How did U get into this expensive hobby?

When I was 15 (1966) I had my 1st job and bought my 1st record player, so I wouldn't have to use my dad's anymore. I bought a mono Admiral with a flip up top. Ooooh, that sounded great. Probably when I was 16 or 17, I bought an Olson stereo amp kit. My friend helped me wire the power supply, speaker, and input jacks. My Dad helped me make a cabinet. I got a BSR turntable, and some 12" coax speakers that I put in some cheap PA cabinets. And it's been upgrade since. Next was an ElectroVoice integrated in 1969, which my Dad inherited from me. I've kept upgrading to Radio Shack speakers and receiver, and a Garrard turntable, and Philips cassette deck. In 1978 I bought a Sansui AU517 integrated amp and matching tuner, and a Phlips GA212 turntable. This actually served me well for about 18 years, then I started reading stereophile. Went through Adcom stuff and several CD players. Now I got 2 systems, one with an Athem Int2 and Klipsch klf20's. And the 2nd system in my music room with Anthem pre and power amps and Klipsch RB-5's. I love the hobby (although sometimes it seems like an essential of life, and currently I am very satisfied with both systems. And although some might condsider my systems as not as high end as others, I still read and dream about some more expensive stuff, while I enjoy the music. And that's what it's all about.

Well that would be in Germany in 77. My wife and I were walking through Fleigerhorst Kasserne (Army base) and we heard this really loud music coming from one of the windows of the barracks. This guy had put his JBL L100's (playing Led Zepplin II) in the window of his room in his barracks pointing outward so everyone at his company party could enjoy some tunes. That was all it took, we ended up with a pair of new Bose 901's, Sansui receiver, and a Kenwood turntable. Ein bier bitte.

About 4 years ago a friend of mine was looking into buying some headphones.He went to a book store to get some information on what was a good headphone to buy.He looked through all the audio mags and ended up buying a Stereophile.It just happened to be an Oct.issue with the recommended components.He brought the Stereophile to my house and forgot it here.I was hooked right away!

I got an offer for a free issue of Stereophile back in Fall 1994, and nothing has been the same since. I always have been passionate about audio, and finally discovered "the show" (as in "major league"). I'm glad.

It all started when I sold my adcom amp I purchased a krell 250 amp When I got it home I hooked up my cardas golden cross and the binding post stripped out was I ticked off what a piece of junk I then found a sims w-5 used amp when it arrived I then knew I found one excellent product Sold my krell 250 cd player krc-3 preamp and when the amp came back it also was gone I then bought the sims p 5 and the eclipse cd player and never looked back The sims got me hooked because what a excellent product very well built and excellent sound Thats where it all started

Before I was twenty or, so, (now 23), I had no idea that there were brands better than Bose, Pioneer, etc. And I could not figure out how is was possible for my aftermarket car stereo to be so much better than than my home Pionner system. So, I bought some $500 Bose floorstanders, thinking, "Ok, I'm ready to rock my butt off, like I do driving down the road". I had them for half a day before I figured out that I liked my $50 pioneer speakers more. Frusterated by my crappy system that had refused to get any better, I bought my first Stereophile. The End.

Interesting stories fellas. Funny how most of us got started by because magazines. I guess the manufacturers got their money's worth through those ads in Stereophile and etc...

I grew up with a Dad that was into audio. Needless to say, i too have the bug along with my brother. The first "stereo" system that i had consisted of a Sony receiver, Bose 301's and a Technics turntable with an Audio Technica cartridge. All of my friends (i was about 13) thought it was the ultimate. I worked my way up to components shortly after that (Pioneer TX 9500 tuner, Marantz cassette, Phase 4000 preamp, Phase 700B amp, Bose 901's, etc...). I've come a long way since then, but one thing hasn't changed. I'm still "toying" with different gear on a regular basis and enjoying it. Sean >

Well I was 19 and wondered into this store that had a plain sign that said "stereos". I was looking for some home theater stuff. When I walked in I was like "what the heck they don't have any home theater stuff just two channel. how do they stay in business?" "holy crap look at the price are they insane"? I had no idea that there was gear this good out there or a community behind it. The owners passionantly convinced me of the superiority of two channel over home theater. They took me in to hear the avalon 2c3d system. From just an effects standpoint alone I was sold let alone how good it sounded. This was way better than having a center channel and "WOE" how did it make sounds come from behind and beside me and over me with no speakers in back? After I heard how amazing just plain stereo can sound I decided to dump home theater like a bad habit and have never looked back since. I was sold and became an audiophile. Curse them and yet thank you. =)

