Who R U?

I've hesitated to enter this thread for some time now, but here goes. I'm 44 y.o., live in Milwaukee, WI, a registered nurse at a local hospital (read: limited income!), divorced abou 2 years, have a 4 y.o. son who lives with me part-time and is the "bestest son in the whole wide world." I got the stereo bug back in college when I heard my buddy's Marantz 2270 on a pair of Klipsch Heresy's. In the next couple of years, while both o us where still in school, we combined our systems: single Quad ESL's, Hartley 24" sub, Quad electronics, Rega TT base, modified Rabco tonearm, and Decca MC cart. When we went our separate ways, my system tooka big dive. The Quads and sub were his. I ended up with a pair of Vandy 2a's, kept the , driven by some older Van Alstine Dyna stuff, bought a cheap CDP back in the late 80's. I was never able to do anything with the stereo until after the divorce due to the usual wife factor. Have gone thru a buch of equipment in the past 2 years, including some NAD separates on Klipsch Chorus's, then some ARC tube pre/SS power on ADS L1530's,to now: all Spectral/MIT on some custom (NOT kit) Focal driver speakers. Am just entering into tweaking. I was a music lover from an early age, started playing the piano at age 9, switched to clarinet at 11, added bass clarinet, flute, and bari sax in high school. I was never good enough to pursue playing past the HS level however. I am in the process of self-educating myself on classical, doing much reading and listening. I primarily listen to classical, acoustic jazz and some fusion, and still get the urge to crank up some late 60's to mid-70's stuff like EL&P, Rush, and the Who once in a while. I tend to be on the detail end of the spectrum right now with regard to my audio tastes, as evidenced by the equipment I own. BUT, I have the greatest respect for those individuals who are into tubes/vinyl. I used to be a fanatic with my old TT, had just about every VTA setting memorized for my LP's. I haven't heard any really good tube gear, like the big monoblocks from VTL, ARC, etc. The only tube gear I am familiar with is the older stuff from Dynaco, and actually owned an old ARC D50f1b amp for awhile. Living in Milwaukee means having todrive to other cities to listen to high-end stuff; Milwaukee is a hgh-end audio wasteland for the most part. I stumbled upon this site about 1 year ago. In some of my earlier posts, I was just a tad vociferous about a certain dealer (who shall remain unnamed) with whom I had a less than favorable experience. However, I believe that, rather than becoming too personal, it is far better to be diplomatic and attempt to distance myself from the fray evidenced in some posts on this site. Well, enough pontificating. All I can say is Thank heavens for Audiogon! I have made many successful transactions here, have learned a great deal from reading these posts, and hope to do more of the same in the future. Phewww.

29 years of age, living in DC and working for a development agency that markets subsidized health products in "developing nations." I'm regularly traveling on the Congo, or developing malaria in some far off corner of the universe. I was a Peace Corps volunteer near the city of Timbuktu from 95-99. Development salaries, as you may know, are less than stellar, so I prefer gear that delivers bang for the buck. Right now I'm running a pair of Dyna St70s on Vandersteen 2ces. I use a solid state preamp. I find that this combination of solid state top and tubes bottom is rarely chosen, but I like it much better than the other way around. I have yet to find a solid state amp that gives me the crystal clear midrange and highs that tubes offer. When I listen to a tube pre coupled with solid state amps, I inevitably hear only the glare or transistor haze. However, I don't like using tube pre amps with the tubes because the sound gets too soft and tube preamps can be noisy. Bass? using the Svetlanas I get plenty enough to piss off my neighbors...especially using the Vandys. I wonder how many other audiophiles opt for this type of combination.... No kids no wife, just my tubes and Sarah Brightman keeps me warm at night for now. Besides tubes allow me to Heat my Home with Music during these cold winter months!!

welcome Ben! Does your chick dig your stereo? Think you can bring her to the "dark side of the force"? My lady reads my mags and "appears" to be interested in the hardware.But when I got my Pass Aleph-3 she didnt even notice it sitting proudly on the amp stand in place of my Dyna (I miss her glow) How can you miss a new amp!!?? for 2 days I waited and listened to music waiting for her to notice.Finally I pointed it out to her and she said "Oh, is that the Krell pre-amp you wanted"? I guess she needs to do some more reading :)

I'm 36 years old,live in Glasgow,Scotland..have done my whole life.I studed Chemistry and work in the Chemical Industry for a multi-national (boo!)-work shifts which is great because I work 4 12 hour shifts on and 6 days off-hurrah.Plenty of time to buy and listen to music. I have never managed to work out how to spend less than I earn but as we say here ..no pockets in a shroud. I'm single but seeing a girl-the story of my life. I really only got into audio about 4 years ago when I left home-yeah mummy's boy I know..but I have been a music addict since 14 years of age started off with Rush and now listen to everything-trying to expand my classical knowledge/appreciation at the moment. I've learned about buying hi-fi the hard way(via the mags-doh) though with no disastarous outlays but a few cul-de-sacs. My system is just about to change with the arrival of a class A amp-a Sugden A21a-to partner my few months old Proac Studio 150's(ex-dem)-the digital end will be next but at the moment is a Nakamichi DVD player via Audio Alchemy Dti/DITB upgraded DAC---I'll wait a while to see the next generation player/DAC's. Music is my main hobby and I am proud of the fact that I love it as much as ever..I also follow soccer and read a bit. Audiogon is great-fantastic knowledge base-I like the passionate debates but wish it wouldn't descend into pettyness so much but such is life..I've flamed on the net too so I don't want to be a hypocrite..... Take care everybody and enjoy your music. Regards, Ben

This is a great idea, it helps to know the people who watch this site. I'm from Minneapolis, MN (GO VIKES!) I'm 44 years old and have been self employeed/ owned my own Architectural firms for 15 years. I left my first firm five years ago and with-in a year had a massive heart attack and quad. bi-pass. I was given a 10% chance of living. That of course has changed my life. I was extremely active, and enjoyed extreme sports. Now I'm able to walk 30 minutes, that's about it. I re-kindled my stereo intrest during my year and a half recovery. I also learned my three kids and wife are really what life is about. I've been upgrading my system over the past four years, now with a Sony SACD SCD1 (INCREADABLE - MUST BE BURNED IN AT LEAST 200 HOURS!), a Kora Eclipes tube pre-amp, Alioa amp, tekna (audio note) cabling, Electraglide power cords and Dunlavy IVa speakers. My whole system sits on a 6" stone slab side by side. At this point I am just amazed every day how fantastic a stereo can get. Just tried the Pizza tapes CD, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman and Tony Rice. This is the MOST amazing acoustical seasion I've heard. I hope to meet some of you, thanks again for listening. J.D.

