Women and Home Theater: Audioholics 2008 State of The CE Union is For Everyone

[admin]

Typically, consumer electronics and home theater are perceived as a man’s domain, but with so much attention to aesthetics, ease of use and affordability in the industry, it's no surprise that now more than ever women are into it too. We're taking an interest in everything from the latest developments in surround sound technology to the footprint the high-tech speakers will leave in our living rooms.


Discuss "Women and Home Theater: Audioholics 2008 State of The CE Union is For Everyone" here. Read the article.

[cfrizz]

As a woman I have been into audio for most of my life. I got my first set up back in 1981 & have just grown since then.

I am a little different from most women in that I LIKE speakers that you can actually see. (No small little cubes hidden away for me!) This is NOT a one size fits all proposition!

But if you want to interest more women into the world of audio, you have to take a couple of other things into consideration not just the looks.

1. Stop being condescending towards us, some of us while not being able to discuss specs & other technical crap that we don't give a fig about, have done our research & pretty much have a good idea about what we want to achieve!

One stupid idiot at Tweeter lost a $2000.00 sale back in 1990 by laughing at me and said that I couldn't achieve what I wanted for that little bit of money. (He was wrong, & Spirit Sound got the the money & a life long customer that day!)

The other thing to think of is WEIGHT (not necessarily size for me).

I live alone & have no significant other to call upon, so I HAVE to be able to manage whatever gear I get. (Besides it's MY GEAR!)

So I have a weight limit of around 40lbs for whatever I get, be it amps or tower speakers.

Last week I attended PolkFest 2008 (held for P.A. forum members) that was held this year again at Polk Audio HQ in Baltimore, MD. I placed a bug in Matt Polk's ear by telling him that I would love a pair of LSI tower speakers, but at 65lbs each I can't physically manage them. Once he understood it was the weight & not the size, he IMMEDIATELY started thinking about it tossing out a couple of thoughts on the spot. It was a GREAT 2 DAYS THANKS POLK AUDIO!

So if you really want to start attracting more women to get into audio, you need to adjust how you think about talking to us & marketing to us.

Cathy

[Adam]

Excellent article! I admit that I like looking at the numbers and comparing specs, but in the end, I (and I'd bet most of us - men and women) am the same way - I just like to sit down and enjoy.

[Wayde Robson]

right on Adam

I think people get too caught up in specs anyway. There is something to be said for actually listening. Sadly you usually can't get a good idea of speaker's real sound quality in the store... so are you back to specs again?

sort of... I think you have to take your space into consideration first and then think about what speakers are going to fill it. then you have budget and ... this is a tricky one... the reputation of the manufacturer.

In the end men and women listen the same way. But I think men are tweakers where women want to get involved in the story right away.

[WINGNUT4772]

As a woman I have been into audio for most of my life. I got my first set up back in 1981 & have just grown since then.

I am a little different from most women in that I LIKE speakers that you can actually see. (No small little cubes hidden away for me!) This is NOT a one size fits all proposition!

But if you want to interest more women into the world of audio, you have to take a couple of other things into consideration not just the looks.

1. Stop being condescending towards us, some of us while not being able to discuss specs & other technical crap that we don't give a fig about, have done our research & pretty much have a good idea about what we want to achieve!

One stupid idiot at Tweeter lost a $2000.00 sale back in 1990 by laughing at me and said that I couldn't achieve what I wanted for that little bit of money. (He was wrong, & Spirit Sound got the the money & a life long customer that day!)

The other thing to think of is WEIGHT (not necessarily size for me).

I live alone & have no significant other to call upon, so I HAVE to be able to manage whatever gear I get. (Besides it's MY GEAR!)

So I have a weight limit of around 40lbs for whatever I get, be it amps or tower speakers.