I got a job right out of high school at a store called Wall to Wall Sound and Video. I was 17 and looking for a cashiers position, but the guy who hired me thought I'd make a good salesman, so I landed a job where I got to play with speaker/amp/source combos all day long. This was in 1988 at the start of the CD revolution! I bought my first "real" system that year-- A pioneer changer, a Sony amp, and a pair of JBL LX 55's (along with some Monster Cable). I got to go to manufacturer shows and discover how speakers color music,how power sources have the magical ability to bring realism and an immediacy to sound, and a lesson in critical listening that hooked me on hardware and quality. I've been in love ever since.

Started in the mid eighties with a Sony receiver, Dual turntable and a pair of brand X speakers. Bought a less powerfull HK receiver a year later and found out about high current. Jumped to small Magnepan speakers and a Bryston preamp/amp combo. Went digital a year later with a Denon cdp. Flogged the maggies to my kid brother and bought a pair of Acoustat hybrids. Fell away from the audio bug with travelling for work, kids, school at night, etc. and kept the same system for 8 years. Got back into it a little over a year ago and have changed my entire system, some components more than once. Built up a second more modest sytem (by my standards) for home theater over the last 2 years. Now all I need is a dedicated room what has been deemed as "my crap". Hopefully this will be it for another 8 years. Now about those tweaks I keep reading about...

We moved into a new house when I was 7 years old. I now had my own room. My dad was a big-time audio guy; first as a tech, then got his degree in electrical engineering(because of his love for audio). He built amps and speakers professionally(ahh, the Golden Age of hi-fi). He proudly set me(each of us, actually) up with my first "real???" system(absolute junk), a receiver(w/built-in 8 track, no less), turntable, and speakers. He had a ton of great stuff, but told me I would start out at the bottom. Where I took the whole thing would be determined by my own interest, creativity, and passion. Haven't stopped since...

I was given a wedding present of a Linn and Krell system from a rich, eccentric friend of mine. I have always loved music and it was my first expensive system but I found that I never listened to it other than for background music, my wife thought the equipment looked hideous and complained of headaches any time I would turn it up.. Anyway, after reading these posts I have junked it all and purchased some ARC, magnepans and a turntable and I fell in love!!! I am now a devoted audiophile and constantly on the lookout for new tweaks. Listening to music has become a big part of my weekends. And not as expensive as you might think, as I no longer want to go out much.

I was introduced to this "hobby" by a friend in 1997. He has a very nice system and I enjoyed listening to it. But I never thought I would own one. It wasn't until a year later that I started down that path toward audio nirvana. The last two years have been fun, frustrating, and expensive. I am almost to the point where I don't feel the need to make major upgrades. Not that my system is perfect. Just that I have accomplished my goal to make the music in my livingroom more beautiful.

Carl David99 It all falls into place now.You guys are not music lovers your into audio because of the nice pictures you saw in a magazine.It makes sense now that you two jerks wreck thread after thread.You are not music lovers your gear lovers. Most have come to this because of their love of music.Carl you pathetic soul.You discoverd this hobby in 1994,by then most have heard more music than you will hear in your whole sorrry pathetic life. Know you come by magazine music frauds get the f off the site and let the real music lovers get on with it without you two GOOFS. Music love is in your soul not in a picture from a Magazine.If thats what it took i feeel sorry for you and understand now why you both never have anything relevent to add other than throw flames and make stupid statements. I bought my first Hi End system in 1979.I cost me 2K.I bought it without ever reading or looking in a Magazine.I bought it the old fashioned way.With my ears.

So, there I was out at Pratt's Inn having a bottle of mid-seventies burgandy, when I was dragged out screaming to visit the house of a fellow restaurant customer who introducted me to his Levinson/Meridien/Thiel system. Who woulda thought one small inconvience in an evening of good food and wine would have ruined my life??? There I was thinkin(first problem) I can do this. What can it cost? I can do it for less on Audiogon and Ebay. SURE!!! That was then, now I have two class a systems. I think the auto racing and fast women was cheaper. You know, at least when I was finished with them I felt satisfied. Every time I listen to my system(s) I'm thinkin... if I only... then... it'll... What a price to pay to bring beauty into my life.

