How did you get into this hobby?

Blindly.

Much like Esoxhntr, I've listened to music since a very young age, the Beatles being the first (actually the Monkees...cause they were on tv, but I wouldn't want to admit it). Starting collecting records...back when Catcus records was around selling them for $1.99 to $3.99. Of course, the White Album was 2 records, so it took forever to buy that...

Had a dinky record player, then my step-father gave me his receiver...and woah, it was so much better. Then my parents finally bought a new system (old JVC stuff) and it was even better.

For years, all I had was a boombox at school, though. And like Stuartbranson, I bought a pair of Grado headphones when I wanted a new pair after doing some research on headphones...and it was uphill ever since.

Still a diehard music collector first, though...and audio system builder second...

When I was a little kid (<10), there was this sleazy upstairs neighbor who had Altec VOTs (yes, 2) and a Berlant r2r with staggered heads. Altec amps, too. No one else had anything other than table radios, let alone stereo. It was too much to resist. This guy went to 4 channel in the 50s!!

Big Brahm's fan now, I guess early 80's alternative music solidified it for me. I too used to make endless dubbed copies of tapes from LPs and later CDs. My mom dragged me all over the world after my dad died. So, I took my Aiwa walkmen and box full of 80's alternative tapes, so I don't have to listen to the stupid tourguide yelling at us on the bus. Would like to go back to Europe again sans the mom and tour groups.

My cousin got me into it in the mid 70's at 15 and it has been an on again,off again passion since. My family was pretty musicaly talented ,but I cannot even whistle.I should have pursued Vocals though.

My cousin use to have Home built JBL's then SOTA EPICURE Towers and amps. I was hooked. I always come back to it.