Diva99, yeah so what.

joe_in_coherent :) You have some very extreme views.Cant say I agree with much at all you speak of but hey,so what! :)

Who I am ? One who dislikes fanatics, whether audiophiles or otherwise. I also dislike disrespect and insults, but consider myself free to retaliate when attacked. I don't believe in false modesty, nor in boasting. In terms of sound I believe that at the beginning of the XXIst century solid state and digital are the way to go. Solid state produces the best sound and only mega-expensive tube amps approach the quality of the good solid state amps, which makes them pointless (some exceptional designs are excluded from this generalization, to wit: the Atmasphere, the Wolcott and a perhaps few others I have not yet heard). Also I think vinyl's drawbacks far exceed any advantages it may have over today's good digital equipment --read 24/96 DADs and certain excellent CDs. I don't care very much if by saying this I make some enemies. I would not have such persons as friends who are unable to tolerate differing views (mine or other people's). Yet I acknowledge the rights of other people to thoroughly enjoy tubes and vinyl. And the few who actually have reasoned arguments to defend their preferences I respect. On a different note, I am appalled that more time is spent by audiophiles discussing tweaks than, for instance, room interactions and acoustics or recording techniques. You cannot be an advanced audiophile unless you understand basic acoustic principles (I acknowledge I need to learn more about this topic). I listen to all types of music and I believe there is no substitution for live sound. Yet I love to hear reasonably good sound in the comfort of my home, which is why I have this hobby. Usually its either classical, including opera, or pop/rock, every now and then the Jazz masters. I own about 1,000 CDs. I am not an equipment-phile although I admire something that's well designed. I believe that audiophiles need to train their listening. In my case I don't consider my listening to be past Junior-High School (but certain others who post here I consider to be in kindergarden with aspirations of Nobel prize awards). I have had some experience playing and recording live music. I also believe that being able to describe in words what you hear is not always easy. I hate reviewers who only refer to the emotional impact (e.g. it blew me away, or it rocked). I read every issue of Stereophile and The Absolute Sound but Stereophile bores me, although it has good information. On the other hand, I find TAS delightful, which may be a paradox given my above views. I have degrees in engineering (not electrical) and finance. I have a strong interest in general science and art. My work is international, essentially as a business developer. I am in my late thirties (OK almost 40), I have a splendid family, and made more money that I ever dreamed --still not enough yet to get those SoundLabs U1s and a room worthy of them. By the way, all of my above views are subject to change, as I hope yours are.

I'm a 28 year old Corp. HeadHunter. Living in Phoenix, AZ. now for the last 3 years. But Detroit we orginal home. I'm newly single since the new Pass Aleph 2 mono blocks, just pissed the girlfriend off. HeHe, I guess she wanted a ring. I have been a music lover for a very long time in and out of the recording studio with bands when I was younger but I really only started becoming an Audio nut about 5 years ago when I bought my first Harmon Kardon system and I thought it was the best!! Then I saw Mirage speakers and thought they were the best. Boy did my eyes need opening. Nice hearing from all of you.

My system consists of all solid state stuff: Aragon amps, EAD thearermaster pre/pro, B&W N804's, Sony 7000 dvd/cd transport (soon to be RA CD55), Stealth cables. I have actually posted a little more recently. I usually do my audiogon surfing at work so my time is limited. David: As far as the coffee burn; I have a special doctor I would like you to see, and then we'll talk. Marc

Welcome Marcy! Why dont you post more often? Tell us a little about your system.Tubes? S.S.? Analog? Digital? By the way,I got a blazing hot cup of coffee at Micky-Dees the other day and it burned my tongue.Can you get me a couple million?

What the heck... I'm 34, tomorrow, and live and work in Tampa, Florida. I am originally from Easton, Pa. but ended up in Florida because of the weather. I sold my snow skis and never looked back. I am married and have one child, Courtney, who is 15 months and it the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am a personal injury attorney and have been practicing for 6 years. I am somewhat a newcomer to high end audio as I became interested about 4 years ago. My wife works for a Dentist who has a really nice dedicated home theater and I got turned on at one of the x-mas parties. I enjoy jazz, rock, and blues. My favorites are Van Morrison and Dire Straits. I also enjoy all finely recorded material. I really enjoy this hobby and like to log onto this site daily. I do not post too often but enjoy reading other members posts. I think I have truly gained alot of knowledge from this site and the regular members. My other activities include golf which I have been playing forever and lifting weights. Since the birth of my child my golf game has suffered and I am not as dedicated in the gym, but I am home more and therefore can listen to my music and my growing system.

I'm a 20 yr old chemistry major at Penn. State University. I'm an active publishing researcher in analytical electrochemistry at PSU. Besides research, I'm also into the DIY audio biz. (As much as I love Mr. Pass's charity in providing projects, I wish he'd get that new penultimate amp out!) I started out with my first high end piece when I was about 15, and ever since it has become a driving passion in my life. If I had never gotten into the high end, I don't think I'd have the great appreciation for classical and jazz that I do now. Now if you'll please pardon me, I've got to go get a couple more jobs to support this hobby.

