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How did U get into this expensive hobby?

So I was up last night listening to my system and thought to myself, when am I going to be 100% satisfy with my set up. Just for once I like to listen without thinking well maybe if I can add this or remove that I can improve on this or that area. A mist all that I thought how did I ever got into this hobby any way? Well, the nightmare began for me when I was working in my college university's periodical section. We had over 3000+ magazines on file. The first stereo magz I ever picked up was the AUDIO annual price list which was about 300 or so pages of all major audio mfg. and models..also known as the audio bible; what ever happened to Audio magazine anyway? I remembered being so intrigued by so many brands that I have never heard of before and how the workmanship and industrial design seemed so much far superior than the average Kenwood and Pioneer back then (no offense to Kenwood and Pioneer owners). This was 10 years ago and I started by scraping every pennies I had to purchase my first NAD integrated amp. Although 10 years have passed, I am still scraping for money to own something new every now and then, but this time instead of pennies, it's dimes a nickels since my tasted have upgrade with my salery. It'd be interesting to hear how some of you fellow audigoners got started in this hobby. Upon adding to this thread, you'll find that you'll get a little grin on your face after spilling your guts out on how you began on this deep pocket journey and how far you have come. Happy Holidays guys and gals.
3chihuahuas
abecollins
219 posts
 
I was blown away by the incredible sound from a friend's MV-52 tube amplifier from Conrad-Johnson. This was 8 years ago. He later introduced me to another person who was running Krell gear into Martin Logan speakers.

I was hooked! I bought all used pieces like a Classe DR-10 amp, CJ PV-12 tube preamp, Thiel CS 1.5 speakers, and CAL Icon MK-II CD player. I have since swapped everything out several times over, except for my Thiel CS 1.5's which I'll keep forever even if I eventually upgrade.

Prior to hearing this audiophile class equipment, I thought my Sony receiver with JBL L100 speakers were pretty hot.

My current setup includes Adcom GFP-750 preamp, Audio Research LS-16 preamp, Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a tube amp, Cary 306/200 CD player, Adcom GCD-700 5-disc changer, Pioneer Elite CD Recorder, Magnum FT-101A FM tuner, and the Thiel CS 1.5 speakers.
jphilips
27 posts
 
Always knew about hi end, but ex-wife didn't allow. Got divorced. Bought a mac MC 30 at a yard sale (with a C 8) for $35!!! Got the MC 30 fixed, got another one. Now have about 20 mac tube pieces and a bunch of solid state, too. Got M & K S1-C satellites and a Def Tech Powerfield 12 sub to replace Def Tech BP 10s - Wow! Upgraded from AR TT with Benz silver to VPI HW 19 Mk III with SME 309 arm and Glider - double Wow! Just got a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista M3 integrated - WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW! Where to next? I don't know, but what I've got now is pretty profound. Love that vinyl sound. CDs sound better now with the M3 (Marantz 65 SE thru X-10D with X-PSU). Maybe an MSB Link DAC with upsampling, or a better cartridge, or a power supply for the VPI, or God knows what. It'll never end, but it sure is fun. New wife like it too!
clauera5d0
5 posts
 
A bit more then two years ago, a good friend of mine put together a fairly modest 2-channel system that consisted of NHT 2.5i speakers and Arcam amplification and CDP. A few days later I picked out a bunch of my favorite CDs and headed over.

A couple of CDs and a few expletives(WOW, holy ****) later and I was already thinking about what I could afford. A number of months later, my wallet was empty, but the tunes were........ the tunes were awesome. They still are.

No regrets.
dismalonyx
36 posts
 
MY first touch with HIFI system was when I where 15 years old , my dad had a great system he had not used since about 1 year and I never listened carefully to it so on 1995 this was his birthday and I bought him the lastest CD of the beegees he instantly lighted up his system ( JBL L200 with MCintosh MC 2300 power amp and MX117 tuner preamp) I was amazed that audio can be this great . Then I wanted to have my sound system he bought me a Marantz 2226B receiver ( I still got it and keep it) and a pair of JBL LX44 speaker , it was like nirvana to me , and since then I've always upgraded my system to what it is now JMLAB Mini Utopia , YBA 2 preamp , YBA 2 HCDT power amp Transparent ultra interconect and reference speaker cable with a YBA CD 1 player.
patrick123
9 posts
 
I started my audiophile hobbie with my first car. I bought a second hand sports car in 1993 and the car came with a pretty decent sound system. Since then, I was hooked. I continue to upgrade my system in the car but never thought of home stereo since I only live in a small bedroom in my parents' house at that time.
In 1998, because of my music hobbie, I sold my "old" sports car and bought a brand new mercedez 'E' class that cost me a bomb. I spent 7k on putting in a brand new stereo system.
In recent years, my financial position has improved and started going into home hi-fi. Bought myself Plinius pre/power amps and all the expensive cables. The hobbie continues to grow and I've just recently placed a down payment for a new house that cost me 1.5 million just so that I can have a decent music room for my hobbie. With this house, I'm going to be stucked working like a dog for the next 30 years so that I can pay back the mortage. Did anyone say that music is free?
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