What equipment or event thrust you into the hobby?


Many paths have led us into the pursuit of audio nirvana. Was there a single event or piece of equipment in the early years that started you down your path to audio bliss?

I used to sit in front of one of those little portable record players when I was a lad of 3 who loved listening to music...spinning records...and mostly at twilight...and I thought they sounded better in the evening. I moved from kiddie records to 33s, like the South Pacific album...graduating to Georgia Gibbs "Dance with me Henry" at 4, Sinatra, and anything else my parents decided to bring home. From there, the path led through the origins of rock in the 50s and the classic rock of the 60s and ultimately to jazz (still collecting records). My first credible system was built around a Marantz 2252B receiver, a Dual 1214 turntable, drving and feeding a pair of Advents. Saul Marantz must have known what he is doing because that receiver is still alive and kicking today, the only investment being a few cans of tuner spray.
mcpody

Showing 1 response by newbee

"...path to audio bliss"

Give me a break! Bliss?

Like you I had a good (enuf) system. I focused on listening to (and discovering a lot of new music) and on a lunch break, instead of going to Tower records and looking thru vinyl I went into my first high end store. Fancy looking stuff, high price tags, and lots of talk about things like stereo imaging, depth of image. "air" around the instruments, etc. I bought it, hook line and sinker. Spent the next 20 years shopping equipment - music purchases were incidental and often made to optomize the audio experience (audiophile recordings anyone?).

It was fun and consuming while I was doing it but I sure regret the amount of time I spent listening to audio and not the 'music'. I started out with Rectilinear 7's (designed by Shaninan) a Hafler 500 amp, an Apt Holman pre-amp, and a Technic's 1350 TT w/Shure V cartridge. I loved it. My present stuff is 'better' but I don't love it more.

There is a moral in there somewhere. :-)