What made you select "audio" as your hobby

Talon4,Yes I remember the Yamaha NS1000 well.I almost purchased them but chose the Allison one speakers instead.
i really cant say were better then the Yamaha's.But they were floor standers which I felt were more impressive at the time.
You mention your friends a few times.Back in the 70's friendship meant a great deal.Why do i feel you grew up in New York?

Electroid,I believe that was Mike Nichols.He did pretty well for himself in film.Not to mention his marriage to Diane Sawyer.Thank you for the post

I thank you all for your participation. Some posts were very humorous,some brought back memories.
I hope i didnt offend any of you with the word 'AUDIO".
I know that two camps exist.Some say its the music that counts not the equipment.
Well of course its the music but i had to re-think this a few years back when i passed on a 6 Eye Columbia "Sketches of Spain" that was selling for $80 but bought a $7500 amp the very same day.
In this hobby the only thing that matters is how you feel when you hear the music.It matters not if you found it early in life at school as Oem did or if you were exposed to it from listening to your parents system,or the light was just turned on yesterday.
Perhaps poster Psacanli is correct and we should be trying to have "Music Appreciation" back in our schools.
After all,look what it did for us.
Thank you all again
Enjoy your music

Emailists,
Thank you for your post.I have a friend that listens to his music on inexpensive headphones and derives pleasure from it.He states music is personal and using headphones makes it even more personal.Another of my friends listens to Rhythm and Blues from the 50's.He has about 7,000 of these oldies which
would probably bring a kings ransom if he chose to sell them. He plays them on an old 45 RCA portable changer.I know they enjoy listening to their respective systems as much as i do listening to mine and although they can afford more than i,they would not spend anything close to what i have spent on components.So i guess "To Each His Own"
I can still hear my Quad 63 (not Crosby mod's)powered by a Spectral 50 watt amp.I listen to Jazz,Jazz and more Jazz.This combo brought music to life.I am still wondering why I parted with them.

Emailist,VERY NICE system.Glad to hear you have some KEEPERS.

Viridian,I did eventually find a 6 eye Sketches of Spain in a shop in Baltimore.Much better sounding then the Yellow Label I already had.I have Jim Halls Concierto but actually bought it because i'm a big fan of the Chet Baker.
I dont have it on Mercury but i also have a RCA RED SEAL and a version by the Ramsey Lewis Trio,his second group.
I dont have the amp any longer but the music lives on
Thank you for your post.
Enjoy

Waffle 35
Yes,well hidden from the wife.sometimes i wonder why they aren't more into it.My wife loves music,hears much better then i do and yet doesn't understand the emotion that one can feel when Gerry Mulligan's baritone sax plays beneath Chet Bakers Trumpet and then takes the lead.Of course she doesn't understand the cost for this either