Well, just a little mail from Europe, from Holland to be precise. I'm not sure whether or not I'm a true audiophile, 'cause I like to save some money for minor things like food, the rent, clothes etc. Anyway, I'm 31, journalist, and started with hifi (or maybe: lofi at the time) when I was 12. I remember drooling over all kind of glossy brochures and stuff, and imaging buying all kinds of equipment with loads of knobs and inputs and little lights and ....and... So the first time I went into a real hifi-shop and said what I wanted to buy they looked at me, and asked if I wanted to listen. Listen? Why bother? I knew all the specs, so I knew what I wanted! And especially the amp they recommend was awfull: no knobs, no lights, low output... but it sounded best, so I bought. And that, my friends, was the beginning of my addiction. I can't say without lying that I've got a true high-end system, but it's the best I can afford, and I'm reasonably happy with it (that is, untill I walk into a good shop or nose around this site), and, since spending a lot of time in my car, I invested in a good car-system, although it'll never sound as good as my home-system. Talking about cars: since mine is about to give up, I need a replacement soon, which means no new hifi the coming time..... Michiel.

Rackon , Not a big deal, really, this way I get to ride too. In fact some days I couldn't tell you which gives me more satsfaction. But wait I hear the stereo warming up... cheers steve

Swampwalker/ref a capella recordings. Here are some of my favs. The Persuasions, Live In The Whispering Gallery. Recorded live april 10 1988 in the whispering gallery of grand central terminal. The label is HNCD 1988 and I believe is a one off from Hamer'n Nails records,Tortla BVI. Take 6 Titled Take 6 on reprise 9 25670-2. This is on the spiritual side but the recording's superb . Its six voices harmonized as good as it gets. The best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo On Shanachie 43098. These sang on the background of Graceland and have gone on from there. Most of the tracks are in their native language so dont expect to follow the lyrics, but very very musical. Ther are four Nylons Cds . The first one size fits all is Roadrunner RR34-9926. but in the U.S.might be on a different lable. This is on HP's/of absolute sound/ super list or whatever he calls it. Also on Roadrunner RR34-9856 is Seamless. They then swiched to Attic Records and did Happy Together ACD1233, my favorite, and then Rockapella Acd1254 Regardless of label all the Nylons stuff is great, the last two have better material. All my discs are stored Alphabetical by artist and I tend to file a few that are not a capella on that shelf. The gregorian chants and choral are there as well as two by Bobbie Mcferrin. Just a note of a superb choral I lucked upon . This is a great choir making recordings to pay the way but found an amazing Producer and engineer to but the music on dics. On Erato Disques from Paris is Agnus Dei on Erato 2-14634 This is the Choir of New College Oxford directed by Edward Higginbottom. They have a few out but this is the one to get. Although its not a capella I have on my favorites shelf YoYo Ma/Bobie Mcferrin / Hush. Sony Masterworks SK 48177. Well recorded and really neat music. also Bobbie McFerrin with a disc called circle songs. This is all vocals but doing somthing very different. A definate listen before you buy. A lot of this is a long way from bluegrass but different types of music can be fun and who says we have to listen to them every day. cheers steve

Alberta Steve: It could be worse. I have music/audio bug AND horses. We all need to be passionate about something, no? I applaud you for your sense of fair play & proportion. Cheers and happy listening, Rackon (not a guy)

It could be worse. I have music/audio bug AND horses. We all need to be passionate about something, no? I applaud you for your sense of fair play & proportion. Cheers and happy listening, Rackon (not a guy)

Alberta_steve- I have always liked a capella, have Persuasions LP's from my college days (their cover of "People Get Ready" gives me goosebumps). Would love some recommendations. I generally go for acoustic music (folk, jazz, bluegrass) but also blues and classic rock/r&B. You could respond here or send an email thru the member contact provision. Thanks.

HAVE YOU NOTICED WE'RE ALL GUYS?!

I've been reading this site with a passion for about 8 weeks but have never made a post. Although I feel I should introduce myself as I feel almost "voyer like" as I keenly read all the postings in this section. My name is Steve Dougherty and live in Calgary Alberta. At 47 im right in the thick of bulding my systems. I schedule flight crew for canadain airlines and have been doing so for too long. Some of my best memories of my teens are listening to my best friend's father's stereo on friday nights. Great big Tannoys,lancasters I think, powered tubes of some sort. Ever since I longed for a system of my own. I shopped for years but could not afford what my ears said I deserved. I had lousy stuff until 1990 when I moved from Montreal to here and my roommate reintroduced me to hifi. The first system was the little maggies with rotel 40w a side. The early cd players weren't so good but I concentrated building a cd collection. I just loved the maggies and could not figure why everyone in the office didn't have these. Well I got married shortly after and we had 2 girls right away. I was sure glad I had the stuff I did because the money for upgrades disappeared. Believe it or not I sold the maggies when my first girl was 2 because we live in a samll house and she was tipping them over. I bought some bookshelf kefs and thought I was happy. Well my life was too busy too know better. For the next 6 years every pennie went to building my wife's buisness, an ad agency, so guess what I listened to. I still built up the cd s , though,to well over 400 and thats not including all the trade ins. Let me digress here to my Cds. In 1990 when I started I had not a single title. So when I started my collection I felt I had to have all the oldies I liked growing up. It didn't click that I might not really lile that stuff any more. Also there seemed to be lots of changes going on in my life and the discs I bought the year before weren't really getting played any more. So every time my tastes expanded or changed another 50 or so cd's would find there way home. Sometimes they were hidden in the sock drawer. Anyways the buisness is now 17 employees and does pretty well. So guess whos playing catch up. My speakers were first with Paradigms ref studio 80s v2 I chose these over the 100s because of a more 2 way like sound. Then I bought a Anthem mca 2 for power. The Anthem Pre 2 is on order. I also bought a pricey paradign /dennon home theatre system. The plan is when we move to a bigger house in the spring then home theater will go downstais for the kids along with the studo 80s and mca 2. I think then I'll match the pre 2 with an amp 2 and perhaps maggies 1.6qr or the Oskar speakers with the Heil tweters that have been talked about so much in UHF magazine. Living in Canada we are restricted with the currency difference of late. I dont think most of you relize a 1,000 dollar us product on this site costs us 1550 canadian. I mention this because if you live close to the border near a major center you can save a fortune buying canadian made hifi with US bucks. My local dealer sells lots to customers from montana who drive up. Its a lot cheaper than buying the same product in the US because usually a importer or distributor lays a margin on the product.This works especially for who live close to montreal ,toronto or vancouver where there is a big hifi following. My current musical tates are classical,latin jazz and i have a big collection of acapella I just love the harmonie of voices by them selves. I also like mowtown but try to find a quality recording. Latest cd to come home is Armandos fire by Oscar Lopez on the Narada world lable. Pet peve is audio reviewers who use the word bloom in their decsriptions.Bloom is what happens in my garden in springtime not what grows out of my tweeters. A note to all of you who, like me, have a spouse who does not share your passion. It works if you encourage her to have her hobbie and you invest equal amounts. My wife has horses. Thanks to all of you who do post your thoughts and expertise here. I' learning a ton. Cheers steve

