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How did U get into this expensive hobby?

So I was up last night listening to my system and thought to myself, when am I going to be 100% satisfy with my set up. Just for once I like to listen without thinking well maybe if I can add this or remove that I can improve on this or that area. A mist all that I thought how did I ever got into this hobby any way? Well, the nightmare began for me when I was working in my college university's periodical section. We had over 3000+ magazines on file. The first stereo magz I ever picked up was the AUDIO annual price list which was about 300 or so pages of all major audio mfg. and models..also known as the audio bible; what ever happened to Audio magazine anyway? I remembered being so intrigued by so many brands that I have never heard of before and how the workmanship and industrial design seemed so much far superior than the average Kenwood and Pioneer back then (no offense to Kenwood and Pioneer owners). This was 10 years ago and I started by scraping every pennies I had to purchase my first NAD integrated amp. Although 10 years have passed, I am still scraping for money to own something new every now and then, but this time instead of pennies, it's dimes a nickels since my tasted have upgrade with my salery. It'd be interesting to hear how some of you fellow audigoners got started in this hobby. Upon adding to this thread, you'll find that you'll get a little grin on your face after spilling your guts out on how you began on this deep pocket journey and how far you have come. Happy Holidays guys and gals.
3chihuahuas
ibolibo's avatar
ibolibo
4 posts
 
I got a job right out of high school at a store called Wall to Wall Sound and Video. I was 17 and looking for a cashiers position, but the guy who hired me thought I'd make a good salesman, so I landed a job where I got to play with speaker/amp/source combos all day long. This was in 1988 at the start of the CD revolution! I bought my first "real" system that year-- A pioneer changer, a Sony amp, and a pair of JBL LX 55's (along with some Monster Cable). I got to go to manufacturer shows and discover how speakers color music,how power sources have the magical ability to bring realism and an immediacy to sound, and a lesson in critical listening that hooked me on hardware and quality. I've been in love ever since.
rgd
656 posts
 
Started in the mid eighties with a Sony receiver, Dual turntable and a pair of brand X speakers. Bought a less powerfull HK receiver a year later and found out about high current. Jumped to small Magnepan speakers and a Bryston preamp/amp combo. Went digital a year later with a Denon cdp. Flogged the maggies to my kid brother and bought a pair of Acoustat hybrids. Fell away from the audio bug with travelling for work, kids, school at night, etc. and kept the same system for 8 years. Got back into it a little over a year ago and have changed my entire system, some components more than once. Built up a second more modest sytem (by my standards) for home theater over the last 2 years. Now all I need is a dedicated room what has been deemed as "my crap". Hopefully this will be it for another 8 years. Now about those tweaks I keep reading about...
trelja
3,223 posts
 
We moved into a new house when I was 7 years old. I now had my own room. My dad was a big-time audio guy; first as a tech, then got his degree in electrical engineering(because of his love for audio). He built amps and speakers professionally(ahh, the Golden Age of hi-fi). He proudly set me(each of us, actually) up with my first "real???" system(absolute junk), a receiver(w/built-in 8 track, no less), turntable, and speakers. He had a ton of great stuff, but told me I would start out at the bottom. Where I took the whole thing would be determined by my own interest, creativity, and passion. Haven't stopped since...
meatfedboy2e47
1 posts
 
I was given a wedding present of a Linn and Krell system from a rich, eccentric friend of mine. I have always loved music and it was my first expensive system but I found that I never listened to it other than for background music, my wife thought the equipment looked hideous and complained of headaches any time I would turn it up.. Anyway, after reading these posts I have junked it all and purchased some ARC, magnepans and a turntable and I fell in love!!! I am now a devoted audiophile and constantly on the lookout for new tweaks. Listening to music has become a big part of my weekends. And not as expensive as you might think, as I no longer want to go out much.
gallaine
114 posts
 
I was introduced to this "hobby" by a friend in 1997. He has a very nice system and I enjoyed listening to it. But I never thought I would own one. It wasn't until a year later that I started down that path toward audio nirvana. The last two years have been fun, frustrating, and expensive. I am almost to the point where I don't feel the need to make major upgrades. Not that my system is perfect. Just that I have accomplished my goal to make the music in my livingroom more beautiful.
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