Retired radio broadcast engineer, 66 |
I'm a male with a BFA & MA who's a 49 year old gallery contracted (otherwise published) painter, sculptor, and a pedagogue, and sometimes substitute teacher. As with artists in general, living as 'the other' lends itself easily to methods of creative financing and making sacrifices for a later benefit. My system would retail new for around $55,000.00. |
Work @ Tulane University, I'm 27, and my system is worth more than my age in thousands. |
Federal employee of 25 years working for the Army in DC. Am 58 with hearing to match. |
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I am retired electronic tech. Age 73.
So many people here have great systems. And lousy ears. If you are 40 YO and above, and think you have great ears......your Audiologist might differ with you.
My system, about $3K worth, is better than my ears....
But I still love hearing some of the old songs and remembering when me and the artist were both young. |
I am a physicist currently working as an independent scientist in university. I have turn 34 this month. In the last 3-4 years, I have invested a bit more the 20k euros in my system. |
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Eugene81, with the exception of my Radio Shack electro-static tweeter speakers, which cost $180, I use Health or Dyna kits and a AR turntable with a Stanton cartridge after I moved from cities with good fm stations.
By your age, I had moved up to Rectilinear 3 speakers and Dyna ss gear. Yes, being able to get more expensive gear comes with age, but, of course, so does inflation. In the early '70s, I had Infinity ServoStatic 1s, ARC SP-3 and two ARC Dual 75A for a total investment of $4500. I was only making $19k per year, but had book royalties. |
Physician, age 56. have a diploma in Studio Technology and Practice from the Institute of Audio Research. Have a few systems. Ah yes, the law of diminishing returns applies so well to audio.
First stereo was Rectilinear speakers, Sony integrated, Empire Troubador turntable back in 1973.
In the living room now -NHT-xd with Audible Illusions preamp and Opp. Computer room has NHT-VT3s, Rogue M150s, Cary preamp - direct line from the iMac into the preamp. Still have held on to #2 N.E.W. A 20 amps- still sound great.
Lots of stuff in storage. |
Im 40 yrs old, IT manager. I used to work for a computers store when i was younger. |
I am a 55 year old executive with a heavy equipment company, and my 2 channel system is worth around $40,000 retail not including home theatre. Thanks to the internet, and a trip to Taiwan, I paid much less. |
I'm 49 yrs.old, used to work in Radio (disc jockey at Jazz and rock n' roll stations, and also a news producer at a news/talk radio station for about 10 years). Got tired of spinning my wheels in the dirt, making shit money, working shit hours. Quit the broadcasting industry in 1990, went to work for U.P.S. as a package car driver. Better health benefits, WAY better money, paid vacations, and a pension plan. Never regreted leaving radio/tv. Almost retired now.
Been into music, and had audio systems since I was 10 or 11 yrs. old. Very passionate about music. So is the lovely wife. Got systems in EVERY SINGLE ROOM of my house. Including my garage and backyard to. Got a kickass home theater set up too. My dedicated 2 channel high end system (which is in it's own dedicated listening room in another part of my house), is kickass too. Got somewhere in the range of $150,000 to $200,000 between the gear, and all the room treatments and customizations. |
Now 65, and with my new insurance my hearing can be upgraded to where my $6000.00/$7000.00 system gets the attention it deserves. 35 years as a shipwright/cabinetmaker/furniture builder has brought me to building speakers for enjoyment, though the enjoyment of hundreds of live concerts as well as the sound levels produced by power tools makes every sound that is music more precious. |
I'm 45 and a finance director at an industrial firm. Two beautiful kids. I have a main system that retails for about $7k. Still upgrading but it sounds very good.
18 months ago I decided that I had better listen to all that music I had been putting off for years so I'm on a full-scale program, working my way through Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, moving gradually into his late period and will veer out of Austria and into France in the 19th-century for next year. Been listening to all kinds of music for 30+ years but wanted to be more systematic, which I'm finding to be a really interesting adventure. Just started getting into audiophile equipment a year ago after owning a decent mid-fi system and I have to wonder why I didn't do so earlier. |
Interesting thread! I always thought people with $20k+ systems were wealthy MD/Biglaw/Exec type people, but there's a lot variety in professions here, although the middle-to-advanced-aged male stereotype seems to hold true. Now I don't feel so guilty with my relatively "modest" system. I should show my wife this thread, haha.
