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
Analog Engineer (Amplifier Design Consultant), 54 years, stereo is at 50,000 - not counting the 2 home theater systems or the system in the garage made of left over high end stuff. I think I have another 15,000 or so of high end gear in the attic, most of which was dissected to see what worked and what didn't.
I was a gardener in Lakeview/New Orleans until Miss Katrina came along.
I read siomewhere that katrina is russian and means to "clean out". Makes sense to me, being a life long resident of the city.
I guess in India she would be called Kali.
The destroyer.
Righ now unemployed. So I spend time researching stocks for my family's account.

Paul
Baton Rouge
Electrical Engineer - Digital design with FPGAs but a nice background in RF test and measurement at a cool DoD facility and even a 2 year stint as read/write engineer at Maxtor Corp developing high-end scsi hdd's / age-34
I just got done "earthquakeproofing" my gear. I spent the first 30 years of my life in Illinois and Wisconsin, so the thought of the earth throttling my system is a bit foreign to me.

Matt
An ex-physicist in early 30's anyway. I am budgeting 5K for a starter system and just started reading this forum ferociously.

My years in the lab with instruments and scopes made me highly suspicious about spending $1000 on power cords and cables. So we'll see how long it will take before I get to 50K! wahaha.
Retired: (very happily).
Journeyman power lineman (Local 1547 Alaska) and eventually that led into Systems distributions dispatcher (the "low" side of the substations .. scada controlled). Moved to the "lower 48" to settle down a few years ago. Audiophile since the mid-60's.
Heavy duty recovery specialist...translation I operate a very large tow truck to handle 18 wheelers and the sort. 40 years old. On my 4th setup that worth probably about 5K.
Happy Realtor. 56. Classically nuts-ob/cmp. Classical&Jazz give meaning to the chaos.$64k & counting-not incl over 17,000 album/cd's & every hit R&R single from 1955 to 66. Addicted to MIT upgrades,RR sound,Harmonia Mundi..
I am 22 years old - started with audiophiling at the age of 15! I never owned a 'boombox' or such crap...

I am a Graphic Designer and do some freelance video editing. But I want to start manufacturing high-end turn-tables and tone-arms...

My system is ever-evolving and as far as I am concidered "price-less".

I love 2nd hand equipment - they make nice modification pieces...

Regards,
Dewald Visser
i am a mechanic in vertical transportation, been at it for over thirty five years, of all things in buildings it has to be the most misunderstood equipment, i get the question all of the time what will happen if a elevator falls, i tell them it falls up, of course i get that puppy dog look, i am 54,
I'm a Systems Administrator, 27. My current system is around 7K, aka Stage two. My first system, Stage one, was around 2K, ten years ago.
Retired due to a muscle disease,cmt,worked as long as i could,and just couldnt do it anymore,always having to lean against things to keep my balance,lots of fatigue.worked with developmentally delayed adults for like 20 years,some factory work when younger,some college.4 or 5 k in system.Roast coffee on the side for a little extra cash.
I am an eye surgeon,aged 47 and my current system is about 15K but unfortunately I was hit by severe 'tube rolling fever bug 'more than a year ago.I has since collected more than 15k worth of NOS and used vintage tubes that can last the rest of my life but the fever is still not subsiding yet!!!!!!!!
I posted in here some ware a few yrs back- but now I am 49 and still an owner of a commerical roofing company. EQ is still McIntosh- tons of it and still love it!
I'm 45 and a writer of literary fiction and poetry. I love making sound, so this hobby makes sense. My wife says the system is worth about 10K--writers can't add--all of it bought used.
01-06-07: Calbrs03
I'm 45 and a writer of literary fiction and poetry.

You know Calbrs03, Stereophile and TAS are looking for fellows like you.

