Systems Developer - 37 years old and paying with these toys for over 20 years now and still going strong |
22 year old Medical Student out in Toledo, OH. Began listening to hi-fi as a hobby during my first year in school. Listening to good sounds is really a good way to wind down and relax. I am putting together a 2 channel system from components from the early 90's. I have spent about 2K on my system so far...with no end in sight. I absolutely love this obsession. Musical tastes include R&B and Classical. |
Philosopher. Well, grad student, anyway. I'm 25. I might have had a Ph.D by now if it weren't for audio. I'm also the secretary of an Early Music society. I've sort of lost track, but my system (two-channel, single source) is worth about $18,000 retail at present. |
47, In the care Health Field as a Nuclear Cardiology Technologist. Grew up in NYC with a house full of McIntosh tube gear and Thorens Turntables. When I broke my dads then recently purchased Grado arm..I knew Id find this hobby exciting! |
Age 45, J.D. in Law, father of one boy and girl. I am now a small business owner with major audio addiction since age 18. |
Musician, Los Angeles Philharmonic/42 |
Sbrtoy
Your upgrade path is along the same path that mine has taken, She wants a hot-tub now...that should score me something nice!!! Give a little..take a little.
Dave |
29, Automobile Factory Rep, an understanding wife and 10+ years of progressively upgraded stuff has led to a system that retailed for around $27,000. The understanding wife part is the most important, I have found that Tiffany & Co makes for some nice upgrade potential, diamond earrings got me Vienna Acoustics Mahlers, a silver ring got me a VPI Scout, so it is all proportional. |
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Technical A/V Specialist (at least that is what my company business card has on it). I install high end A/V conferencing, presentation, and automation systems. 25 years of age. I have no idea of the dollar amount of my system; however, to me it is priceless. |
Im a printer and my system retails at 7700$ I paid about 5700$ money well spent |
I'm a 42 year old forensic psychiatrist. I am just getting back into audio, and my system retails for about $4500. I would like to upgrade to a system in the 12k - 15k retail range at some point, though I would want to buy a lot of it used for about half that price. I believe in enjoying life, and great sound is a part of that, but only a part. There are so many other things to spend money on. I believe firmly in diminishing returns. I hope I am always interested only in sound, not in equipment for its own sake. |
A 52 year old little fat man who works for a cheese company, and bakes cheese cakes & fudge. Got about $60,000 retail into stereo equipment. Currently working on a really rich version of Key Lime cheese cake, using fresh key limes. |
41 : architect ..and yes, the system LOOKS good too :) |
CCIE (sometimes known as Router Chick at work), 48 |
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Oops meant "with our" not "with out," sorry! |
Thank you kindly, Dave! I do try to help where I can, but I really find these forums very educational. A few of my friends have now gotten back into tubes and vinyl after hearing my AR and later my Gyrodec...one of them is now in the process of heavily modifying an old Garrard, in fact. It's a great hobby :)
We are admittedly quite a sight wandering into high end shops with out dreadlocks, piercings, and tie dye, though LOL! I've stormed out of one or two places after being treated like...well...a dirty ragamuffin ;D |
Well Mr. ragamuffin, glad you were not afraid to post. Many people of all ages here...it's all about the music and the components that reproduce the music in this hobby.
Nice system you've put together by the way!
Dave |
I'm 22, just finished my BA to find one nasty job market...
It's nice to see there are some other young people around here...I was afraid to admit it for fear I'd be dismissed due to my age! |
Electrical Engineer by training, 38 years old. My other degree is in music, I play the trumpet. These days I do industrial product design for my own company, which manufactures lighting. |
26, architectural designer. can't call myself an architect since the ARE (architectural review exams) are still out in front of me. system value is approx. $9k, paid maybe $4.5k? |
I'm a 53 Y/O Electrical Engineer/Musician. My system is probably under $5K but I never really gave it much thought and won't. I just love music. Two kids in college will curtail anyones spending habits. |
53 years old, retired from General Motors two years ago. I was one of the people that put those first few miles on your new vehicle, (Driver/vehicle-shipping)&(Driver-end of line). System: Not sure about price, I've had most of it a good while...around $25,000 retail. Some components were bought new and some used. Lets guess at 50% market value.
I've had the audio affliction sense about age 14, but liked music from about age 10.
Dave |
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I'm 46 years old. I'm a psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. |
35, semiconductor yield specialist. Started this hobby at age of 20, it's been a long 15 years. |
38, Digital Switch Design Engineer for a Telecommunications Company |
40, Concert Cellist/ Sound Engineer/ Classical Producer. I get to write gear purchases off of my taxes :)
Mike |
Senior Aeronautical engineer/Age 45, and an apparently rare woman on these forums . . . Doing first major system upgrade in many years--will probably have $20K in it pretty quick now.
