How did U get into this expensive hobby?


So I was up last night listening to my system and thought to myself, when am I going to be 100% satisfy with my set up. Just for once I like to listen without thinking well maybe if I can add this or remove that I can improve on this or that area. A mist all that I thought how did I ever got into this hobby any way? Well, the nightmare began for me when I was working in my college university's periodical section. We had over 3000+ magazines on file. The first stereo magz I ever picked up was the AUDIO annual price list which was about 300 or so pages of all major audio mfg. and models..also known as the audio bible; what ever happened to Audio magazine anyway? I remembered being so intrigued by so many brands that I have never heard of before and how the workmanship and industrial design seemed so much far superior than the average Kenwood and Pioneer back then (no offense to Kenwood and Pioneer owners). This was 10 years ago and I started by scraping every pennies I had to purchase my first NAD integrated amp. Although 10 years have passed, I am still scraping for money to own something new every now and then, but this time instead of pennies, it's dimes a nickels since my tasted have upgrade with my salery. It'd be interesting to hear how some of you fellow audigoners got started in this hobby. Upon adding to this thread, you'll find that you'll get a little grin on your face after spilling your guts out on how you began on this deep pocket journey and how far you have come. Happy Holidays guys and gals.
3chihuahuas

Showing 3 responses by garfish

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.
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
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.