What do/did you do for a living?

I left school in 1964. Began an apprenticeship in Bricklaying and Stonework and Tiling. Shortly after my  apprenticeship finished I began working self employed. Worked at it and loved it for 53 years.
But a long time back I learnt the truism of what my old mother would say "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves"
So true. Unless you apply this, a person will spend what they earn (poor or rich) on unneeded stuff.
  SO, now well retired I have two freehold houses and can upgrade cartridges, turntables and so on as I please.

Retired seven years ago as an Air Force Officer after 27 years.  I have two hobbies- music and getting stuff cheap. I recently transitioned from LPs to streaming, sold all my records and turntable for a hefty profit, bought my current system for less than $1000.

I'm exploring options....   

COVID-19 has provided me an opportunity to rekindle my appreciation of music.

When it comes to 'stuff' there's always something 'to chase' and my goal is to be able to enjoy and share my enjoyment of things with my friends. 

I've spent money I've saved for vacation on equipment recently because I am enjoying listening sessions almost daily.

Stay well, take care of others if you can.    

I’ve worked steady since I was 12. I used to sell tickets to movies that I rented for free from the public library. I would play the movies in my garage and sell popcorn candy and drinks to all of the neighborhood kids.  From there I moved to mowing lawns and had regular customers. I also sold greeting cards door-to-door. During my adult years I had a career in GM and was part of a start up company towards the end of my GM days. 20 years later we ended up selling that company to a life science company and I’m still working for them but planning on retirement soon. My system now is head and shoulders above what I could afford when I was with GM. Only thing is that my hearings not as good haha!

Retired manuals translator (Japanese-to-English), technical writer.

What a great question. I now have a much better understanding of my audiophile cohorts. 75, retired at 70. 25 yrs in scientific instrument mfg. Wound down with 10 yrs working in R&D unit of an old line US company.  Always in operations and mgt. I have been hocked on audio, since the night my dad hooked up his old crystal set and put the headphones on me. It was magic and it never went away. My dad had worked in radio before WWll- think I caught the bug from him. When a was a teenager I built Heathkits and Eico stuff.  Built my own less than perfect speakers and never had enough money to do any better. It didn’t matter. I wanted to hear the music. I have to say, that as much as I would love to spend 100k for a system, I just can’t see it.  Every time I look thru the Stereophile recommenced equipment issue I am blown out the water. It’s crazy.   But regardless of the prices it is so cool to see such an amazing supply of beautifully designed and built audio gear. It thought my hobby was going to just rust away. Man I’m glad I was wrong.  As someone who has been around for awhile, spend your money the way you want, enjoy audio. But, leave enough in the bank for dog food 

I'm a surgeon, retired for nearly 20 years now. I entered passable HiFi with a Sony integrated, KLH bookshelf speakers, a Garrard turntable, and a TEAC cassette player  --around 1971-- and went from there. Unfortunately I had more money over the years than technical savvy. But I still love great music played realistically and LOUD!  What is bandied about here is 'WAY beyond me!!... Best to all, Sam

Currently working as a business analyst, (I make pretty graphs and charts).  I picked up most of my gear when I was a AV installer in the Seattle area.  Most of the gear was donated to me or sold at an extreme discount by the customers that were replacing the old stuff.  Just asked them what they wanted to do with the old gear and cables.  most of the time is was throw it out or take it.  occasionally it was, 'how about $xx?'  where xx was ~10 - 20% of retail.

Lifelong Audio Engineer, with current focus on acoustics for wearables.
I was lucky enough to be a part of a artist co-op in Worcester, MA back when I was young. Had my first live sound gig at age 15.
Worked in the antiques industry for a while before going back to college. First gig out of college was lead recording engineer for a Hip Hop record label, it was amazing. But collapsed in 2008 with the rest of the music industry.
Got into computer audio, as I didn’t have it in me to try to “make it” as a producer...
Now work as an acoustic test engineer for a smart watch company. And have a super sweet modular synth. Play music anytime I can, and am happy to do a show now and again, will prolly release another album under a new project.
My job/life in a nutshell :)

I have been involved in product development and manufacturing for most of my career. Almost always had at least two jobs. I have been designing and building home audio gear since preteen years. I started Arion Audio in 2004. At first Arion was my second job, now it's my only job. I count my blessings daily (well maybe not when payables outpace receivables) to be working on and doing the things I most enjoys: designing, developing and manufacturing audio products and making great music. I have lots of very unusual speakers in my collection.

Taught high school and elementary school for 25 years.  In between was a National Sales Training Mgr for a large multi-national and a GM/Branch Manager for four different companies.

ER/ICU RN. Currently working Covid crisis response.