My name is Jeff, and I'm 42 yrs old. I live in Hawaii and have 2 teenage sons. I work as a Detective in the Honolulu Police Department, and have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration. My wife is an operating room nurse for a local hospital. My wife and I both have careers which can sometimes be filled with very tense, stressful situations. However, my interest in audio as a hobby provides moments of relaxation and pleasure which balances everything out. My wife finds escape in her hobby of sewing. I've always been interested in audio since childhood. During high school in the 70's, my friends and I would always gather at someone's house to listen to phono records. It was only in 1994 that I got back into audio by purchasing a home theater system consisting of a denon receiver, Mirage M7si speakers, velodyne subwoofer, and a denon laser disc player. Since then, I've added a adcom cd player, adcom amp, msb link III, and a rega planar 2. I'm planning on eventually having a separate home theater system and 2 channel music system to optimize the music sound quality. Anyone out there interested in corresponding, feel free to email me at jbrchl@aol.com.

for some time now. Being Canadian we have somewhat limited exposure to some products out there but for the most part we do get a good cross section of great components. Had Bryston gear for 12 years now (various preamps & amps) and have now started using a Rogue 66 preamp. My first foray into tubes has been an enjoyable one although I still think my Bryston 4BST does the job for my 1.5 Maggies. A believer in getting better than manufacturer supplied cables but I think there is a limit, at least to my ears there is. Had the same system for 10 years(mostly because I travel alot for work) but in the last year changed all components. Have a modest HT application but 2 channel is where my heart lies. Sometimes late at night I think of either giving up the 2 channel completely (as I do not have a dedicated listening area) and either getting a downsized system for the livingroom or making my HT system better. I wish I had made this decision before I got ill with the upgrade bug! Personally - presently live in Western Canada but grew up in Montreal, work in the Railroad industry, divorced with 2 kids (18 & 8) and have been in a good (have found out that nothing is ever perfect) relationship with a woman with 2 older kids (one of which is getting into audio on a limited basis due to $$$). Have bought and sold on Audiogon a few times and have learned quite a bit here in terms of products and theory. Enjoy the discussions and hope to offer more opinions as my audio education increases...

I am a 50 year old environmental contractor, married living in the South and raised in the Northeast who has loved music since I can remember. There was my great Aunt Hilda and her husband Rudy who always played piano duets when we visited. But it was Rudy who captivated me at 5 or 6 years old with his most engrossing (to me) rendition of List's Hungarian Raphsody #2. Everytime we visited I requested that he play it and it was the beginning of my love affair with Classical music in general and the piano in particular. I played various instruments throughout primary and secondary school starting at age 9 including clarinet, flute and saxophone. The school system had a fantastic music program which ended for me when I attended a parochial high school. My interest in playing waned at that point because it was like starting over again. My parents both loved music. Dad was an amateur singer that always sang at our big family get togethers. He was involved in local musical theatre and charity events and was always in the church choir often as a soloist. I wasn’t blessed with his voice, unfortunately. Musical tastes have expanded through the years. I really enjoy all types of music from rock to blues to jazz and of course classical. I have been to numerous concerts over the years and still enjoy them. Even attended Woodstock for 1 day in 1969. My wife doesn’t share my enthusiasm for rock so most concerts these days are classical only. Got my first system for college, a Scott integrated, dynaco speakers, garrard turntable. It was warm and wonderful, I couldn’t have wanted for more at the time. I stumbled into the high end in 1984. Heard about a shop that sold good stereo that was better than McIntosh, WOW! It was an eye opener for me. More importantly it brought back to me the beauty of music reproduction through tube electronics after a hiatus from the Scott days. Since that time I have owned for a brief time solid state electronics before going to tubes for good in the early 1990’s. I have always considered myself a music enthusiast more than an audiophile. I think I have over the past few years made the transition to audiophile through my relentless upgrading that has realized a quantum improvement in well reproduced audio in my home. I am living the good life and the music has NEVER sounded better. Thanks to Audiogon and all you great audio enthusiasts for helping me with the journey. This site makes it that much more fun. Best to you all!

I'm 43, single, one (3) year old boy. Artist living in the midwest. Just completerd the Columbus marathon on sunday (I'm enjoying some down time now). Been an audiophile seen I was 18, music lover since 65'. Other hobbies I enjoy when not listening to music, fumbling with the stereo or training, include mountain biking, flyfishing and of course revisiting my childhood-spending time with my son. Mike

Hi, My name is Mark Johnson and I'm just starting to re-visit my amateur audiophile days (I'm now 40 years old) I still have my ESS satellite system with sub (mid-seventies) but I've lost the preamp/crossover that powered them (see wtb ad) they didn't make too many of these speaker systems and ESS has not been any help so I'm hoping someone in here may help. Thanx, MJ

I'm 33 years old and have been at this for a LONG time. My father was into the old British gear and I've played with everything under the sun. From HUGE B&Ws, Krells, Linn LP-12, etc. I moved to a tiny appartment when we moved into the Big City (Toronto--that's as big as it gets in the Great White North) and changed to a correspondingly tiny system. The system was based around a Naim Nait integrated and Linn SARA Isobariks. With this system, I have been in a 10 year hiatus. I've since moved into larger place and recently, I lusted after more sound... Rayhall sold me his Plinius SA-100 Mark III (GREAT GREAT amp, if you're looking) for a good price and I'm now off to the races. Listening to better sound and more music. Next on the list is a good pre. On the personal front, I'm married and run a consultancy business that provides technology based business solutions to mostly larger companies.