I have been a music lover since I was a kid.It took a magazine to show me there was more out there than Kenwwood etc.Talk about a flame thrower and someone who wastes space here.You Leafs, are the #1 trouble maker here.Your last "post" proves that.Are you going to get into it again so soon after Christmas?? Why dont you take a break from the hatred you have Leafs???? Life aint so bad.

Well, I was looking for new components for my stereo system, and I found the October ´97 issue from Stereophile in a magazine store (I never noticed this magazine before, or at least I thought it was no different fron Audio Review!). All of a sudden, I discovered that my system was made of thrash , and that I was losing the best of my lp and cd collection. I decided not to spend money on mass market junk, and I decided to make an effort to purchase affordable high end equipment. Well, after three years I have a system that makes me happy, and I can listen to the music as I never dreamed of it! I expect to add a record cleaning maching very soon as an accesory, in order to restore my 2000 classical record collection,and keep enjoying endless hours of listening pleasure!

Fighting already? I was almost sure that this thread could create no hostile discussions since only ask how you got into hifi and I don't think there's no wrong way. I am starting to think you guys are really like family because family do bicker over the littliest if not the silliest thing all the time. I wonder audio will be included in this old proverb: "Never discuss about the other person's view on religions and politics at the dinner table"...and now audio too? People go over war on this topic people. Leaf, Carl is right. People get introduced to things from all different sources. It doesn't make one bad from another. Heck, if getting introduced to something by a magazine is bad, then all of us are guilty here. How the heck were you all introduced to sex? By a sex education teacher? Of course not, it was Playboy, Pin Up, Penhouse, and etc...blame Hughe Heffner on your sexual behaviour guys. Cheers....

Leaf, You are a stupid fool to think that just because someone got hooked on hifi by picking up an audio magizine makes them a non-music lover. I have always loved music and have been a musician for over 20 years (10 professional). I can honestly say that the whole reason I got hooked on hifi has to do with the fact that I was exposed to Stereophile and Audio in the early 90's. I can't tell you how sick and disgusted I am by your ignorant comments...

It was the summer of 1964 -- I was 21 at the time -- and I had a summer job with the Coast & Geodetic Survey (now called NOAA). I was part of a crew in Alaska surveying the damage from the big earthquake that spring. The C&GS is a uniformed service, and was therefore eligible to participate in a military sales program sponsored by Fisher (the company owned by Avery Fisher). One of the officers on the crew had a sales brochure from Fisher, and I was really taken with the Fisher receiver -- I think the model number was the 400. I eventually decided, however, to buy two of Fisher's kits for their tube gear -- a 40 wpc integrated amp, and their tuner. The two units arrived after the summer job ended, and I was back in school at the Univ of Washington in Seattle. I'd never built an electronic kit before, and was really impressed with the quality of the instruction manual. I started working on the amp one evening after class, and got so engrossed I stayed up all night to complete the assembly. Lo and behold, the amp actually worked!! The tuner was completed the next week, and then, of course, I needed to get speakers. I bought a pair of Jensen bookshelf speakers from a stereo store in Seattle called "Electricraft" (now long gone). I was living with my parents while attending UofW, and the little system resided in their living room. It served me, and then my parents, very well for more than 10 years. From that first step into audio, my interest grew. I was in the Army during the late '60's and early '70's, and bought audio gear at the PX in Germany (Bose 901's; Marantz 2270 receiver; Garrard turntable with Shure cartridge; Tandberg 6000 open-reel tape deck). Since those days, I have owned a lot of mid and hi-end equipment, but my emphasis has always been on buying high VALUE audio gear. Today's edition of my system has evolved into a home theater system that is built around a high-end audio system: Bryston SP-1 pre/pro; Bryston 4B-ST and 5B-ST amps; Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers, with Vandy VCC-1 Signature center channel, and Coincident Technology Triumph Signature rear speakers; Pioneer DV-37 DVD player; VPI HW-19 Mk 4 turntable, with Rega RB900 arm, Shure V15xMR cartridge, and Lehmann Audio Black Cube phono pre-amp; REL Q201E sub; JVC S-VHS video tape deck; and Sony WEGA 36" TV. It's been a great hobby, and the music I've discovered along the way has been the REAL reward.

Yes Leafs: Once again, one of your snarling little rat posts that contains absolutely no useable information or humility and is as usual extremely tiresome.

Leafs: You aren't a soccer hooligan are you? That would explain it.

