What's your profession? Age?


Just thought after the "how much is your system worth" post that it would be nice to see what all these people do to get $80K systems, and perhaps how long it takes. I'm a 29-year old economist for the gov., just completeed my Ph.D. last month, and my system is at about $10K. Just a pup hoping to keep upgrading...
128x128felthove
46, industrial plant manager. System probably cost about $90k retail, but it's been built up for many, many years.
Musician - 20

I'm currently in a Bachelor of Music program, and a working musician. Check out one of my bands - www.janetcullband.com
Management at a small package delivery terminal - 43 - About 6K, would problably be a lot more if I could figure out how to work less than 60 hours a week.
IT Consultant to the government with a large consuting firm. 35 years old. HT System worth about $17k. I'm also a bike (bicycle) racer-my two main bikes are worth about $5k each.
Architect, 44 years young, own small architecture firm, 15 year old system was $10,000 at one time, recently upgraded to tube amp, going tube pre-amp ASAP.
Consultant for inspections of oil/gas pipeline systems. 41 years old. (Still wondering how that happened so fast?!?) Never really did a tally on the equipment, and don't know if I want to. Wife might find out...
Jet propulsion engineer for a major airline, 22 years old, system MSRP is ~$4500. I didn't pay nearly this via b-stock and demos.
52, commrecial Transportation management. 7K. Been at this since 1973 but, just started the high end thing 2 years ago....
Age 47 going on 27- Profession: 25 yrs commerical roofing contractor (no residential!) Past 2 years as owner. System list easy $35K and climbimg slowly
age 33. profession? i am a field technician for pepsi~cola. my system is worth about 10k, with more money being invested as i find 'gems.' i used to buy new, but quickly came in to the reality that the gear i like and want, is top ended performance and price wise. so, i have begun to be patient, wait a little longer, and go with some used gear, and all the while enjoying my daily audiogon fix.
Civil & structural engineer, 26. System's worth $15,000 in retail but probably paid $9,000. Home Theater excluded.
I'm guessing no one's seen this kind of response to this question yet.

I'm 42, pastor, and I intentionally have not purchased as high end a system as I'd like; I give very sacrificially to the Lord. I'm investing in the "etherial sound sytem" I will one day enjoy.

However, this has not precluded my being able to, over the past 20 years, cobble together a system valued right at $12k, primarily with second hand components, ensconced in my self-built Home Theater.

Time, planning and persistence can truly reward in amazing ways.

Blessings to all!
I'm a Civil Engineering college student at Cal Poly, SLO
20 years old
Jazz musician for the past 10 years give or take.
And working hard to support the hobby!
At 45, and an Oceanographer, I've been interested in hi-end audio only several years. During this time upgraded numerous times and have arrived at a 2 channel system worth approx. $12k and Home theater worth $5k. At this point in my system, I estimate that additional expenses toward upgrades wouldn't be commensurate with the few percentage points in audio sound obtained. Any other perspectives on this?
Well, I am still 42, and still a forensic psychiatrist, but since my original entry in this thread a couple to things have changed. First, my system now retails for around 16K (though I mostly bought it used for considerably less). Secondly, my idea of where diminshing returns start is now at around the 30-35K retail point. Lets hope it stays there.
I'm 24 with a science degree. Mostly chemistry and environmental science. Audio is almost the worst superfund case I've seen. 13k and counting.
I am a 44 year old producer for ESPN, but I've had the bug since high school. I have a severe case of upgradeitis, but it usally passes and I am dormant for a year or 2. My 2 channel system retails for about 24k, but I usualy purchase used here on Audiogon. I am defianatley not finished.
Larryrosen,
Just curious, what nickname has given Chris Berman given you?
36. As you can "see" by my name, I cut and burn ( with a laser ) eyeballs for a living. On occasion, eyelids, too. But eyelidman sounds funny.
35yo medical student. current system retail value roughly 5-6K. spend much more money indulging my record collecting habit. next step is to start tweaking things, learn how to construct circuits, see where that leads...
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Born 1956
I am a 45 year old retail jeweler/manufacturer,self employed.Lately I've had to "down-size" to maintain domestic harmony...grr.My 2 channel rig is simple.A Vpi hw-19 turntable with a grado sonata,rega jupiter/io cd/dac,pioneer elite cd-r,sony 7 series dat,apt/holman pre,stax tm-1 w/lambda sigs,held together with mit t2 iconnects.I guess around $2k.
42 year old engineering director on a major government project. Roughly $12k invested and just getting started!
i'm a 27 year old social worker and currently working on my master's degree. my two channel system retail is about $20k. add another $6k for the integrated home theater.
I'm a 47 year old registered respiratory therapist. My wife is a registered nurse, who listens to the same old early to mid 1970's rock that I do. I've been interested in "high end stereo systems", since listening to a pair of yamaha ns1000 speakers driven by marantz gear in 1976?. I remember the nakamchi dragon cassette deck also being introduced.
54 yr old psychologist using binaural beating technology to induce meditative states to win at craps (dice), and create other desired realities.
43. Electrical Engineer by training but work as a Director in the networking/pc/IT ghetto.
im a dental technician. i make teeth. living of crazy shiny white teeth wanting people.. who else than the americans..hehe. build a tooth,- buy a toy.
56 and Family Doctor, unfortunately not a rich American one, but a British one. So I do'nt have a $200,000 system
I'm 58, female, a registered respiratory therapist. A music lover since about the age of 11, I'm relatively new to this wild and crazy hobby/disease.
I'm 29. I'm a Logistics Facilitator for a large candle company. My 2 channel system is a little over $8k.
53 and a regional manager of human resources for a large bank. In moments of weakness, I admit to being a recovering attorney who has wandered through a range of management assignments in banking. Until a few years ago, I was proud to say my investment in software outpaced the investment in my audio system. Today that’s no longer the case, but with 4,000+ LPs I’m not worrying about the ratio, just enjoying the results.
I'm a 39 year old residential real estate broker. I have a 15K HT system (at retail). I got into HT by chance recently and love it, when really just wanting a McIntosh preamp with a tuner, the type of system my parents wouldn't buy me in high school. May upgrade the preamp in the future, but very content. Go with your ears, not the pricetag. I'm not sure a few of my less audiophile enlightened friends even hear the difference. But I have a little music in my background.
53 y/o RN Case Mngr for Head & Neck Surgery Clinic, within DOD. Wife not so tolerant but am working with her...at her pace. (Loyd Walker has some Great suggestions on the subject of Spousal acceptance/appreciation of audiophile hobby). Daughter is ga ga over the whole thing....biggest supporter. 7.1 a/v system with tweeks = 35k.

22 years young. Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering student attending U. of IL. at Urbana-Champaign (I hate North Carolina).

No WAF to worry about for me :) I've owned my trusty McIntosh MC7300 power amp for over a decade and probably has over 10,000 hours on it. Do any of the high-end audio companies take interns?