Fine Art Photographer & Faux Audiophile with Compulsive Gear Lust Syndrome. 
Industry Captain / Forensic Verminologist (Retired) / Neerdowell

We have a household income above $350K/year, but I still don't buy a $1000 product with $9000 of hype . . . Having money does not mean spending it without doing the research first, and finding the best deals that meet the goals/need.

I work for Honeywell and I oversee Construction of all the (Conveyors and robots)materials handling at their DCs [Amazon Fulfilment]Centers .

Restaurant owner for the last 25 years, but more importantly, no kids. Those buggers are expensive! It took me about 15 years to get to the system I currently have. All used.
Finally satisfied. Primaluna Dialogue Premium (KT-120’s), Reference 3a Veena (upgraded), Ayon 2CD, REL 7i. It has been a rewarding journey....

I sell ice in Nome Alaska.  Things have been slow, but I'm hoping that global warming will be good for the business and I can buy more audio gear.

I am a Independent Financial Advisor and my wife also a music nut is a Banker.  I have really gotten back into the hobby of over the past year.

Record store owner (non profit) in Athens Ga
Low Yo Yo Stuff

69 year old, retired,  Steel worker in Pittsburgh area.
Kids gone, house paid off.
System bought mostly used.
Audio Research Electronics, Infinity, & Proac speakers, used Linn LP12.
Very happy with it.

When I was about 12 my dad told me I should become an audio engineer. I didn't think that would be very interesting (Ha!). I ended up in electronics and became a computer tech in 1964. Yeah, they had computers the size of rooms back then. Since then as a contractor I've done programming and systems design for many companies large and small (IBM, Great American, Coca-Cola, H.M. Pittman). I had two computer systems companies and completed the computer part of my career as a middle manager for The Coca-Cola Company. After 40 years, and for the past 17 I have operated a yard maintenance company, from which I am now fully retired at 76. I've scrapped together almost $50,000 to buy my system, accessories and supplies, not counting records.

I was in the furniture business for most of my working life. Started out as a rep for 20 years , dabbled in manufacturing a little, had a retail business for 10 years, then 2 more years as a rep. I was lucky enough to be able to retire fairly young. I got my first decent stereo in college. A Sony 7065 receiver, Wharfdale W70 speakers, a PE turntable, with a Pickering XV15 cart and a decent Sony cassette deck. After several years of casually listening to music I began listening with a purpose about 6 or 7 years ago. My main system is now McIntosh, MC452, C47, MR74, Thorens TD124, Rega P8, and Aerial 7T speakers. 

I have been pushing pixels around professionally since 1997. Some of my pixels I’m sure you have seen in the Auto Trader (back in the 90’s) and select games, films and animated features. 
I always buy second-hand.  :-) 

Professional buyer of used audio equipment due to congenital condition that got out of control.

Small business owner (salvage work) govt. ins companies etc etc, never spent more than 10K on Audio past 50 years......

Metallurgical/materials Engineer, retired 5 years. I spent most of my career determining the best material/metal/polymer to make things out of.  I get a chuckle from many of the materials related items in audio, especially tweaks, isolation, and of course, cables.  

Professional boat-washer....aka private Superyacht Captain, typically on yachts 131’ to 205’. Currently running a new 154’ for a three year lap of the planet.
My time at home is very limited, averages around 45 days a year. Investment in my systems isn’t as critical as having it ready to roll when I am home. My tinkering is minimal these days after a home renovation, and blasting remastered Grateful Dead in high definition audio is the goal for maximum enjoyment when I do finally get home.Active ATCs in the office and McIntosh 601s / B&W 802D2 (dual REL G1 MKII subs) on the main system keep me quite content currently.

I'm a trial lawyer with several famous rock bands as clients over the years.  My dedicated music room is small -- 11x11x11, but it is my go to place at night to have a medicinal hit and chill after a generally long and stressful day!  Sometimes its weird to listen to some of my favorite albums from the 70's, having now represented the bands when I became an adult (sort of, I suppose.  I never really grew up, LOL).  My system hasn't reached the idea that I have in my head about what it should sound like, but its up there!  I think that that idea was formed when I was about 16 in '74 and listed to a Mark Levinson pre and power amp, some killer turntable and speakers that I recall looking like Quads at Natural Sound in Framingham, MA and my recollection is that it sounded just like the band was right in front of me.  I'll never get rid of that image!

I am a Pharmacist, now semi-retired.  While I make a decent amount of money (100,000+ per year) I still cannot afford this stuff new.  Purchasing used equipment is the only way I can feed my beast.

Counselor for the physically handicapped, certified insane, then the blind, then sociology research and teaching, followed by solving mostly mentally deranged, middle aged men's mental crises by selling and financing them on the Harley's of their dreams.  I sold my family physician, his son, and their wives, 8 or 10 or so, after he crashed his plane and wanted to avoid such danger.  He was not one of the particularly deranged ones.

High End Audio importer, for recording studios and home audio.