Leafs: It would be more productive for you to not bash our contributors who do indeed love music and are most knowledgeable.

I guess it started with me growing up in nyc and being surrounded by muscians(my dad plays guitar) and just knowing what instruments sound like. Later I just wanted my system to sound as close to the original as possible. I believe it's not so much about gear but how much you love music. BTW just listened to the Marsh amp, sounds really GOOD, like music. Good listening

Leafs; your spiteful, negative post was totally uncalled for and definitely out of line. If anyone has "ruined" this thread, it will have been you. As to 3Chihuahuas' thread, I had been out of audio for 10-15 years, when I was walking through the music and electronics section of a large department store (early 90s) and noticed that there were no LPs-- nothing but CDs (a few cassettes). I asked a clerk to demo a $249. JVC boom box with CD player built in. I was totally taken by the 'stone silence' of the music background, as well as the instant track access, programming, repeat, and other functions of the CD player. I bought the boombox shortly after and a handful of CDs-- then did the "mid-fi" thing for awhile, but before long I knew I had to have separates. I did some research, and a vinyl junkie friend recommended Vand. 2Ce speakers, my first "high end" equipment, and gave me access to his large library of Stereophile back issues. I now think I have what is an outstanding, enjoyable, and very musical stereo system, and I've never looked back. BTW, like so many others, in my young adult years I had Bose speakers (501's) and a series of cheap TTs. Cheers. Craig.

The point is there are Music lovers in our hobby and gear heads.If a magazine led you to HI-END your 99% gear head.The stupid fool is the one who buys high end based on what they read in the Audio press. Buy with your ears.

3Chi The difference is that it does not take us 20/30 years before we learn about Sex.We read and look at playboy from a very young age because we have a genuine interest in the subject.If a Mag brought you to high end your a gear head not a music lover.

Well I have no comment on Leaf or his "friends". I was in Junior High in 1969 when I was offered a used Marantz Integrated amp and tuner. I had two summer jobs at the time so I bought it with a small loan from dad. I talked my dad into a bit more for some Jensen speakers with 15" woofers! After I paid dad back I saved $400 and got an Empire belt drive turntable. I had no idea how lucky I was to have started with such a good system. I guess that starting that way spoiled me and I've always gone up from there. It wasn't until the mid '80s when a friend of mine took me to an audophile shop. I was blown away at how good a stereo could sound. After some time I bought my first quality system, and I still didn't even know Sterephile and the other mag's existed. As has been often stated, music brought me to this hobby and my drive to improve the sound and my personal enjoyment keep me upgrading. If all the jabs cast on this site could end and we could just share our hobby together life would be perfect. Come on guys, can't we just enjoy eachother?

You are Jademo a true music lover.Your route is the music lovers.The mag come latley crowd are gearheads who should look for other sites like audioassylum where they belong. th

As an analogy Leaf, lets me splain it to ya. If you became a Christian by reading the Bible rather than going to church, would you be any less a Christian? Does your argument really make any sense let alone difference in how we arrived at where we are? Each of us got here via a somewhat different path, I’m sure. The POINT is evident to me that most people here LOVE music. There certainly may be a percentage that are gear junkies but that STILL doesn't necessarily mean they got to where they are by the magazines. Case in point, myself. I have been into music as long as I can remember. Mom and Dad bought a Zenith ("The Quality goes in before the name goes on") solid maple console that I spent my childhood listening to music on. Could easily recognize more than the rest the quality difference in recordings. I was 9 years old when we got it. I didn't get my own system until high school, a Lafayette receiver with matching speakers. Went to college bought a used Scott integrated with Dynaco A25's later Bose 501's with garrard turntable. Never did like them as much as the A25's which were really good bookshelf speakers at the time. Mid 70's got a Pioneer SX 838 50-watt receiver, B.I.C. 960 turntable, still had the Bose 501 later sold for Sansui. At this point the changes happened rather quickly. I bought a Yamaha R-9 receiver, based on Audio Magazine review kept the same speakers and bought a Denon turntable, better but something was still missing especially on classical music (the music was STILL 2 dimensional and bright). At this point the Hi-End to me was McIntosh which was very good indeed AND expensive, didn't hear about ARC or the others until....heard from a friend about his brother-in-law’s system. Was invited over and was swept away by his Perraux and Vandersteen 4A Speakers with I don't remember the rest. He told me about a Stereo Store that sold hi quality gear and also about Stereophile Magazine and The Audio Cheapskate. About 1985. I ended up spending 5k on all new gear within 2 months, which I lived with for almost 10 years making a few changes here and there. Stereophile was one guide and listening was the ultimate determinating factor in buying. Hey it sounded like music for the first time although that Scott system was the most satisfying up till then. I always reminisced about it after I got rid of it. The quest I am on now is to realize as close to live as I can or am willing to spend. I haven't found that limit yet but the speakers I am currently listening to for the past 5 months have outclassed everything I’ve put in front of them. Their limit hasn’t been reached. So here I am actively on the journey. My system sounds great but I’ll certainly know when it has arrived, to date it hasn’t. The criteria now have changed with the improvements. I am within striking distance of mimicking live music on the best recordings, and the poor recordings are just that much more enjoyable. Ain’t it Grand?

