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Five things I learned at hi-fi shows

- ROGIER VAN BAKEL

"I hope you're decompressing from AXPONA," I recently wrote to a frazzled-looking friend I'd met at this greatest of North American hi-fi shows. Google's spellcheck offered to change decompressing to decomposing. I declined, though it's true that such expos can be grueling-just not grueling enough to stay away.

In these observations about high-end audio shows, fondness is foremost, but a few dark side notes will slip in.

1. EVERYBODY THERE IS CRAZY-IN A GOOD WAY.

In the real world, do people slap you on the back when they learn that you're about to spend the equivalent of a Tesla on a hi-fi system? Unlikely. They may slap you across the face instead, trying to bring you back to your senses.

One of the rewards of being at audio shows is that you're surrounded by like-minded people. (My wife calls them enablers.) The vibe is heightened, with a strong sense of camaraderie. That we all understand each other is rewarding, even intoxicating. I suppose this is no different from a furries convention, although audiophiles have better-sounding music and fewer fleas.¹ Probably.

2. HI-FI SHOWS ARE A WELCOME RESPITE FROM POLITICS AND OTHER PROBLEMS.