Ok, my turn I guess (great thread by the way!) I'm 28 years old, originally from Dublin, Ireland. I emigrated to the States - New York to be exact when I was 22, after graduating from Trinity College, Dublin, in business and economics. I lived in NY for four years as a banker. I didn't enjoy it much and so went back to college - MBA at Kellogg, Chicago. Now I've moved to California, working in high tech and love it. I first got into audio when I was about 18, combining pocket money and summer job money to get what I thougth was a great system - Denon PMA350 amp, Aiwa cd player and Mission speakers. The sound was great, but couldn't touch my present system (although still humble compared to the stuff you guys own!) I just discovered this site about 4 months ago - luckily coinciding with my graduation from college, and the associated reversal of money flow - I've switched from paying college fees to cashing paychecks :-) I have a girlfriend, Vivien, for the last two years. She's awesome - so awesome in fact that I am minding HER B&W Nautilus 805s and Arcam 7 CD player- yes, she is very much on-board with hi-end audio. My frineds are not surprised at my interest in high-end audio as I always seem to fall into the trap of focusing on hobbies that are very expensive and very technical. My best friend tells me that next step for me is pro photography - he could be right. Well, that's enough from me I guess. Cheers.

Greetings to Tom and ALL, it's great to hear about all of you. I have read MANY posts and always wondered about the people on the other end! My name is Larry. I am 47 and live in Perrysburg,Ohio. I also have had the opportunity to shop at Accutronics in Ann Arbor. It was like being in a great big TOY store! My pretty understanding wife's name is Marcia (lets me spend $$ on my addiction) she is a medical transcriptionist self employed. We have two children Brian 20 stationed at the Marine Corps Air station in Beaufort S.C. And Becky a freshman in college. I taught public school for several years, became a school adminstrator for 18 years and now have returned to the classroom (3rd year). I got into music in junior high participating in band and orchestra. Bought my first system in 1971 and never looked back. I am also an avid white water kayaker,as well as teach the sport. I go by two different user names depending on my location. lakiraly or lak

Hi Tom, You are lucky! Anja sounds wonderful and I'm glad you appreciate her. Happy listening, Tom

My name is Tom and i used to shop (as often as possible) at Accutronics Audio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I live in Livonia which is about 25-30 min east. The guy who owned Accutronics, Arnie, started this website (yea!) and then shut down his store (boo!). It was the best hi-fi store I'd ever been in during my 22 yr "career" as an "audiofile". 5 rooms of high end gear (specializing in SETs) and 5 (or more) rooms of used gear. This was a two story building right across from the University of Michigan campus diag. You guys would have loved it! Arnie got in high end used stuff and going in there was like this website come to life. If you waited long enough you'd see just about everything. I am extremely lucky! My lovely wife, Anja, bought me a Mesa Baron amp for my birthday, and then, 3 yrs later, bought me a pair of Cary 572SETs for another birthday. In between these times she contributed her year end work bonus towrad my purchase of Proac 2.5s. She helped me choose speakers as I brought home 11 pairs before making a choice. She could listen to any speaker for five min and tell me everything I needed to know about them. Proac Tablette Sigs - too bright! Fingernails on blackboard. Proac 2s - very nice but soft and a bit distant. Alon 11 - look great but not real musical sounding. Proac 2.5s - just right! Unfortunately, Anja never sits with me in the listening room. She has to be doing something while music is on. Anyone else find this true with the women you've know in your life? Anyway, I love my wife exactly as she is and tonight feels like a Sonny Rollins/Archie Shepp/Charles Mingus kind of night. And I'll get about 45 min while she gets ready for bed. No complaints at all since Anja was a competative Latin and Ballroom dancer and looks exactly the same as when she "retired" (she stills teaches and competes in Pro/Ams) a few years ago. Again, lucky me!

I just figured out something cool. The adcom gfp-750 has a processor input. This is just a switched RCA-RCA passthru. I run the variable outputs of my XA7 CD player into it. This gives me the ability to use the XA7's CD remote for volume and track selection. Very nice.

Doug is completely correct. I bought a Rowland Coherence preamp that has a bypass input that defaults volume control to the theater processor. another way to ay that is that it has unity gain. funvtionally, when I listen to music the HT is completely out of the loop.When tha HT is going, i must choose the bypass circuit and the HT processor treats the main spaeakers as it's own front channels.David

hi swampwalker, there are more & more preamps that offer dedicated h-t proccessor outputs - when ewe select this output, your main preamp defaults all its controls to the processor, so ewe can use the processor's volume control, etc, to run *all* the speakers. the rest of the time, the two main audio speakers don't see any of the processor electronics - ewe have the two main speakers driven by the preamp, & the surround speakers connected to the processor. preamps i knoew about that do this are made by linn, sonic-frontiers, vtl. i'm sure there are others. doug

David, maybe you could shed some light on what it takes to put together a good "combined but separate" HT & 2 Channel system. Maybe start another thread. I've wanted to do this, cause the cost of having two good systems plus decent video is getting to be a lot to carry. Thanks, Michael