Last week I attended PolkFest 2008 (held for P.A. forum members) that was held this year again at Polk Audio HQ in Baltimore, MD. I placed a bug in Matt Polk's ear by telling him that I would love a pair of LSI tower speakers, but at 65lbs each I can't physically manage them. Once he understood it was the weight & not the size, he IMMEDIATELY started thinking about it tossing out a couple of thoughts on the spot. It was a GREAT 2 DAYS THANKS POLK AUDIO!

So if you really want to start attracting more women to get into audio, you need to adjust how you think about talking to us & marketing to us.

Cathy

Amen! (Hi Cathy )
I have also been into audio in one form or another my entire life. I will say though that most women just are not. None of my friends are and they think I am nuts (they may be right).
I don't have the size limit restrictions. I'll move it all 'til my back goes out.

Women think differently. As far as marketing..all my women friends think Bose is the Shiznit..so what does that tell you?

[jamie2112]

Very nice response Cathy. I agree 110% with you. I just like to listen rather than go over specs. I use my ears not a spec sheet. I love the fact that women are as into audio as men and should be treated as equals PERIOD.

[cfrizz]

Hi Darla!!!

ROTFLMAO! You know I was thinking about you & your full set of LSI speakers & SVS subs while I was typing that bit above!

You're a better/stronger woman than I am girl! Plus I don't like pain!

I think a lot of it has to do with conditioning & training. My father was a musician and introduced ALL of us to music at a very early age. I think that kind of influence went a long way in my involvement in this hobby. If he had excluded me, I would probably be one of those brainwashed dingbats thinking that Bose was the best.

Amen! (Hi Cathy )
I have also been into audio in one form or another my entire life. I will say though that most women just are not. None of my friends are and they think I am nuts (they may be right).
I don't have the size limit restrictions. I'll move it all 'til my back goes out.

Women think differently. As far as marketing..all my women friends think Bose is the Shiznit..so what does that tell you?

[engtaz]

Darla, missed you at SOTU.

engtaz

[WINGNUT4772]

Darla, missed you at SOTU.

engtaz

State of the Union?

[3db]

As a woman I have been into audio for most of my life. I got my first set up back in 1981 & have just grown since then.

I am a little different from most women in that I LIKE speakers that you can actually see. (No small little cubes hidden away for me!) This is NOT a one size fits all proposition!

But if you want to interest more women into the world of audio, you have to take a couple of other things into consideration not just the looks.

1. Stop being condescending towards us, some of us while not being able to discuss specs & other technical crap that we don't give a fig about, have done our research & pretty much have a good idea about what we want to achieve!

One stupid idiot at Tweeter lost a $2000.00 sale back in 1990 by laughing at me and said that I couldn't achieve what I wanted for that little bit of money. (He was wrong, & Spirit Sound got the the money & a life long customer that day!)

The other thing to think of is WEIGHT (not necessarily size for me).

I live alone & have no significant other to call upon, so I HAVE to be able to manage whatever gear I get. (Besides it's MY GEAR!)

So I have a weight limit of around 40lbs for whatever I get, be it amps or tower speakers.

Last week I attended PolkFest 2008 (held for P.A. forum members) that was held this year again at Polk Audio HQ in Baltimore, MD. I placed a bug in Matt Polk's ear by telling him that I would love a pair of LSI tower speakers, but at 65lbs each I can't physically manage them. Once he understood it was the weight & not the size, he IMMEDIATELY started thinking about it tossing out a couple of thoughts on the spot. It was a GREAT 2 DAYS THANKS POLK AUDIO!

So if you really want to start attracting more women to get into audio, you need to adjust how you think about talking to us & marketing to us.

Cathy

Dam, Where were you like 22 years ago? I wish my wife would enjoy my enthusiam but she very much hates my hobby.

As far as the weight thing goes ( and I'm sure you want your independence) just hire a gorilla to move your stuff around. Unfortunately, weight is very hard to shed in speakers without losing the inertness of the cabinet there in.
In amplfiers you can go the Class D route (so called digital amps) which will shed the weight of both power supplies and heat sinks.