Me: 29 years old, "systems engineer" (computer) by title, sysadmin without the overblown label. Main rig is ~$11k retail, paid about $6.5k used. Bedroom system is $2700 retail, paid about half.
Then again, I upgraded to all this in the current year from a $1500 integrated/monitor setup while also getting married and having a baby, and my wife does not work, so maybe I should feel a touch of guilt. I think I'm done for a while though... except for maybe swapping gear that's lateral in price :D |
Dang, John. I didn't think we'd be hearing from you anymore. Are you back? If so, I hope you are well and yes, it's good to see you back. (o: |
Damn....I just realized that I'm now 10 years older than when I first responded to this thread. Getting old sucks. |
If I see nowadays prices, my system would be around 50K$
which I consider ridiculous. If I paid half of that amount, it would be a lot.
I am still a violinist, my love is in violins and bows (!!),
Age by now (still bang in the middle of statistics) 43.. |
26 Putting my system back together after hard times. Im a Multi-talented workaholic. nothing fancy working on a cj pre, parasound halo a23, matrix 804's. I NEED a Velodyne HGS 18 though |
Electrical Engineer, 55, system 8K. Been at this since I was 15 years old when I had a Dynaco/ Electrovoice system. |
56, Lawyer - Been at this about 10 years, wish I had started 40 years ago |
I am 53. Pro Guitarist 44 years of working the guitar 12 years performing. Pro Artist 25 years of sales & Inventer/Creator of Light Etchings & Light Etching designs. Sr. Designer- Electrical/Mechanical. Inventer & Designer of The Human Vehicle- a human powered mid sized car. |
54, EVP Marketing in the SEMI industry. I am afraid to do the math on my audio equipment addiction. My first stereo was purchased in 77 while deployed on an aircraft carrier and currently have two home theaters and three stereos. I guess I should have started this by saying, "Hi my name is Greg and I am an audio addict". Audiophile anonymous anyone? |
I am a university teacher. I am 54 years old. My system is all Coincident Technology: speakers, amps, preamp. Near 25K, I guess. |
I'm 34 I'm an ex butcher that has just finished an apprenticeship as a carpenter and now supervising for a construction company. My system probably retails for about 7 grand but paid a lot less than that, just getting started really, pretty happy at the moment but looking to upgrade my amplification in the next 6 months |
I'm 45 and a biomedical sales rep, pacemakers that is. |
55, Electrician. But if I had my choice, I'd rather be shooting frozen chickens at airplanes. |
I am 53 years old,I am a Rocket Scientist,I make $237,458.00 a year,my home cost $375,862.00,my stereo cost $22,868.00,I have 3271 LPs,986 CDs,437 SACDs,I drive a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe,I have a 1972 Corvette,I have a 1976 Jeep CJ-7,I have a 1957 Harley Davidson Duo-Glide,I wear boxerbriefs,I eat mainly a vegetarian diet,I do not smoke,drink or partake in illegal drugs,I am divorced,I have one child,I do not have a criminal record,I was not molested as a child.Need to know anything else? |
55, business owner, $50000 in equipment, New York State. I've been in audio since I was old enough to buy my own "record player". Even back them I stressed over choices and had to choose from two differnt all in one record players.
Greg |
Hai ,my age is just 42, i am from Amsterdam / holland ihave my own business as a factorymechanic in which i solve mechanical poblems .
I also design loudspeakers . |
Update...unemployed...2 yrs older at 43...system still lists approx 11k...less than 5k invested. Going through MANopause. |
29. U.S. Navy - Combat Systems Firecontrolman - Aegis Computer Network Tech.
I make just enough to play. |
I am a retired FireFighter of 21 years. I now work at a major automotive plant as a second career. 46 years old. |
QA Analyst for the worlds largest Options Exchange. Music has defined my personality since the age of,,, I guess around 5. Stereo equipment has always been an important part of my life. At the age of 14 I believe had one of the first 3 prologic AVR's (pioneer vsx-9700S) to hit the market. I may have been the only kid in the country at the time (1991) with a full blown home theater in there 15 x 15 bedroom. (Yamaha center channel, Advent prodigy tower II’s, Advent indoor/outdoor for the rears and a Yamaha sub).