My turn. I'm a 44 y/o man who could stand to lose a few pounds. Boy do I fit into a group. I am an orthpedic surgeon specializing in spinal surgery. I have invented a couple of implants which has helped fuel a newfound passion for music and an old one for fast cars. I have spent the past year putting together a new sytem. I originally started with home theater, but have now graduated to a separate but combined system. I have used this site extensively to learn and to buy everything from amps to speakers. My wife puts up with my obsessions very good-naturedly, but my 5 children (aged 3-11) take up a LOT of my time.We are at a lucky time, where the music is good, the equipment is stupendous (compared to my college system of a Sansui amp with a Rega turntable and Advent speakers)and the sources are finally catching up. David

I am 57, and fell in love with music when I was about 11 years old. I remember the old tube radio we had, and the challenge of trying to tune it for best sound (guess I was a tweak then too). My degree is in fine art, I worked for a number of years after college graduation for LTV Aerospace, illustrating the fuel systems of fighter planes. This was as close to a career in art as I could find at the time. Then, in 1965, to be near music, my other passion, I took a position as salesman for a high end audio store in the Dallas, Ft. Worth area. At least this way I could enjoy music even if it meant being poor. I learned more than I thought possible from an old recording engineer who worked beside me each day. And remarkably, my enthusiasm made me the best salesman the store had ever had. This store and the three that followed, exposed me to almost every brand name audio product ever discussed at this site. And finally, to expand beyond retail audio sales, I accepted an offer to be the factory representative and tech support person for a number of high end audio manufacturers. They included Infinity, Sennheiser, MB of Germany, Ampex, JBL, Crown and Yamaha. My experience grew again, but I tired of the constant road trips to the five states that I covered. During this time I always took my camera, as it had always been another (art) passion. Constantly taking pictures of equipment, people and the scenic views out of my car window, during the long road trips. Then one day, during a sales calls to one of my customers (an audio store in Dallas in 1972), I recognized a fellow graduate from my college. He had stayed with his art career, and was the creative director for a Dallas advertising agency. After reviewing my photography efforts, surprisingly, he hired me on the spot. I worked at his agency until I was stolen away to do photography for Neiman Marcus, and later I earned a photography retainer with Southland Corp. that provided a consistent monthly income with only the requirement to "be available." This allowed me to evolve into a self employed, freelance photographer. I have been self supportive in photography for 26 years and currently do advertising photography for a number of companies, including Interstate Battery (race cars, and product), Exxon/Mobil, Quest Medical, Bank of America, Redman Industries, Southwest Airlines, and others. Did I manage to make photography fit with my passion for audio? Yes, I currently do, or have done the advertising photography for Atmasphere, Audioquest, Purist Audio, PSE, Counterpoint, Soundlab, Essence, Musical Fidelity, Aesthetix, Benz, Basis, Graham, Sound Anchor, McCormack, and others. I have several pages with my images in almost every issue of Absolute Sound and Ultimate Audio each month. I often see equipment (and HEAR it) before the public knows it is becoming available. Add to this, I have somehow managed to keep the same beautiful female married to me since 1972, this, in spite of my absolute passion for this hobby. We have a wonderful son, who is now 14 years old, and musically at least, is following in my footsteps. I also host a group of audiophile friends here in Dallas that meet at my home every Tuesday night for music. This has been every Tuesday, almost without fail, for 23 years! I have learned almost as much from the visitors I share listening with, as I did in the audio "business." These friends include audiophiles who are as varied in their experiences and tastes, as the postings here at Audiogon represent. Our testing and exchanging equipment, sharing software and open comments has allowed me to stay in touch with my hobby in an active way, rather than isolating myself with only my one point of reference. It sometimes helps me in posting my comments, as I see many sides of the issues that come to light here. Best to you all!

I'm 31, single, never married, no kids, live in the southeast USA, and work in a photography business. I am not affluent in the least, the way most of you are. I hope to be. I got a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, but really should have done recording engineering (may still). I used to want to design the body of the "next Porsche", but the Boxster got done by somebody else (Weissach did see my design 4 years before the Boxster was first exhibited, however). My other hobbies include reading science fiction, watching movies, riding dirtbikes and ATV's, doing yardwork, and posting here.........................I have been both hated, and liked by many on this site in the past few months (the AG staff included...guess which category they fall into!). I can be hotheaded, especially when ganged up on...or hounded by closed minded people. I consider my hearing to be excellent. I listen to music often (though not enough to vinyl, of late). I've spent far too much money on vinyl reissues, the smell alone is intoxicating, the sound is even better! Like essentially everyone here, I think my system sounds better than any others I've heard...though I fully realize that I've not heard the several dozen (in the world) TRULY world class systems out there. My audio philosophy is that I want to hear what's on the recording, and not the listening room's contribution. And...Two channels suffice for music, with the out of phase information coming thru fine in a properly set up room (Q Sound, other dsp'ed fake "acoustics", or the real thing, especially in the LSC and Mercury Living Presence, where only 3 close arrayed omni's were used...bear this out). Room decor is of zero importance in any music listening room that I'll ever spend time in. The system will never, EVER be "in service" to interior decoration...even if I marry Sandra Bullock, and she wants it that way...I'd have to divorce her! I've been interested in audio since age 14. I enjoy all types of music, except most rap, and most "pop country" (Alison Krauss is very nice, for instance. I hate Winona, but her sister is killer!) Classic and 80's Rock are my favorite music; Dave Brubeck's "Time Out" is my favorite jazz recording. Charlie Mingus and Bill Evans are also top notch, as you know. I am also a speaker hobbyist, hope to get a manufacturer to "mass" produce at least one of my ideas at some point (I know, "dream on"). I record nature and vehicles/aircraft with a portable DAT, and may market these to the specialty audio consumer at some future time. I enjoy using Napster, and don't feel that it's stealing, any more than listening to FM radio is stealing. If the copyright law were clear on this issue, then it would have been resolved already, perhaps. If the RIAA ever manages to eradicate all free music on the net, then so be it...but I'll enjoy it while I can until then (I feel MPEG 1 Layer 3 is capable of 97% of the performance of the original CD...and that's good enough for me thru a CD-R on my CD player, since the files are free and blanks are cheap)...I do admit that most files are not of this quality, but it's fun to chase the phantom.....................I consider the person who started this thread to be a good friend, and rabid vinyl enthusiast who has been very kind and generous to me ever since I've started using this forum. I hope everyone here gets the enjoyment that I do out of this hobby, at least the listening part.

