I am 34, a hi-end product sales specialist/consultant wannabe. That would be my dream job but reality dictates that I am a purchaser of computer and electronic parts. |
Retired - 48. Did thirty years in the USN.
I'm now an assistant football coach and spend the rest of my time golfing. |
I work in the cirulation and classified department for our daily newspaper. I'm ##@%# yrs. old(can you tell I'm a female?) My system isn't finished yet, but so far I have spent about $8,000. I will probably have about $12-15,000 in it when done. It takes me forever to decide on a product to buy, so I'll probably be 100 yrs. old by the time I get everything bought and won't have any hearing left. |
Age 39, and will be 40 next April (and pretty damn proud of it too). I am Computer Support Specialist. I currently make about $50K a year, and I am not married, nor do I have any children. I guess when you don't have a spouse or any kids to deal with, then you can probably afford this hobby.
I've been a Computer Support Specialist for six years, and have been an audiophile for almost twenty-five years.
And last (if not least), I don't have an $80K system either. Cannot afford it. I have rent (and saving up for a mortgage), an automobile, auto insurance, credit cards, food, and utilities to deal with. So, that pretty much precludes me from getting an $80K to $100K audio setup.
So then, my audio setup retails for $7K, and my home theater retails for another $3K.
I guess that puts me lower on the totem pole, right (LOL)???
--Charles-- |
Now that we have all your careers and ages, how about downloading a current photograph of yourself so we can see what you look like. Have you ever talked to someone on the phone for years in a business relationship and then you finally meet them and your jaw drops because they didn't look, even a bit, like you had envisioned them ? I once had a business relationship with a woman who had the most seductive voice that if I weren't married, I'd take her out just to have her talk to me. When I finally met her, well, I was embarrassed, needless to say, when I was trying to decide which was prettier, her or my dog's rear end... |
I am a 45 year engineering manager for a medical imaging company. I am back into high end audio after a long departure. I am working on spending around 5K for our next new system a tube and solid state hybrid of sorts. (I have found it very easy to quickly spend much more!) In my experiences with video/imaging I have also discovered alot of analogies with video and audio in terms of our perceptions. However, I still find audio much more of a mystery and music has much more of an impact on me. |
I'm a 42yo distinguished engineer at one of the big three-letter computer companies. |
I am a corporal in the second largest State Police agency in the U.S. and I am 45 years old. I have been an audiophile since my freshman year in college many moons ago.
My system is currently worth about 40k. after numerous upgrades with many more to come. |
I am a software designer. 25 yrs of age
Stereo system costs 3.5K
Home Theatre costs about 2K |
I am an engineer in structural dynamic testing and modal analysis for a large aerospace company. Age 58. |
Greetings,
I am 43. Originally trained as a field geologist. Spent years as a ski bum, carpenter and chef. Earned a Master's in Education and taught in the classroom for 10 years. Now a retired classroom teacher. When Jerry checked out I had made around 200 shows coast to coast. Currently work for a small manufacturing concern. System is around $20K retail, and my audio friends are now teaching me about the virtues of electronic crossovers and efficiently using my amplification to its greatest potential. (with an eclectic arrangement of drivers, to boot)
Cheers!
Quin |
Work for the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and I am 56 |
Product Manager, 34. LA, CA |
I am a 47-year-old Biomedical Engineer/Manager working for a national hospital group. System cost is around $30,000 including room treatments. |
Good to see this thread revived! I'm a recruiter with a $+60k main system I can't afford, but enjoy. Nasdaq is NOT helping. |
Financial Advisor, age 38.
Your not kidding about the market not helping.