John :)
I'm 24 and I'm a web designer for a bank. I think my system retails for about 3k, but I have under $700 invested in it. It's all used, and I don't think it's true "audiophile" quality, but I like it very much. My system is centered around NHT stuff which most people will tell you is warmer than neutral, and that's the way I enjoy it.
I am 35 year old and working as a financial analyst. My system is about $25k. I moved to the US from France.
I am a 48 year old maintenance technician. I spent 21 years in the circuit board business (18 in IBM, and 3 in Sanmina-SCI). Now I maintain packaging equipment for Ascendia Brands (formerly Landers).
musician - to be traced through my user name, if anybody cares :-)
my system needs to satisfy for monitoring as for fun, worth?? Well, lets put it this way: Less than my fiddle, but more than my car - but then I drive a lovely old Saab ;-)
Simply amazing..
Retired securities analyst, age 49. I started into the audiophile thing way, way back before my financial ship came in. My attitude about audio systems has always been to not look back and to not look forward, i.e., to enjoy the hell out of what I have at the time. But this system is the first one that I'm actually going to reconfigure my house for.
Here's my internal contradiction:

One one hand, I wish that I had the $$$ to spend on the big dollar, super cool, brand name equipment, as opposed to being dependent on performing my own repairs and modifications, as well as undertaking DIY projects.

On the other hand, there is a cynical comfort that comes along with knowing that the laws of physics do not apply to fashion, aesthetics, or prestige.
I guess I somehow deleted the part where I stated my age, and what I do.

27. Physics undegraduate student.
I am 34 (but VERY close to 35...the end is near!). I started out life as an engineer then got my MBA and changed to venture capital/finance. My system retails for around $55K (Don't tell the wifey!), though through shrewd negotiating and buying used when possible I probably spent around $28K.
I am 46 going on 19 and employed as a Training Group Manager for an Auto Parts Manufacturer. I was bitten by the audio bug 21 years ago when I heard a pair of Celestion SL600's driven by Counterpoint electronics and have never looked back.
I am an industrial electrician- and electrical engineering student at Purdue University. I am 31 years old. I have loved high end audio for years- and my system now consists of:
Pass Labs Aleph 3
Adcom GCD-750 and clock-modded Rotel RCD-990 (for sale BTW)
B&W CDM-1's

My favorite artist is by far Tori Amos, but I like Sam-Phillips, Son Volt, Richard Buckner, - and my latest "must listen", Brand New.

I am a minimalist at heart and Mr. Pass's creations fit the bill perfectly.
Am amazed that there aren't more folks from industry.I was in retail for hi-end between 1995-2001 and thinking of getting back into it as consultant because over crowd can barely set up VCR (now DVD-R) with lowing cost of computers,internet radio,Recivers with Ipod docks,better sounding Wifi,chip amps,and cups of DEQX like tech at reasonable price.A music server with touch screen 5 years ago could cost $5K-$10K and basically a 486 machine with software and touchscreen.Now you can get single box that is no larger than CD plarer with HD,inputs for HD whose prices are dropping like a stone (meaning no compression needed economy wise) and WiFi to boost that could ruyn to 6 watt chp amps and hi-effciency speakers or a computer all for under 41K.Recivers are now at $600 level have USB inputs,some HD radio and Ipod docks.Finally the promise of digital has caught attention of this tube and LP guy.
Chazzbo
P.S.Brought way too little cash home since much of it went to a system that most freinds thought I was nuts given what I made to won.But it's heterosexual make-up artist going home do really want to eat caviar through your eyes and go home and bite into Milk Bones???????Terribly sexist analogy I know but it fits right?
I'm an IT Developer for a major electronics corporation. I have a Geology degree. I'm 35 years old (in 2007).
Profession: Heating, Electrical, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Service & Installation Tech.
I startup HVAC systems & intergrate them with building automation control systems.
Age: 51 Young.
System & SW: Costs too much & I fear it will never end.
I'm 42 and edit TV shows, commercials, corporate videos, etc. I have produced and directed a few music video and music DVD projects, one of which is distributed nationally in the stores. (even worked on a Sufjan Stevens project!) I'm hoping to sell a TV show pitch- then I can really get a good system!

I sometimes mix projects on my home system, so I get to deduct some of it, which really helps with the cost. It can be tied to a full non linear video editing system (about 30K) in the next room to evaluate mixes done on that system, and see what the videos look like projected via DLP for clients.

After this latest analog front end upgrade I am waiting to be delivered I'll probably have about a $45K retail 2 channel system (HT adds another 4 or 5K including projector). Some bought used, some demo gear - so it didn't cost that amount.