I just spent the last 4 hours in my basement cleaning LP's on a manual wet-vac machine.Fun? not really but I have 3000 LP's down there and someone has to do it.Its music not gear.If I were a gear head I sure as hell wouldnt be in my basement cleaning LP's!! I'd be up here where its nice and comfortable staring at my stereo!! I live in a rural are in western NY.I never even knew high-end shops exhisted till 4 years ago.My introduction to this hobby came from Stereophile.So what? Actually I dont even know why Im responding again.Its very apparent leafs is bitter and angry over something.Too bad he had to pollute this site with his latent issues.

Nicely put Leafs, concise and to the point. Have another one on me, you're not quite there yet. Yes, I love gears, all kinds of gears. That's all I love in my "pathetic life", and I sure am a jerk. I'm an ogre...that's what I am....Let it all out Leafs. You are magnificent, and I am utterly souless!

i bought my first "hi-fi" in 1957, an rca with blonde wood cabinet and metal legs in the "moderne" style. it was purchased with the $$ i got from selling a huge lionel model rr setup. (yeah, i know, the stuff would be worth a fortune now.) the first record i bought was the platters on a 45 rpm with the big hole, singing "the great pretender." my first lp was van cliburn's tchaikovsky's first, which won him the big prize in moscow and propelled him to stardom. my phonograph purchase was followed the next year with a gift from my folks of a viking 1/4" reel-to-reel that played pre-recorded stereo tapes. i used the tinny little speaker in the tape deck for one channel and the rca phono as the other. from this less-than-modest "system," i became better aquainted with the world of classical music, since there were more prerecorded tapes in that genre than any other. in college, starting in '61, i was introduced to much more classical work and better "stereos." then, a fraternity brother built a dynakit amp and pre-amp, which i heard first in '63, playing bob dylan's first album. it was that little system and that album that really hooked me; i remember the experience with great vividness even after 37 years (my god, can it really be that long ago?) i continued to buy records, playing them on my roomates' stuff until i was married in february of '67, during the semester break of my second year in lawschool. my wife and i purchased "our" first "real" stereo setup a couple of months after our marraige. i still have it. it was comprised of a fisher integrated, ar2 speakers and an ar turntable (cartridge came with). we moved that little system around from one rented house to another, iowa city to kansas city to denver, together with our slowly-growing collection of records. in around 1980-81, i heard "highend" for the first time at a basement "salon" in boulder. that setup included a stax amp and pre, b&w speaks and a thorens tt. i loved it but couldn't afford it. a year or so later, tho, i rationalized withdrawing the meagre savings i had accumulated in my "own" account ( perhaps this is why there aren't more women in the hobby-they're not nearly so self-dillusional or quite as sneaky!) to buy into the "highend." my first system was comprised of infinity rs 2.5 speakers an apt-holman pre, bryston amp, denon tt w/arm an an ortfon model 30(?) mc cartridge and accompanining stepup. i kept that groupo fairly intact until 1984-85, when i stumbled upon a tiny new shop in an old denver neighborhood that sold used highend gear. it was called "soundhounds." i got to know and become friends with soundhound's owner and saleman. by hangin' with them and other customers and hangerson, who'd gather many nights at closing time for a beer or 3 to listen, sans the great unwashed, to all the new stuff that came in almost daily, my audio horizons were expanded exponentially. we listened 3 or 4 times a week, over time, to hundreds of combinations of speakers and electronics, used and new, mostly playing cherished lps from our "members'" collections. i met many members of the loose-knit audiophile community in this era, including some well-known colo designers and manufacturers. in '87 or '88, through my expanding circle of audio buddies, i met the man who has now become my best friend. i'll identify him only as "j." j invited me to ces, let me party with his distributors and other friends and generally provided me in numerous ways with an entre into the "inner sanctum." audio and music is now at the center of my life, as it's never been before. i delight in listening to my now rapidly-expanding music collection that is fed in no small measure by my older son and his spouse, both of whom are in the radio/entertainment industry (read:promo copies!). j has open-houses 6 or 7 times a year that always end with a dinner with the reps or writers and hours of listening to the newest of the new and biggest of the big in j's wonderful main soundroom. my audio circle has become even wider on this site. tho there have been some wild any crazy dissagreements, the group of "regulars" has taught me much and entertained me more. here's hoping 2001 (my favorite all-time movie, BTW) is prosperous to all. let's all raise a cup to civility, good humor and fun on audiogon. the past is the past; let's let it melt away with the end of the last year of the twentieth century. CHEERS TO ALL!!!!- Kelly

