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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
cboyl27582e99a
3 posts
 
Well one day long long ago...well not that long ago. when i was 15 I walked into costco saw some big klh floorstanders for 80 bucks each and right then i knew i had to have them..a few days later hooked up to my 15 wpc aiwa mini system. the disease started. I had never heard such sweet sounding music before...next was my 99 dollar klh sub. Then came my teac recever and cdp for a total of 250 dollar all from costco *the heart of hi fi*..I knew i coul do better so i got some heavy duty monster cable and a pair of 85 dollar Clarity Wires ic's. Next came the 700 dollar JBL's..LOVE THEM..And here i am, The sansui au-517 i was using to power them has scince had some problems so its back to the teac..And now i am 16 and have my eye on A new amp,a nad c370 or jolda 1501?... I have been doing it for 1 year and have gained Sooo much knowledge about this stuff...too bad i dont learn like that in school. I currently have around 1500 in my system it just keeps going up.Who knows where i will be in ten years..? :-D i hope i get a good job! Great thread also.
tok20000's avatar
tok20000
608 posts
 
My next door neighbor was very into audio when I was in Jr. High and High School. We were in the same class, and we are still friends to this day. (He actually is partners with my mom in a bookstore). Anyway, his system was midfi. He had a Kenwood integrated amp and a turntable and a CD Player and some speakers. His system sounded decent. On my 17th birthday I got a Kenwood receiver and some Yamaha speakers and a Kenwood CD changer. I was very happy then... Right up until I innocently walked into a hifi shop in Dallas (Audio Concepts). I heard a system that knocked my socks off... I remember asking the audio salesman: How much are those small speakers in that amazing system? He said $250. I was completely floored. His next statement was: It is amazing the sound you can get when you have ten thousand dollars of electronics driving $250 speakers in the right room. I gulped... I always thought speakers determined all of the sound of an audio system. From that moment on I WAS HOOKED on HI-END SOUND! That was 13 years ago. Since then my audio and music tastes have evolved. Luckily my pay has evolved proportionately to satisfy my thurst for great sound. My system is listed under the Virtual Systems. Not many digital setups compete, expecially dollar for dollar.
abecollins
219 posts
 
I was blown away by the incredible sound from a friend's MV-52 tube amplifier from Conrad-Johnson. This was 8 years ago. He later introduced me to another person who was running Krell gear into Martin Logan speakers.

I was hooked! I bought all used pieces like a Classe DR-10 amp, CJ PV-12 tube preamp, Thiel CS 1.5 speakers, and CAL Icon MK-II CD player. I have since swapped everything out several times over, except for my Thiel CS 1.5's which I'll keep forever even if I eventually upgrade.

Prior to hearing this audiophile class equipment, I thought my Sony receiver with JBL L100 speakers were pretty hot.

My current setup includes Adcom GFP-750 preamp, Audio Research LS-16 preamp, Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a tube amp, Cary 306/200 CD player, Adcom GCD-700 5-disc changer, Pioneer Elite CD Recorder, Magnum FT-101A FM tuner, and the Thiel CS 1.5 speakers.
jphilips
27 posts
 
Always knew about hi end, but ex-wife didn't allow. Got divorced. Bought a mac MC 30 at a yard sale (with a C 8) for $35!!! Got the MC 30 fixed, got another one. Now have about 20 mac tube pieces and a bunch of solid state, too. Got M & K S1-C satellites and a Def Tech Powerfield 12 sub to replace Def Tech BP 10s - Wow! Upgraded from AR TT with Benz silver to VPI HW 19 Mk III with SME 309 arm and Glider - double Wow! Just got a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista M3 integrated - WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW! Where to next? I don't know, but what I've got now is pretty profound. Love that vinyl sound. CDs sound better now with the M3 (Marantz 65 SE thru X-10D with X-PSU). Maybe an MSB Link DAC with upsampling, or a better cartridge, or a power supply for the VPI, or God knows what. It'll never end, but it sure is fun. New wife like it too!
clauera5d0
5 posts
 
A bit more then two years ago, a good friend of mine put together a fairly modest 2-channel system that consisted of NHT 2.5i speakers and Arcam amplification and CDP. A few days later I picked out a bunch of my favorite CDs and headed over.

A couple of CDs and a few expletives(WOW, holy ****) later and I was already thinking about what I could afford. A number of months later, my wallet was empty, but the tunes were........ the tunes were awesome. They still are.

No regrets.
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