Were you an audiophile in the 1980s and 1990s?


If so you will probably recognize a lot of the anecdotes in my new book about the music, the equipment and behind the scenes in some of the audio journals.  It's "The Lucky Audiophile - Anecdotes from High End Audio".

"Mike Kuller’s book, part autobiography, part musical history, chronicles his life and journeys in the world of high-performance audio during the 1980’s and 1990’s with Harry Pearson and The Absolute Sound magazine. His reminisces bring back memories of what could be considered the “Golden Age” of audio. His concert lists document many of the important and influential artists of the last thirty years. If you ever wanted to peer behind the curtain of The Absolute Sound during its heyday, give Mike’s book a read."  Steven Stone, reviewer and columnist for The Absolute Sound and FutureAudio.com

"It's a fascinating and engrossing tale of the journey he has taken.  An enjoyable read."   John Atkinson, Technical Editor Stereophile

https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Audiophile-Anecdotes-High-End-Audio/dp/B0BT79V6SS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3C11H2HWOXJ9T&keywords=lucky+audiophile+book&qid=1678391980&sprefix=%2Caps%2C410&sr=8-1

mikekuller

One thing Holt and Pearson shared was coming to disapprove of the direction their creations took after each lost control of them, both leaving in disgust.

Art Dudley was for a time Pearson's right-hand man at TAS, and in his Stereophile reviews sprinkled hilarious (and unflattering) comments about Harry. Art's own magazine Listener was fantastic; I'll never sell my complete collection of them.

IMHO,   both Gordon and Harry played a valuable role in contributing to the betterment of audio products and most certainly the creation of the Hi-End audio industry that exists today.  I think we can also thank Julian Hirsch of Hirsch Houck Labs for his contributions as well.  This is in addition to many of the Hi-End audio reviewers who've written about this hobby and its related equipment for the past sixty years.  Far too many to mention here.  

@bdp24 spot on. I don't have a complete collection, sadly, but what I do have I treat like the dead sea scrolls and enjoy re-reading them from time to time. Long live Wilmer!

@bdp24 is correct about Holt starting Stereophile 10 years before Pearson started TAS.  But which was more influential?  Or fun to read?

Do you recall The Audio Critic or International Audio Review (IAR)?

They all played a part in my audio journey I discuss in my book.

What equipment brought you into High End audio?  I bought a pair of Dahlquist DQ-10s in 1977 and it changed my life.