What can I possibly say about myself? I'm 35, single and living in New York (Sounds like a personal ad!) An acupuncturist by profession, I'm also a film-maker/photographer with a passion for fine cognac and most especially absinthe. No hang-gliding or parachuting though.Living in New York City is exciting enough! My father loved both music and electronics and I guess you could say I was influenced by his interests as a youngster. I've had the hi-fi bug for 20 years cobbling together mostly mid-fi junk until an older friend of mine took me down to his basement for a listen to his Sota/Conrad-Johnson/Magnepan Tympani rig. Blew my mind!! It's been downhill ever since! I'm currently enjoying my Krell seperates/Linn 'table/Revox B760 tuner/vintage Nakamichi deck and several vintage Reel-to-Reel machines. In addition to collecting vinyl for 20 years, I've recently started collecting R2R tapes (mostly from e-bay). CD's are also welcome as I'm no snob! When it comes to music Jazz is king but my taste is extremely diverse from rock to classical to pop to...well you get the idea! In closing I think I should mention that I have an absolutely beautiful and wonderful girlfriend who is both a teacher and psychologist. I'm also convinced that when it comes to audio-related matters she probably thinks I'm completely insane but has never actually come out and said this. Needless to say it's one of the MANY things I love about her! Audiogon is a great site! Keep 'em comin' folks!!

Saw the thread and thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. Name is John, I'm a 37 y.o. internist in Indy (work in a public health clinic - no Jag for me!). I've been back into vinyl with a vengance since I moved here 5 1/2 years ago (mostly jazz and rock, starting to dabble in classical). I'm also in the process of restoring/ hot-rodding a '63 Chevy Deuce. I've had some great dealings with some of the members on Audiogon, and find the discussions VERY informative. Looks like there's a fairly diverse group here - it's pretty cool to read some things about the members of our 'community.'

I have begun this hobby when I was 11 and living in South America, especifically, Paraguay. I guess my first encounter with gear was through some borrowed equipment from my brother's wealthy Jesuit educated friends. Some old Technics receiver and turntable....Afterwards, I really into hifi or low fi when I got my own 1985 Sony MIDI system. It has been a long road since, 17 years, High school in a rough part of NYC, the Bronx, school in plush upstate private school and graduate school for an MA in Spanish lit from University of Kansas. I am doing this crazy job called teaching now. Not married, thank you, and I am an avid reader to this site, which, by the way, was directed to my attention by a dealer who wanted to make a sale, but I guess he never did....My system in the US consisted of SS, Carver junky amp, Sumo Preamp, Sony CDP, Infinity Kappa 9s and a NAD 3 head tape deck. Now, after selling, wasting money and time, my system for years to come is taking shape. Used SFL-2, new Sonic Frontiers Power 2, Gershman X1 and SW1 4 piece speaker system combination, Mcintosh MR78 tuner - Mint from EBAy - a rarity indeed not even one finger print mark on it!, and either today or Monday, the DAC-1 from Bel Canto which I will use to run with my DVD player. Although there is much I have learned from the site especially about stereos, I am always surprised to find the honesty and the tone of all people in the site, except those feisty types, a great surprise. This site is incredible and I think it is just the beginning of great things to come. Background...I am Korean, speak a few languages, my best being Spanish and English...others include French, Portuguese and Korean. Great thread.

Treyhoss - I have stories galore..but many my wife shouldn't know about, so I think I'll save the book for when I'm REALLY old. BTW, a build on the thread. I posted a message a while back asing if there were any audiophiles in Cincinnati, OH. Via this thread, I met a fellow Audiogoner who lives a few blocks away (!) and we've done 4 listening sessions together since, loaned each other interconnects and music, etc. Alway glad to have a seocnd opinion, so if any of you is ever in Cincinnati..drop me a line in advance!

Hi Redkiwi, Hdm, John_1; Nice to meet you on this thread and read your bio-info. I'm a big Junior Wells and Buddy guy fan also, and Hoodoo Man Blues is great-- listened to it last night. I saw Buddy Guy live several years ago. He's a tremendous performer with a smile that could light up Oregon, and his version of "Mustang Sally" is killer. Redkiwi, I now have 5 Shirley Horn CDs (your influence), she's great, but I only like the ballads. I'm really enjoying this thread. Cheers. Craig.

The CD made by Buddy and Junior in France is called 'Alone and Acoustic'. From Alligator records , box 60234, chicago IL 60660. One of my all time favorite albums. You can also buy it at Buddy's bar 'Buddy Guys Legends' in downtown Chicago, 748 S Wabash. Who am I ? I'm a single 33 y/old independent computer consultant. I specialize in middleware and enterprise interface systems. I was a traveling nomad for about six years which allowed me to experience live music in cities all over the United States. I recently hung up the laptop, bought a house, and took a day job working as a systems architect for a local telephone company (I still consult on the side (hint hint). My hobbies are downhill skiing( Crested Butte & Jackson Hole Rule!), bicycle riding, mountain climbing, and classical guitar. It is such a great thing to be able to HAVE a stereo. I actually knew a consultant who would ship his stereo to whatever job he was working at. I've enjoyed reading all of your posts. Even Carl_eber's. Cheers to all.

Yes indeed Hdm, Junior Wells is fantastic, and Hoodoo Man Blues is one of my very favourite CDs. I also like a CD of Junior and Buddy which is an acoustic session recorded in France. These two CDs are the stand-outs that I have heard to date, with many of the others being of much lesser quality, but if you have any tips for me on that score I would be very grateful.