Married to an electrical engineer who specializes in RF (I like to spin him up by reading cable ads. . ."SKIN EFFECT! Yeah, at 10 GHz, but not at 20 kHz!").
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I'm a resident of neurosurgery in my final year of training, age 38. I've been in this hobby since 1990. I don't know how much money I've dumped into a variety of systems over the years, but I'll estimate that my current set-up runs about $20K, $5k of which is just the cables (I'm planning for the future by having nice cables that won't need to be upgraded as I move to new amps, speakers, CD players, etc). Oh, and I buy almost everything used or demo (except my TV). |
Hey Gliderguilder, i have a Firmware mismatch in one of my DTCI's in our Portland DMS. Any reccommendations? hehehehehe
Congrats on getting outta Telecom. Im still trying. hehe |
53, ex telecom firmware design manager. System is worth about $60k. I was in the telecom bubble in 2000, was put on "involuntary hiatus", now a project manager for the Canadian Coast Guard. |
Poor college student that graduates in 4 months with a degree in Advertising. Plan to spend the rest of my life whoring my creative talents to the highest bidder.
System is currently worth $1500 new. |
Field tech for a robotics company. 31 and new to high-end. About 10k into the system and will easily triple that within the next 3 years. |
Clinical psychologist, 52. Guess I really like to listen! |
Forty two years old, and a welder. It`s loud, smoky, dirty, and it pays the bills. I work with a good bunch of guys, and that helps make it worthwhile.
By the way, this seems to be an unusually cool site, lot of knowledge, humor, and personalities floating around. Think I`ll stay for awhile! |
I'm too embarassed to say....but it involves a plunger |
Army National Guard helicopter Instructor Pilot, 42 years old. I'm thrilled that my hearing still tests perfect on the annual flight physical. Many chopper pilots my age and older have lost the high freq. |
Deputy Sheriff,44 yrs old.I hope to eventually aquire avantgarde uno's and a set amp to run them. |
Gosh...lets see...50 years old. From earliest to latest:electronic tech, road crew worker, Stationary Engineer,electronic tech, boiler-maker combustion and controls, HVAC tech, computer tech. System is...well too damned much. I can reproduce it now for 20-cents on the dollar. |
Retired electrical engineer, 54years old. Now helping out a friend in a offset printing company. Started audio 30years ago, lost interest, then came back again 5 years now.
Gear mostly bought new & cables all bought used, $13k approx. Major contributors to the present "sound" are the 845 S.E.triode (awesome audio modulator tube) based monoblocs, Dynaudio floorstanders and some good value used cables bought from internet interest group. Wasted too much money & time with bookshelf/standmounted 'speakers previously. |
Deputy sherrif(twelve years to go,who's counting),40years old.My system is about 70% used/20% home made/10%new.Probably system cost is about fifteen thousand.Custom subs are a crown jewel. |
University professor (ex-professional musician), 38.
Sold audio gear as a commisioned salesman in the early 80's to pay for college and buy new gear. On the way, I fell in love with Hafler and Phase Linear equipment and have been experimenting ever since. It was wonderful to be old enough to appreciate the development of the cd industry even though I loved my analog equipment. I've recently started rebuilding my 20 year old system and have found these boards FULL of information. THANKS! |
Bond trader ,age 33 ,60K for my Rig |
Musician/teacher, age 51. McIntosh/Tandberg freak in the 70's, out of the audio loop for 20 years, just getting back in, albeit on a low budget. The new speakers and amps, if I may say so, are quite improved. I used to use a Mac 2300 amp (127 lbs.) as a PA amp, and I don't miss lugging that sucker around. I'd love to have a great listening room with a great system someday, but I love the rig I have (Dynaudio contours/NAD integrated). |
I am a 39-year-old computer software engineer. Started having this hobby since my middle school year. My first DIY system cost me around $75 25 years ago. The retail value for my current system is around $79K. |
You lucky duck retired at 44. Great God, your ears still work at that age! Beats the vast majority of us who only have the time and the money once our ears are failing. |
Retired Air Traffic Controller. 44 years young and loving my tunes!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
CNC Programmer, manufacturing. I don't work for Boeing, but we make Boeing parts. Twelve years in the business, I'm 34. My system has a retail value of a little over $9000, but I have a little over $5000 in it. It's msileading because I can't listen all at once to my three pairs of speakers, or my two CD players, or my hybrid stereo amp, or my pure tube mono-blocs... So I have to say I have $9000 in equipment however, I can only listen to $5000-$7000 in one sitting. As you can see it's not brutally expensive (of course, this is a relative statement as you peruse this forum) but I have the "coolest" little system. Maybe I'll post it someday. In closing, if you're not going to state your income, then the question isn't being answered. The value of your system is only interesting relative to your income. I want to know exactly how "sick" you are, individually. I make a little over $60,000 and try to keep my debt in check. Take care. |
