, at least to me, that they were lost and had absolutely no knowledge of high-end audio. That’s okay–that’s why we’re here, to answer questions. But I’ve already mentioned the two gentlemen who sat behind me in the big Audio Group Denmark room, the ones who went on and on about their favorite medications while others in the room were trying to enjoy their rare seat time in front of a two-million-dollar hi-fi system.
In the Jeff Joseph room, I witnessed something a little more sinister. Brian Hunter was in there with me, and he was listening and taking video and snapping a few photos. He had finally worked his way to the sweet spot and he stood up briefly to snap another photo, A show attendee pushed in behind him, grabbed his seat, and practically sat on Brian’s belongings. Jeff Joseph saw this and told the gentleman Brian was coming back. The man did not respond. Brian came back and asked for his seat back. The man did not respond. Brian went to fetch his belonging from under the man’s legs, and he made no effort to provide access. That’s just not the way we do things at high-end audio shows.
I almost hate to bring Jeff Joseph into this, but that’s part of the point. When I visit Jeff’s rooms, I know that the next ten or fifteen minutes will be spent in fine company–with Jeff, with Nick Doshi, with Jeff’s incredible playlist, with a system that is a gift when it comes to providing the kind of sound most audiophiles want. Why be a jerk? Jeff was playing his superb Joseph Audio Perspective2 Graphene speakers, using a Studer reel-to-reel as a source. It sounded glorious, as usual. And we should all be patient and wait for our turn to hear something this special.
Mr.Joseph should have asked the man to leave his room-(sounds like they need security these days)— we would not have been that polite and patient.but would seek peace, to avoid damaging any of the $$ kit in the room.Society is getting worse every year–very sad.