child-free environment?

I dont have kids so No and No

Im 26 and youll notice my generation just isnt into it.
A big part is after researching audio history you have great names from the past like Fisher, Infinity, Etc. that made great gear and then sold out.

My generation came after the 80's (I dont believe there were more than a handful of good cars built in the 80's if that) And didnt really get that HIFI was real (Its all hype besides having 2 12's in your trunk and 1K watts)

My point being I have come to love music and audio all because my dad was really into HIFI and sadly his health dictated how many shows he could go to and I was raised with a love of music and an appreciation for live music. I remember him telling me when i was 8 that I was playing it loud enough to make my rural neighbors living 200+ yards away complain (LOL) great way to make a kid stop.

Anyway I will never forget that Conrad Johnson PV-11 on the mantle, speakers I dont remember but man i remember the joy of turning that dial and hearing it go up like it was yesterday as i jumped everywhere around and on the couch JUST ROCKING OUT LIKE NO OTHER to Pink Floyds Money and Paul Simons You can call me Al.

That brought such a smile to my face remembering that. These days HIFI is our main conversation piece which is similiar to the music we listen too. He went low power SET Amps for classical and jazz mostly (One day hell learn the awesomeness of the mighty zep) While I love Older rock, Hip-hop, Rap, Especially 90s rock like soundgarden and alice in chains. But I like everything except the lounge singer type stuff.

Case in point, What good is it if only your enjoying your system, If you work that hard your children should be able to share in your Joy AKA Audio Nirvana

On a side note I have a dog and used to have an apartment, I trained that dog to never go near the cables, One day she was super excited playing fetch on my steps which is near the stereo, The ball landed next to a random cable 2 feet away from my rig and wouldnt come close to it without me getting the ball

Child/Pet Free meens nothing its all in the quality of the parent/pet owner.

But let your kids play with the system I have been smiling for 5 min. remembering that, Also rocking out to collective soul in 93-94 when i was 9 or 10 hearing a rock radio station for the first time

And remember you can put together a pretty decent SS system for less than 1K with enough power and to keep you and the kids safe if your rigs too fancy

Yes, they've pushed in dust caps. No, they never touched a hot tube (I always stressed how hot they are). Yes, they love classical and I have music all over the house. Finally, yes I am paranoid about them in the theater room with friends unsupervised. All I need is a mono block amp knocked off a stand but I have faith...they are little versions of me after all :-)

My kid is approx. -5 months old so there is minimal risk of damage resulting from him. The 160 lb rottweiler walk by one of the main speakers and only on a rare occasion will even get close. He's never really showed any interest in anything in the house and hasn't damaged anything so far. He was sick a while back and managed to puke near the couch, but thankfully it went under and didn't get on anything but the laminate floor. So far so good, but well see what happens in a few months.

Yes and Yes.
Taught my daughter how to use the system. Want her to have an appreciation of how good music can sound over her ipod and tabletop radio. She'll even use it for a movie.

Best,