Led Zeppelin "The Song Remains The Same" on laserdisc was legendary throughout my circle of friends.
Now my system is a very modest 7K of two channel delight! |
50 year old Security Guard for a Fortune 500 company. I've been interested in stereo equiptment since about the age of 18. I took alot of years and alot of overtime to get my system where it's at today. |
Project Controls Manager - Process based projects
28 years old
Spent about $8,500 on HT so far (including TV).
Mostly bought this stuff used on ebay and A'gon.
Retail would have been ~$12,000. |
Many things - I studied as an architect so I've spent some time there but I've also designed sets for rock music festivals, rock bands, television and theatre. I have been a university professor at two universities, spent about five years working at a software company, worked as a technical consultant to a computer animated cartoon, did thematic design for a casino and various other architecture and design related projects. A long time ago I wanted to be a musician until I realized that I wasn't that good and basically I'd starve to death eventually.
I'm 43 now and I've decided to stop working for the time being to focus on our children and life in general. I have some health issues that I need to focus on and my music hobby helps me with that. I may return to work one day but I doubt it. If I did I think I'd like to try something different anyway. I like variety in my career.
I've had three main systems in my life thus far.
The first was when I was a university student in the middle 80's and I think I had about $10k into it with a Maplenoll turntable as the front end.
The second was a simple digital front end with an integrated amp driving hybrid electrostats. This lasted from the mid 90's to about 2003 and it was about $12k.
After that I started building the system I have today which is finished (finished = no more major additions or alterations as I'm happy with it). It's a two channel system in a dedicated room and the list price would be somewhere around $265k although I've purchased a few pieces used and others have increased in price significantly as of late because of the US dollar so, the real value is more like $193k. It took seven years to get here but it was working in some capacity throughout the build.
I've loved all the systems and enjoyed them a great deal. I've collected a number of LP's although I try to keep it to around 3,000 recordings at a time. Another 800 or so on the computer (CD's and HRX files) and I'll have 20 reel-to-reel tapes from The Tape Project. I've never stopped to calculate the value of the music because to me it's like food. You've got to have it! |
50, commercial director, and about 40k spread across a six-zone Sonos system. |
Wow this is an old thread...
Now its 6 months shy of 50 and I'd give my eye teeth to be back where I was at when I first posted... |
RGD:
It's those last 6 monts of being forty that is the killer.... |
50. Sell books,databases to schools (20 years). Bachelor's in Philosophy/Poly Sci. Been at this since I was 16. About 35k retail and paid 15k. Have had 45k invested and the 15k sounds better. (Can't do that with any other addiction). I have found that my 7 year old son has the best musical instincts of anyone I've met. We love to listen to music together (while he plays with his Legos of course). |
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Chstob: You really made me laugh! |
Former Marine, retired, now a photographer. Age 62. I do landscape photography mostly in fall and winter in Montana, Wyoming and the Black Hills. |
55 yr old; oil refinery manager currently but been in oil refining last 33 years. system is still evolving focusing on analog upgrades over las few years |
32, IT Consultant, basically I sell web hosting and the internet. |
Yea me and my girl lost our jobs mid Dec 08.I was in construction,she account..We are in our 40,s & live in Calif. Spent Over $15,000 on first system. 5.1.Had to be better then 2.1 .Just OK sound.Did some due diligence& now have an excellent sound from some great pieces that cost under $1000.The incredible sound is close to a $100,000 rig i was dreaming about.I thought I.d have to start a new profession. |
Currently unemployed for 15 months as of mid Dec. 2009 and am 41 years old, married for over five years, and a new father with our first child, our son Richard. I typically do computer aided drafting (electrical and mechanical) using Autocad and am learning Solidworks at home since November of 2008. I can't find a job that I am qualified for if I had to. Not getting the BSME degree was a huge mistake. Ironically, I do loudspeaker design as a hobby and have tried every reputable company in the USA and some in Canada too. |