Matty |
Insurance claims adjuster, residential fire damage. 51 yrs old. Total system (new retail) value of $16,935.00, including wires. I'm done for a while except I may replace the Creek passive pre-amp with an active. Will never give up my Air Tight 300B amp, would like to find another (used) for bi-amping. |
new job and be older, so that I will have to re-post my answer every once in a while!! :) |
Greetings gentle readers,
I'm a 54 year old Gemini (with Scorpio rising) and work as a technical consultant for a German car company. The real job breakdown would be that one of our dealer technicians can't fix "your" car and calls me to pass the buck. I have no-one to pass the buck to and so every phone call from the dealer is an interesting challenge. I don't always have an answer, some days a full moon is my best shot at a fix.
My current system is worth about 15K retail but my software expenditure is obscene. I love this site and the diverse personalities it harbors. |
Riverside County (CA) Deputy Public Defender. 48 years old. Only represent innocent criminals. System is about 5K. |
Nasty wicked hedgie. 34. Only short really bad companies :^). System about $20k(?) retail but all bought used/demo. |
Age 43, DSP Engineer. System retails for around $18k but was substantially less through connections. Also sounds better than it should thanks to some DIY magic and a huge amount of sweat equity in building a dedicated LEDE room. |
Professional engineer (civil). Licensed professional land surveyor. I opened my own business 4 years ago and work primarily as a sub-consultant to the larger firms. One of my financial goals while busting but in college was to have a cost no object sound system. Yes self actualization is a good thing!!! |
I am surprised there are no other professors. I am 64 and have been at this since 1954! I have little idea what I have in my system; probably about $50K excluding the stuff I have for sale. |
Salesman since 1975, you got it I'll sell it. Railroad equipment, eggs, ignition coils for cars, motorcycles, aircraft (magnetos, ignitors), cryogenic liquids, industrial gases, confectionary processing equipment. Built my own speakers w/cabinets in 1967, bought my first used equipment in 1968 (Bell 3030 integrated amp for $25, still have and use, sounds great). Dropped out of hi end for awhile while I purchased other toys, back into it and I'm scaring myself, spend too much time looking for 6Dj8's and ways to explain to my wife why I have to move the couch 3.4" to the left and move the grandfather clock to the other wall. Age? Luigi50. System cost...you think I'm keeping track? |
Age: 25
Profession: Phone Computer Tech Support for a technology services outsourcing company.
System retail: 5.5k soon to be 7.5k |
Profession: Respiratory Therapist, acute care...into prolonging lives. 49 years young. Amount invested, approx $20k plus...have not been content since I sold my Altec VOTT's when I went back to college years ago. It has become very expensive attempting to duplicate that sound, oh well, its fun trying. |
Age: let's just say mid 40's and keep it at that. (just had a birthday and am feeling kind of old this week)
Profession: Defender of free speech in the Bush/Ashcroft era. Actually, I am a librarian/IT/Network Admin. for a public library system
Audiophile since my early teens. Solidified by seeing the infamous Grateful Dead Wall of Sound PA system in the early 70's. Dan Healy knew how to make a room sing!
Money invested in gear: A lot. Most aquired by not paying retail, and a couple of pre-owned pieces. Seems like I've spent more on tweaks and accessories though. Enormous sums invested in software. Thank God I live within 1/2 hour of Princeton Record Exchange. I also managed to take good care of some vinyl I've had since my teens. |
It's very interesting, that there are no doctors here, even though it's one of the professions where someone is likely to be wealthy (I gather it's a time deficit issue). I'm 43, physician (psychiatrist), married two children- just starting (again), my system, which is pretty far from being complete, is around $10K (some bought new at a discount, demoes, DIY). Two channels right now, intended to be Stereo/HT combined. Regards. |
Hey Maril, I wish I were a psychiatrist as Audiogon has given me an obsessive compulsive disorder requiring that I check for new posts and equipment about 5 times per day. Is anyone else as addicted as I am? |
It appears that some of the esteemed members might benefit from psychotherapy (or medications even)- just kidding. But, really, the whole "aidiophile" phenomenon is quite interesting. Look at the spending patterns for instance- people do spend up to 100% of annual income chasing down that ever evasive "absolute sound". Just my thoughts. |
Hi Maril555, there are (were) a few m.d. here if you look at the "who R U" thread. Speaking of psychiatrists, Detlof is one. Cheers! |
I am a retired professor and university executive, though I continue with some professional work in my field. My age will be in the end of the audiophile age distribution i.e., 69. Am blessed with a good ear, a good system accumulated and traded over 30 years. Technical audiophile knowledge, however,is modest. Retail value of system is about $16000 but replacement value about 1/2 of that. Anyone older than me? |
Sex educator / behavioral scientist - Age 36 - Retail value my system is about $2000... bought everything used or demo. I love listening to music. |
Teacher. 36. $10K (retail) system. Married 5 years. Want kids (still trying) AND fine music! |
I'm 21, Stage Tech. 2K system |
I'm a chef/instructor at a culinary school and do catering. My system is approaching 21K. I've never considered myself an addictive personality until I entered audio. |
Graphic designer/ Signmaker 53 years old.
