YOUR AUDIOPHILE JOURNEY WHEN DID IT START AND HOW DID YOU GET TO YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?


I had to create this post so people can share how they got here. I started mines with a record player that my uncle gave me and Alexander O’Neal album. I would get jam boxes back in the day. Then at 30 I got a def tech system at best buy and now I 22 years later I have an all Infigo Audio system with Gato speakers and 2 Rel 212se subs. I’m happy as all get out with my sound. It is my dream system not because of what it costs it is because I’m in love with how it sounds. What’s your story. 

calvinj

My journey started in high school of course,  I heard my boss stereo in his office . He had a Marantz and Teac cassette deck and cant remember the speakers he had. He told me to go out and buy whatever I wanted but remember his setup because it had cables and you could always hook up what you bought in the future if you bought separate components. I did just that and got a used Teac cassette deck, sounded good then until I heard an early Nakamichi machine in the tech shop and was blown away. I got it used of course and that started it all. I have had so many Nakamichi decks I lost count. It is a special sound if they are calibrated correctly . I did work in a hi-fi store in a mall in Florida in 1982 and that had a huge affect on me.  Our line was Yamaha, ADS , Perroux, and some other great brands. I remember the mobile fidelity records we played to demo the gear , it worked. After this I moved to south Florida to attend college and went into a high fi shop and heard the ADS speakers compared to the other lines they had there. That did it. I could not believe the sound ! I had to have them. It took a long time to get a real pair of floor standing model that I could hold onto  and afford. I did not want book shelf models anymore because they could be preplaced. I still have two pairs of floor standing model ADS speakers. One pair were bought mint never used a guy he had stored in his closet. They are the MK1290 model, and  I have my L1590 model speakers which were restored by the tech in Arizona who used to work at the factory for ADS. 

One year ago and 4 systems later. Because I’m a nut and strive for the best. We’ll see what next year has in store but i like where im

at with everything. 

I was 15 when I purchased my first stereo system at the end of 1976. They were no-name brand components that I can’t recall. but the thrill of having my first system was immense. In 1980 while in college, I saved money from a part time Summer job and upgraded to my first decent system (Sansui receiver, Infinity speakers, Technics turntable with Ortofon cartridge). For the next several decades, it was a slow but steady upgrade of components (Sony, Denon, M&K, Acurus, Marantz, Rotel, Linn, Music Hall, Velodyne, Elac, Audiolab, McIntosh). 48 years after this all began, I feel that I finally achieved my "End Game" system. The only constant in this journey, is the importance and joy music has had in my life.

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11787

 

 

 

Teenage years

Nikko stereo receiver

Yamaha speakers

After that 20's

Nad 3020 integrated

Kenwood tuner

Luxman turntable which I still have but not used in 25 years

 

Demon bookshelf speakers

40's

YBA  1 stereo amp still using to this day

Baetis streamer/TotalDAC D1 DAC

Various bookshelf and floor standing speakers

 

Bought my 1st record when I was 8-10 yr5s old. That was 1959-61. Got $2 allowance and bought 2 45's every week. I've loved music all my life. I had a turntable console of some sort. I have never been without a music playing system since then. I had a lot of low fi but the music has always been the important part to me. Got my 1st good system in 1978 while in Charlotte NC. A new Harmon Kardon HK 730 receiver, Big Advents and a Tecchnics TT. later I added a Teac 3 head cassette player. I made many cassette tapes from LP to listen in the car.It was a great starter system. Then I tried a Luxman R115 receiver. I hated it. It had nothing but THUMP for a bass line. Sold it and got the HK running again along with Infinity RS 5 speakers. Add a Maggot box cdb 650 along the wayand I was happy until about 2000. Thats when I decided to reach higher.

I found audiogon & audio asylum and learned a lot. I learned that audiophiles mostly listen to funny music. Well...at least its funny to me. I never knew anyone who listened to female vocals & jazz. I tried jazz & just don't get it. but what I do get is NOS music. My new systems have opened the door to music UI never was interested in before. I was a hard rock/metal guy. But softer stuff like Billy Joel, Supertramp, Elton john, etc sound pretty darn good on a good system. Acoustic music in general sounds good. So I have a lot of NOS music to listen to now. This is stuff I heard on the radio but would never have thought about buying before. Its been a great learning experience. The audiophiles I met early on were very helpful in teaching me. My system was far inferior to others but they never made me feel bad about my system. The early internet experience was quite a bit different that today. I had a good experience and will never forget those who helped me along the way.