When I graduated from grammar school I recieved a folding "all in one stereo w/ Garrad turntable" as a gift from my parents. Most of my rather generous allowance (I worked hard for it) went towards records (1'st 45 was the Beatles "Hey Jude", first three albums "Magical MysteryTour" "Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Cosmo's Factory". The next year I was sent to Boarding school in Europe. When I came back I was dismayed to find all my meticulously maintained records ruined (cigarette holes,scratches,gouges, etc.)my parents thought it O.K. to lend my prize collection to my cousins (My mother also thought it a good idea to throw away a huge collection of "MAD" magazines and replace my subscription with "Boys Life" (Yuch!)). There was nothing I could do about it, especially since I was away most of the time. A couple of years latter I returned and left. I was legally emancipated at age 14. Despite working three job (minimumn wage) I couldn't afford a new stereo (being on my own did allow me to spend almost every night in N.Y.'s great jazz clubs thanks to a fortuitous mistake on my passports year of birth). I always promised myself that one day I would own the best. I had all the classic misconceptions of the era (thanks Julian Hirsch), a watt is a watt, big boxes with many drivers and a reciever was all anybody but an idiot with money needed. A friend/co-worker who attended a lot of shows with me, brought me home to hear his Linn Kans with Adcom power amp, it was all over. I had to rethink all my previous misconceptions. The next year I spent over 10% of my measly yearly salary on speakers alone. I haven't looked back since.
How did you get started?
There was a thread recently posted that talked about a father helping his son build a system. How many audiogoners got started because a close relative or family member was into it?
I started when I bought my first cdp/boom box. I bought some 6x9 car speakers and built boxes for them. I had both 6x9's and the speakers that came with the boom box all paralleled into the boom box. Needless to say I blew numerous circuits in the house until I bought something with more power. I never had anyone around when I was younger that had interest in high end, I guess I just read a high end audio magazine and was hooked.
I started when I bought my first cdp/boom box. I bought some 6x9 car speakers and built boxes for them. I had both 6x9's and the speakers that came with the boom box all paralleled into the boom box. Needless to say I blew numerous circuits in the house until I bought something with more power. I never had anyone around when I was younger that had interest in high end, I guess I just read a high end audio magazine and was hooked.