What do/did you do for a living?

Well I’m an electrician IBEW who went to the movie theater to see a Beatle movie. Heard If I fell in stereo went home and found out that my 45 didn’t sound that way. Have chased since then. I love my systems have a Meridian home theatre in the basement DSP 5500 with their DSP sub. Love blowing people away. Got myself separated from my first wife 13 years ago by gods grace and mercy and have put together 2 great systems the Meridian and my B&W Diamond (802D fronts HTM1D center and 803D rears 2 B&W subs) system have a ton of movies and CD’s enjoy getting goosebumps when I hear If I fell now. Just purchased a new Trinnov 16 waiting to install in 2 weeks when I get back from Vacation. Thanks.

Ex Audiostore owner ,partially retired .having over 40 years in Audio rule of thumb 25% at most goes into most products the rest R&D overhead and dealer markup.Most people donot realize this this, cables up to a 10 x markup in some cases.This  is why Everything I purchase from Loudspeakers-Xovers to electronics I mod or have modded for only the $$ products use premium parts most Use dependable average grade . This is how Dan Modwright  got so popular and have consulting designers to assist in the mod design.
by modding you improve upon it 2-3x  it’s cost -performance 
that’s why A good Quality used product then modded can reap 
Great sonics benefits per $$ spent. Many are not aware. And tweak refinement do count Also.

They sell there blood !

Broke failure as an artist; paycheck to paycheck and miserable working for city govt; pretty content now as a moderately successful attorney. I always cared a lot about good sound, but never connected it with gear until I Bought a Luxman receiver 20 years ago off craigslist because I loved its looks and, working for city govt, was utterly miserable and desperate for distraction. That Luxman was my gateway drug and I’ve been hooked since. Built a really good system with very little money obsessively buying off craigslist, selling on eBay. Now, I’ve got a pretty great system, though my apartment is a disaster sonically. Much cheaper systems sound better in larger, more open spaces. I’m working to buy a larger home in great part to be able to set my system up right. I love this hobby!

Professional artist (painting) and Professor of the Arts at a liberal arts college. Took my first check from the sale of a painting in NYC along w/ my first pay check from the school where I was a newly minted Professor  (Miami University,Ohio) and spent it all on a system. Some number of decades later I am still at it. Dear god: My 2 channel system right now would cost $160K to replace if the house burned down. I need counseling. No actually it brings so much to my life I can not imagine living w/o it! Cheers all ! What great hobby.