How did U get into this expensive hobby?

I got my first "real" system about 22 years ago. It consisted of a Kenwood receiver, I think it was 20 or 40 watts I can't remember, a Technics belt drive turntable, which I think was issued to every teenager at the time along with a "Frampton comes Alive" album, and the speakers were made by a local company in Connecticut called "Clarke Systems"(I think they are defunkt).
The only reason I bought those speakers was that the store said it was their best line. I did think they sounded good in the store but I never ended up liking them even though I upgraded to two other models in there line over the next two years.
I wish I had bought EPI or some other line at the time. But the speakers were decent for me then.
Later I got rid of the Kenwood receiver and bought an HK receiver. I had that for four years and then got an Arcam integrated amp and a Thorens turntable. Eventually I got Polk speakers which I hated! I traded them a year later for tiny Mission's which I loved. That was my first foray into the "British" sound. I was hooked. I eventually traded up to larger Missions, the 781's and B & K ST140 mp/pre-amp and a Linn Axis table. I had this setup for the last ten years but I recently sold the B & K stuff and am getting rid of the Mission's soon. There is nothing wrong with any of the equipment, I'm just wanting a change. I'm keeping the LINN turntable though. Since I moved for the past few years I've been listening through my cheapo Sony portable CD run through KOSS computer self powered speakers. No I am not going to say this sounds that great but it's served me ok over the last few years for simple listening. Currently I'm trying to build a minisystem which was originally going to consist of a TEAC ref 100 all-in-one, but I recently bought a pair of JM Lab Chorus 705's, their lowest price speaker, and may buy the Teac ref 300 amp and CD player them. I'm trying not to go overboard with price on this system. Eventually I'll put together another more pricey system. My problem is I enjoy putting together different systems even though I only need one currently. It's easy to catch the bug.

My father did bring to the house a "everything together" old turtable,and I did enjoy more than my father,so I started to be a music lover when I was 14 or so.
Then I started buying jazz, popular, and classical music, until now that I have a SACD, VTL amps, Aerial 10 speakers, Harmonic Tecnologies cables, etc.
I am a music lover first, but me and my wife enjoy more the music with the good stuff

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A different type of answer
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I strive for greatness all the while knowing I can never reach it. That is how I and many people here got started and why we are forever hooked. Let me explain.

Very rarely do we have the privilege to be "touched" by greatness. Meaning that it is a rare occassion that we meet someone who we unabashadly admire that we know has unique and special talents beyond those of the "ordinary". It is by being exposed to great people that we can better ourselves and learn. It is for this reason that I have, indeed MUST have, a high end system.

A high end system allows me to experience greatness almost at will, bettering myself and those around me by listening to the great ones who have recorded excellent music. When I feel bad, experiencing the great ones allows me to envy the enthausiam and foresight that those playing express in music. Hate the world? Put on something distracting, with detail, complexity and rhythm and you are lost and rejuvinated. Need a boost, crank up something with speed, bass and low vocals and you will be energized. Feel unattentive, listful or lethargic, put on something with detail, rhythm and revel in the nuances. Need to express your intellect? Attempt to decipher the cryptic lyrics of a misunderstood artist and your horizons will expand. Selfish? You will be creating "demo" tapes or CD's to share with your friends after experiences as listed above.

Listen to the "masters" (you know who they are, and they can change depending on your mood- Bach to RATT, Tori Amos to Rage Against the Machine) faithfully and FORCEFULLY and you will feel better about yourself and desire to keep changing for the better. Marvel at the musical accomplishments of others and you will be fulfilled. "Experience" the music and you will be replenished. Music will heal you emotionally and gratify you if it is faithfully reproduced with a physical presence and emotion.

I have found that focused listening on my high end system with what I call "physical presence" (when it appears that some one is there with you in the room, ususally at high volumes but not always) makes me feel much better about myself, gets me motivated, gives me personal fulfilment and enjoyment beyond normal boundries. However, you must be humble and willing to surrender to the CD/LP, you must look up to the artists, composers and musicians, not focus on yourself. Those among us who are unable to be humble don't really enjoy the "high end". Yes, even after $100K or so of investment, we are still humbled by a CD of teenagers (now or then) who don't play well with others and have overactive hormones

Whatever I pay for new equipment I consider a wise investment in my future and I know that I will be better off if I take a step closer to those hidden people on the LPs and CDs.

My Father promised to buy me a stereo system for my 15th birthday, 1979. We went to the city, New York City that is, to a store called East 33rd Street stereo. I had my consumer reports magazine with me. I new that I would be the Akai receiver, the Akai tape deck, the Akai direct drive turntable, and the Cerwin Vega speakers.

The salesman was a very heavy man who was sweating through the day. He was able to hook up the receiver to the tape deck and play music through the Cerwin Vegas. I was very excited. He then said, "I have a great pair of speakers that I can give you for the same price". The other pair was this tiny pair of bookshelf speakers. He saw the look in my eye and he said, "Just listen".

It was amazing. Compared to the Cerwin Vegas these speakers sounded like music. I cannot tell you that at 15 I had a great ear. I can tell you that what I heard was realistic in comparison to what I had heard from the other speakers. The tiny bookshelf speakers were B&W DM110's. My friend Rich still uses them in his home system. I now own B&W 803's. That initial experience of realistic sound production started a miserable unsatisfying journey into this obsessive hobby. I would not have it any other way.

My father built a homemade Dynaco kit stereso system when I was a kid. I was hooked on what a good music would sound like from than on. I got a small portable stereo for college that wasn't very good but I had music. My first purchase when I got out of college and got a job was a used car the second was a nice stereo system. We were sitting on 2nd hand furniture but we had great sounding tunes. We have better furniture now but "The System" still costs a lot more! :)