Respect to all those working and dont quit if you are making money and enjoy what you are doing.

Work in sales at a transportation provider. Been in the hobby since late 70s, with limited means. I've never bought a new component, I can afford the used market much easier, and makes it s ton of fun to search out something specific that I want to try. A driverless pair of Thiel CS3.5's took me down the road of speaker building, and thanks to Floyd Tool and co, I've never left. Love the challenge of finding something I want on the used market. Feels satisfying to build something and enjoy the fruits. Cheers.

Nothing.

I started in computer retail and then moved to a manufacturing company for almost the last 20 years. I make all decisions regarding IT and design software to run the business. 2 of my kids have recently moved out, so I converted a room to a listening room/office. It is sounding incredible with about $10K in. Still trying to find the right chair and about to put treatments up.

I actually got into the hobby in the 80's and car audio was the entry. When I heard Renegade by Styx on a subwoofer, I was blown away. 35 years later, I am in deeper than ever!

Retired air traffic controller. After 22 years of telling people where to go and how to get there, I retired under mandatory rules. 8 years later, I’m still looking for work. I’m very lucky to have a pension, but after housing, car payment, credit card and grocery store and medical bills, there’s nothing left. So hoping to find a job that I can work for the next 6-8 years. And hoping I last that long. I wonder, too, what people do for work and what I could have done differently. Too many closed doors. And at 64 now, that’s about all there is.
My system is very basic. B&K ST-140 amp into some ancient Acousti-Craft speakers. Actually some Polk bookshelf speakers I have sound much better. But the A-Cs look really cool. Same Technics DD turntable I bought new in 1978 and an Eastern Electric tube pre with an Emotiva CD.
Sort of a mishmash really. But it’s been packed away for a year while I’ve been in a variety of transitions. So, my most-used system is my Macbook Air streaming Spotify. Or my iPhone and same.

Chef at a non-profit 'house museum' in rural SW PA.

No Joke
A Vulture / bargain hunter.................... If you get divorced and have it online, I will find it, Sick and selling it off and I need it.. will find it.... I am still hoping a shop in Naples Sinks with the Vultures circling...

now...Lets hope for those divorces, cheating situations and bad diagnosis

I once found an MC12B I installed and configured originally in a pawn shop out of a divorce sale
"Unattended children will be eaten"

"I am THEE SCROUNGE"

Film and Music producer and AV consultant. Last for 10 years at Skywalker Sound/Lucasfilm. Feature film development deal and exclusive production for my record label. Also AV consultant there and producer of theater and sound rooms. Now retired but, until COVID, was a certified singer/ songwriter performing at Providence Elder Care.

I bring madness to the chaos.


I know it sounds easy, but let me tell you, it’s a lot of detail work to pull it off day after day.  If you have the passion it is easy to get started, but takes a lifetime to master.

Defense dept senior civil service

I do Sound Design for film and tv.

Like anyone working in the film industry, it's ebb and flow work-wise.

When you see pricey gear in my house, it's been a good year ;-)

Other years there may be some belt-tightening.   I've learned to navigate the ups and downs pretty well and maintain a nice system throughout.

Event & Entertainment Industry ( Sound,Stage, Lighting ) Production Insurance Specialist 

Reading books and advising people mainly students in all fields...

Retired....

Reading now and listening music....

Books are oceans in their own way, each one on different planets....

The lack of stereo systems showing could well be the effect of "staging the home" advice from realtors.

How many are trustee kid?

We have young people in the 30's move into our neighborhood buy a house for $800,000 and put over $350,000 in the house before even moving in.  Then you ask what they do for a living and the math doesn't add up.  They often also have two cars in their garage worth over $150,000.  

What astounds me is a realtor has sent me well over 400 listings of homes listed in our area over the past 4 years.  I have yet to see even a pair of speakers sitting in a family room or living room.  Then you see their wide screen TV sitting on a $7,000 entertainment center with no speakers again.  I cannot believe how people are satisfied watching a move through the TV speakers.  This said, no matter why the stereo music industry is in trouble.  I have yet to see a TV add for Bowers & Wilkins, Paradigm, Sonas Faber or Kef,  Then you hear how poorly the speaker manufacturers are doing.  If this is the case, who buys stereo equipment these and where do they hide them if you don't see them when viewing a home for sale listing?

Lots of cool stuff.

I am a photographer.

I retired two years ago at 63 from a career in accounting and commercial real estate finance. Did well and lived prudently. We’re well aware that we are also very lucky - good kids and good health. One of my retirement presents to myself was a new audio system so I spent $2k on a Powernode2 and PSB Imagine Bs, plus good cables. I’m quite pleased with it but lately I want more - more soundstage, more bass, more detail, just plain more (don’t know if I’ll get WAF, though).  I joined this forum to learn from all of you. Peace and be safe.