i composed the last post while some of you were engaged in impolite colloquy. (i'm a slow typist-4 fingers at best.) hope you don't mind my getting back to the theme of the thread. ;>0

A little over 30 years ago, my best friend bought a big Macintosh amp and preamp with these big upside down cone like speakers (OHM) and after hearing that system a LOT I had the beginning of a reference to aim for. But even then, I noticed that certain systems could give as much pleasure, or more, even though not as high end. My Marantz receiver and Criterion speakers sounded great in the near field. What really got me in to the Audio-Video hobby was my experience recording and producing music. After hearing some of the world's best systems for 2 decades and having to oversee the mixing process, trying to make a mix sound good on all types of systems, I had developed a decent ear in the process and could not listen to junk at home. I still try to keep in mind that "the best" system may not be the most expensive, but the one most fitting your needs and tastes. Nice post. I promise to read all of the comments above a bit later today. Good to hear from so many regulars. Happy New Year to all! ( I also learned the danger of trying the next level, and then the next level, when I kept trying different Grado cartridges, and found that the more I spent, the better it sounded.)

It's very clear to me that Audiogon is almost entirely a web site whose main goal is to enable and promote the buying and selling of high end audio GEAR-- and the discussion of same. Audiogon is not a music site, and in the "chat forum", there is not even a category titled "music". In the year or so that I have been visiting here, my stereo system has improved dramatically (new & improved gear), and thus my enjoyment of recorded music has also improved dramatically. And yes it's expensive-- that's part of the title of this thread. I would think there are web sites devoted strictly to music for those that are purely "music lovers"-- don't know what they play their music on though? Cheers. Craig

Me too cornfed that is "2001 a Space Odyssey" My very favorite film.

It was around the mid 70's - my friend down the street had an older brother (Gary - we called him "Fritz") who had a nice system (for the time) - Dual TT, Yamaha separates and ESS speakers. We would always ask him to take us to what was then the mid-fi "Mecca" of Cincinnati - The Audio Warehouse. Pretty soon I had saved up enough for a BSR TT, a Pioneer receiver, and some god-awful speakers that, to me, sounded WONDERFUL. Since then my system has gone through innumerable permutations and continues to evolve (more slowly now, as I concentrate more on the music (primarily LPS) and less on the gear), but I still wonder from time to time what 'ol Fritz is up to. I'd like to thank him someday for getting me started. No nightmare here, just beautiful music. Now where's that MONO pressing of the White Album?..............-John

Hey Garfish, I'm not sure who your talking to, but this and any audio site is first about the music and then about the "GEAR" used to reproduce it. It would be of little use to have the $35,000 I've invested if I wasn't going to enjoy music. I would guess that if I could find agreement on this site it would be that none of us bought our systems to listen to RF interferance. So don't attack me or anyone else for first caring about the music! The tread was how did I get into this expensive hobby. The music, the pure love of music!

Oh by the way Leafs I find quite a few music lovers on the audioasylum.com site. Look at the music forum. There are some very serious collectors and music discussions going on there running the full gamut. I have gotten quite an education and have picked up several titles because of that site. Highly recommended.