HT and 2 channel $22K and rising. |
I am an aquatic scientist, pretty close to what Swampwalker is, but ten years younger! |
I'm a high school student confused what to major in college. I've norrowed my decision to working in my on coming audio adiction, but I'm not sure what profession would best suit me. I'm not srue where to go to college, waht classes to take to better prepare myself. What I do know is I want to work in the audio field, like testing speakers, I know that requires a lot of ear training but I have a good start to that. I've been to a lot of concerts and a lot of bands to better prepare myself for a good start of ear training. But what I need to do is listen to more equipment that falls in the audio/video (A/V) catoegory |
Hi, I am an engineer in the aerospace industry with a strong interest in cognitive psychology. I also play the trombone, the piano, the guitar, and had a band when I was in high school and college for 10 years. My interest in music and electrical engineering has made being an audiophile a natural interest. My system has evolved over 30 years and is currently about 40K retail. |
52 year old music educator who has been collecting 78's, LPs, and CDs his whole life. Have just committed 16k to my new & used audio equipment purchases over the last 3 months; Space-Tech QA-115 Tube pre-amp; Space-Tech VP-105 Tube amp; Linn Sondek LP12 turntable; Sony SACD 777ES CD Player; Space-Tech DA64X-T Tube D/A Converter; Dynalab Magnum MD-90 Tuner; Sonus Faber Signum speakers; REL Stadium III subwoofer; Monster MTS-5100 Power Conditioner; VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine and soon to purchase a Sistrum rack. This is a big step for me from my last piece of audio equipment purchased in 1988.Fortunately my wife hasn't left me and still seems to be supportive of my audio endeavors. |
Great choice on the Space-Tech-Lab equipment! |
Veterinarian, age 43
Invested at Retail for HT and 2 Ch about 22K.
Really just completing my first "almost hifi" system in past 15 yrs. |
I'm a student at Penn State (Jr.) who is 20 years old.
I've worked in FirstEnergy Nuclear's engineering department the last 2 summers and will return this summer to fuel my audio addiction. My system is currently at ~$3k, but will probably undergo more upgrades this summer.
Another year until I get a real job - then the audio disease will become terminal... now where to find the real job?... |
I'm a 20 year old student at University of Waterloo in Canada and have made my ~$3500 system through some damn hard work in competetive swimming. Just started getting obsessed this year now that I'm out of residence. I just hope I can get into med school in the coming years so I can appreciate this hobby even more. I keep trying to upgrade small things here and there but then always end up spending my cash on new music. I'm sure this is not an uncommon problem.
Keith |
Chemist (also trained at the University of Waterloo for 7 years - Hello Keith!)
34 years old.
This damn two channel bug has bitten hard, but what a fun hobby!
System MSRP: 20K Cdn. |
45, Corporate Travel Agency owner , and my real name is Michael. Darryl is my best friend, who is blind, and I helped him sell some gear last year and kept the name Darrylhifi. |
27, Pharmacist, system is about $35K and climbing. |
age 43, College teacher. a classical music fan. I have more than 5000(toward 6000)lps collection. |