Redkiwi, being a Junior Wells fan, has inspired me to post. My username is hdm, short for Hoodoo Man, one of Junior's many great songs. Had the opportunity to see him numerous times before he passed away a few years ago. I'm a 41 year old real estate broker (selling real estate in London, Canada, right smack between Toronto and Detroit) for the past 21 years, married with a great wife who is pretty tolerant of my hobby and two boys, 7 and 4. Have really enjoyed music since about the age of 14, but my musical tastes have definitely changed over time. Now mainly a post war Chicago Blues and Jazz fan, but enjoy lots of different stuff-Tom Waits, recent Johnny Cash, female vocalists etc. Pretty much a "budget audiophile" and have built a modest, but musical system over the years. Don't change much in the way of equipment, and didn't even have a CD player until about 4 years ago. System must sound ok as my wife's comment after seeing Diana Krall live about a year ago was "she sounds better at home". Actually, the venue we saw her in is notorious for lousy acoustics, and we prefer to see blues acts in seedy bars where we can drink to enhance our appreciation of the musical event!

hi mohamed, if anyone posting is an audiogon member, then they can be emailed directly, by yust looking up their user id in audiogon's list. if *not* a member, then ya have to post yer email address to get your comments posted. regards, sedond@ors.od.nih.gov

Guys, you know what is missing, is emails, we should post our emails. Thai will allow us to communicate directly if we elect to. What do you think? Mine is myoussif@emirates.net.ae

I am 46, married to the most wonderful woman in the world, have two terrific girls 7 and 8yrs, who in turn have a dog, two cats and a mouse. I live in New Zealand and descend from the marriage between one of the first British missionaries to New Zealand and the daughter of a tribal Maori King named Tamatewhakanene (pronounced Tar mar tay far ka nay nay). King "T" was the final signatory to this country's founding (but controversial) legal document, the Treaty Of Waitangi. I live in the ludicrously small city of Wellington, which is this country's capital, windy like Chicago and shakey like California, more cafes per head than New York. Commuting to the city is 5 minutes for me, 10 minutes in 'rush hour' - yet I live in a suburb that enjoys spectacular harbour views, abundant vegetation, bush walks and large sections (blocks of land). I am a business economist/strategist working in telecommunications. I have been involved in a number of audio ventures including manufacturing and marketing a valve preamp, and have good friendships with a number of people in the music, audio and film industries in New Zealand. Up till recently I had a good business sideline in Fiji, but the recent coup there has destroyed that opportunity for the present, much to my disappointment. If that coup had not occurred I would probably be now living in Fiji full-time. I have been actively keen (ie. spending money) on music since around 10 years old - first interests being the Beatles, quickly dropped for the Rolling Stones (at 10 and a half). Then ventured into Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, ELP etc (around 13). Followed by discovering Blues (15), then Classical (22), then Jazz (28). These days I have dropped the interest in pop and most electronic music in general. I dropped buying Classical when I reluctantly moved from vinyl to CD (very hard to get vinyl here) about five years ago. Somehow Classical has never sounded musical to me on CD. But I still go to Classical music concerts. Like many (but obviously not all) audiophiles I prefer to listen to mostly acoustic music and so my preferences are mainly Jazz, Blues with some Country and Folk sprinkled in too. Therefore my preferences in audio system are for transparency and timbral accuracy rather than for horse-power. My all-time favourite musicians include; Junior Wells (mainly when teamed with Buddy Guy playing guitar), James Brown, Shirley Horn, Sarah Vaughan, Lightnin' Hopkins, Bill Evans, Count Basie (his small band stuff), Tom Waits (but not the whole repertoire). My taste in people is confined to those with intellect, humour, honesty and self-respect - and so my friendships are few but deep. I am an introvert and so enjoy the solitude of a glass of wine, good music and a good book. My other 'phile obsessions and occupations are wine, coffee, motor-racing and rugby. I really enjoy reading Audiogon posts but do not contribute much as, being an introvert, I tend to wait till I feel I have something unique to say. One of my hobby-horses in the audio field is that audio magazines are not as relevant as most seem to believe. I feel the audio press is sadly, but understandably, all style and no substance - that journalism triumphs over reality, and that much of the audio vernacular is driven by these audio journalists needing to make the issues concerning a component more complicated than they really are. I find that I react to a component according to whether or not I can enjoy music when it is inserted in the chain, and that the attempts of audio journalists to categorise the sound issues into narrow components merely makes for a longer story - not greater insight.

Awl hell, why not. I’ve been addicted to this site ever since I found it, so why not fess up. 28 and living in NYC. (Still a youngster compared to many of those surveyed, though less so than I expected, truth be told). Grew up more or less in the D.C. area (Virginia, actually), went to CT for college, and was actually living in Spain (teaching, playing dilettante, and making an effort to write a book about a couple of timely summers spent in Russia and the conveniently interposed fall of the Soviet empire) when I came up with the jackass idea that, in order to properly understand all of the socio-political vectors and whatnot that go into this fancy new rule of law concept that was emerging in Russia, law school might be a good idea. Yea, jackass idea, back to VA for law school. Now, I’m doing more-or-less international arbitration and litigation in New York. Alas. My first "system" was a cobbled-together Yamaha / Infinity combo that I did sophomore year in college. I then spent the next nine years fantasizing about all of the upgrades I might get if and when I had the money. (Built a pair of speakers once, blew one out at a party, and then threw it out of a fifth story window for good measure. No injuries). Now it appears that I have the money, I got the system I was (had been...) dreaming of, the only trick is that I continue to dream of yet more expensive additions. . . Other interests? Seems that single malt scotch and wine are almost de rigeur - yea, me too. I’ve also been sporadically and consumingly obsessed, for years at a time, with rowing, skiing, sailing, rock climbing, Aikido, writing, scuba diving, fly fishing, and mountain biking - none of which seem to fit all that well with my lifestyle in NYC these days, sadly. Current obsessions, aside from sitting in front of the hi-fi with a stupid grin, include live music of nearly any stripe (though mostly jazz and blues - try to catch at least a show a week), languages (do most of my pleasure reading in either Spanish or French, though I almost never get to go), and girls. (Yea, single). Keep the stories coming, folks, this is quality stuff.