Well it was a rainy day. I was at one of those "Snooty" high end stores picking up a new needle ($25.00) for my "BIC" turntable and I heard some music coming from one of the "High end" rooms. I mentioned to the salesman that the song that was playing was one of my favorites of Joni Mitchell. He asked if I wanted to sit in the room and listen. The room was all Mark Levinson gear and some huge Wilson speakers totalling over $100,000.00. The salesman turned up the volume and told me to sit and listen to the Joni CD for as long as I wanted. Well within 30 seconds I realized I was in sonic nirvana. I heard 3 dimensional sound, depth and separation like never before. Thank goodness that saleman took the opportunity to show me what high end was all about. I have saved and slowly purchased over the past 8 years and have now a system that is one that is very satisfying. Always buying one component at a time, spending as much as possible on it, and then the next year doing the same. Audio retailers must realize that the guy buying a $25.00 needly might one day with the right education and knowledge come back and buy a $2500.00 cartridge (from same salesman).

In the early 70s, a buddy and I used to hitchhike about 3 miles down the road to Atlanta's only real hifi store (HI FIDELTY SS I think). Had no business being there (i.e. way out of the summer highschool job budget). Just drooling over the gear. A seed was sown. Saved all summer and bought a Harmon Kardon receiver and no-name speakers. Found a Philips 212 at a second hand store. My first stereo. Went to concerts and collected vinyl. Really enjoyed the music. 25 years go by with an upgrade every 5 years or so to another mass produced stereo. Keep up with the Jones. Last year as I listened to my "decent?" Denon/JBL stereo I noticed I heard the music, but somehow it just wasn't right. Call it midlife crisis if you want. I just wanted a way to find the music again. Well, after saving all year, I'm close to putting together my first audiophile (for lack of a better word) system. Looking for speakers now. I knew I could do better than I had but I AM TOTALLY AMAZED at the music contained in those little CDs. Thanks for the thread, JEFF.

Jadem6; wasn't really responding to you-- more to Leafs, but I do agree that to the end user, ie you and me, that it really is "about the music". But, IMO, Audiogon is much more narrowly focused on "gear" that makes recorded music great, ie that's what drives this site-- without the gear, no Audiogon. I will admit that the music threads here are some of my favorites, and I usually participate in them. Yes, this hobby is expensive because of the gear, but Audiogon has helped me increase music quality, while keeping gear costs down-- this is a really valuable service. I'll stand by my above post. Cheers. Craig.

Craig, there is no doubt about it. Look at all the threads. If you went through them all I would bet at a minimum 90% are related to gear. Not a bad thing. I am less here for the music than input on the gear that makes the music come alive. It wouldn't take too much effort to confirm this casual observation. Does it mean that people here are gearheads? I think not. This forum is as you say more related to buying selling and exchanging information about gear and how it affects the music we listen to.

In regards to Leaf's comments about buying gears with his ears without ever reading into a magazine. I believe most us end up buying with our ears. Reading or researching using what ever media that's easily available to us at the time, allows us to narrow number of gears to a manageable process. It would be almost impossible, thought I wouldn't mind if I had the time and the resources, to go audition all dealers around my area. Infact, this web forum is just an extention of the magazine media. By reading the magazine and knowing what to ask in this forum makes the buying process a more educated one. Using a magazine media alone to make a purchasing descision on is pure foolishness. I don't trust Stereophile or magazines like it simply because they have something at stake even though they say their editorial dept. operates independently from their advertising dept; who really knows right? This is why I come to this forum hoping to get a second/third/fourth unbias feedbacks. But this forum only works if the user knows specifically what to ask. Although I was introduced to this hobby by a magazine, it doesn't make me less of a music lover. Infact, I lover of music so much that my music room is the only room in the house my wife cannot and will never decorate. Just so you don't think I am just B.S.'ing I've spent 10 years of short life playing music through my youth and into my early 20's. I only stop because I couldn't make enough money at it to live comfortably. I will enventually get back into it when I retire.

Shut up Leafs, anything you say will only dig you deeper.

Leave him alone,whats you point??

Thanks for clearing that up. I competely agree, this is a great site to hear real people talking honestly about there experiences. Love the site, and reading these threads.

Back in 1972, to graduate with my EE degree I was assigned the design of an audio power amp as my senior project. It did not take long to find out I was not Gods gift to audio design. I designed and built a 50 watt, no fidelity amp. After graduation (by the grace of God) I began to research why my design was so poor and began to get hooked after listening to some well designed amps. My first purchase was a GAS Son of Ampzilla and Thalia preamp coupled to some Advent speakers and a Thorens Turntable. To this day I have been playing with 1's and 0's (forget that analog stuff) and enjoying the music. Happy New Year to all!