I Listen to mostly LP's these days. I was lucky enough to rediscover vinyl around 1990, when people were selling their vinyl by the milkcrate load to local stores. I bought in a fairly short time (2 years ) about 4,000 records including a nice jazz collection. I knew very little about jazz at the time except I liked it, and found a great guy at a local record and book store was an audiophile and had an encyclapedic memory for musically and great sounding LP's. I still have many Jazz LP's I have yet to clean and listen to, and lately have been opening up some sealed OJC reissues, which is fun.

I'm doing my first analog upgrade since around '90 when I bought a nice used table, which has served me well. I kind of feel guilty about this recent massive analog upgrade (about $13K with phono pre) and family members don't understand it since I have good 'table, but it will most likely be my last front end upgrade since to get to the next level of quality would probably be $20-30K on a front end alone, and I don't see much chance of that happening.

I decided not to post under my real name for a few reasons.
Music Recording Engineer in the Film and Record Industry. I'm 55. Two systems
Audio room $60K, Video room $50K. It's not a hobby.
Now 37, arbitration guy for online auction remarketer of wholesale vehicles, gear about 12k now...
Ok, I'm a geek. Was wondering if the data in this thread might be useful, so I charted the ages.

www.hagtech.com/blog/images/audiogon.jpg

Interesting. Only 3 out of 304 responses were age 60+. Now is that representative of the true audiophile population, or does it reflect computer and Internet savvy? Maybe loss of hearing? I really don't know, and am curious to hear your theories and interpretation of the data.

I found it comforting to see so many in the younger 20 to 35 group. Seems high-end isn't going anywhere. The 35 to 55 group is huge.

jh
Jim, interesting statistics - seeing a strong 20-35 age group is encouraging (I am not alone!!).

Did you feel it would be worth charting the occupation as well? For example: Is there a stronger science and ingeneering or musician background? Higher vs. lower income jobs?
04-27-07: Hagtech
Ok, I'm a geek. Was wondering if the data in this thread might be useful, so I charted the ages.

www.hagtech.com/blog/images/audiogon.jpg

Interesting. Only 3 out of 304 responses were age 60+. Now is that representative of the true audiophile population, or does it reflect computer and Internet savvy? Maybe loss of hearing? I really don't know, and am curious to hear your theories and interpretation of the data.

I found it comforting to see so many in the younger 20 to 35 group. Seems high-end isn't going anywhere. The 35 to 55 group is huge.

jh


Have you taken the age of the answers into consideration? For example, this thread is over 6 years old now. When I first replied, I stated that I was 40, I'm 46 now. That would put me into a different category in your 'chart' now. Granted this would take more work, but since you claim to be a geek, you've probably already taken this into consideration. :)

John
I agree with John, Hagtech. Please add another 6 years to everyone and give us another chart reading. Perhaps in the meantime, other contributors will add to this thread.
I am a watch importer by day and at night, I morph into a phono cart. maker. Just let's say I'm over 60...but not yet 70.

Coneflap
>>Please add another 6 years to everyone<<

Actually, it doesn't work that way. If the population density stays constant, then the graph is correct as is. The date you made your post does not matter. Density is density.

I realize this is not obvious to anyone without a mathematics background. But easy to illustrate. Instead of 6 years, what if the survey had been going on for 60 years? Got it?

jh
I realize this is not obvious to anyone without a mathematics background. But easy to illustrate. Instead of 6 years, what if the survey had been going on for 60 years? Got it?

jh

Not really, I don't expect that I'll be viewing this thread in another 54 years. :)

John
Well, hagtech, you are of course correct -- and obviously so, even to those of us without mathematics backgrounds -- yet the matter may be even more complex.

Your answer apparently assumes that the percentage of people in the population who are audiogon members would remain constant even as new members join and older members die or otherwise no longer participate. But this may not be accurate -- it may be that as younger persons raised on video and ipods mature, fewer grow into audiophiles, while those of us who are older are more likely to become and remain interested in hifi. If this is correct, then the population of audiogon may in fact be aging. But a further hypothesis may complicate matters more -- that younger audiophiles are more likely to be computer-literate, thus skewing the percentage of audiophiles who might participate on a site like this toward a younger demographic less representative of audiophiles as a group.

I don't have access to the data -- and to me it's a matter of passing interest only. But the people in charge of this and other sites might actually care about the age of the audiogon demographic.

And in response to the question, I'm a lawyer, age 54.