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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
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muzikat
921 posts
 
My father bought me an H.H. Scott all in one turntable/reciever for Christmas 1970,(I was 16). He gave me the Magnavox speakers he was using in his bedroom. 1973 I bought a used pair of mint Rectilinear 3's. The Scott would not drive them, I upgraded to a Marantz 2270 Reciever and a used turntable (Pioneer I think), soon replaced by a Technics. Bought some Advents to replace the Rec 3's and on and on through various recievers, integrateds, separates, speakers and other electronics.
My wife and I both worked for record stores/companies at different times in our life, we had probably 1500 records at the beginning of 1990's. For some reason I decided to sell them and my turntable to go all digital. Well after a few years of "Perfect Sound" I decided that I missed analog. 1996 bought a Rega Planar 3 and started collecting vinyl again, have about 500 records again and am having a blast finding new and used vinyl treasures. I am hopelessly hooked on the whole hobby, software and hardware.

It,s All About the Music!
Cheers,
Dan
phased
4 posts
 
I was around twelve or so when the bug bit me.I was visiting my older brother,David,who lived away from me with our father.David had just bought His first system.It was a simple system.A pair of Pioneer CS-77's,a Pioneer SX 880 receiver,and a very fine sounding Technics turntable.We listened to Frank Marino and Mahogony Rush Live while watching those twelve inch woofers move in and out in step with the music.I felt the air from the ports halfway across the room.I watched the level meters on the receiver move in step with the music also.The strobe on the turntable was mesmorizing.It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.I knew right then that there was something special about this machine that was pouring out this wonderful noise.That was some twenty years ago.I was able to assemble these vintage pieces of equipment a few months back.I wanted to recreate that experience.I did just that.I was sadly disappointed as you might have guessed at just how terrible the whole thing sounded.After several hundred amps,speakers,source components,cables,etc.that are far better sounding ,I will always remember that system and just how wonderful it sounded that afternoon. I love this hobby.I will always be a gear head.Forever searching for just the right set up and hopeing not to find it.You see,the point of my journey is not to arrive.Happy listening.
bobgates
535 posts
 
Mom used to play albums on an old Magnavox console stereo while cleaning the house and, as a young child, I became interested in music. As I grew up I became interested in equipment that could reproduce music to realistic levels. In high school a friend of mine got into electronics and we started building Dynakits together. When I was in the Air Force in the mid 70s I started visiting audio stores in Charlotte NC and Charleston SC. A person I knew in the Air Force bought some Klipschorns. Wow, was I impressed. After the Air Force I went to college and hung out at a place called the Golden Gramaphone on Akron OH. There I became hooked on Audio Research, Magnepans and Linn Sondek turntables. All the money I saved up in the Air Force was spent on my audio hobby. From college on it got worse and worse. I look back and count how many preamps, amplifiers, speakers, tapedecks, turntables, CD players, D/A converters, etc. that I have owned and am amazed. I've had over 70 speaker systems alone. I guess I will always love this hobby (along with golf).
consttraveler
250 posts
 
It's my dads' fault.

In 1955-56 (?) my dad set-up a mono radio (on the ironing board), and we all sat between it and the TV, to watch/listen to Ed Sullivan broadcast a "stereo" television program. One of the sounds was Sputnik crossing between the speakers.

In 1963 he got a Sony reel-to-reel from Japan, through an uncle that was in the Merchant Marine. The sound was (in my memory) amazing. I have great memories of Camelot and My Fair Lady tapes. My mom used to put a tape of Suza Marches on, crank up the volume, and clean the house like a woman possessed.

In high school, I installed a 4-track in my car. Tape availability lasted about 15 minutes, which led to an 8-track, which led to cassette.

In the Army, I had the best system in the barracks. Gerrard turntable, and Pioneer receiver and speakers. Deep down I'm still mad at that SOB that put the cigarette burn mark, in the plastic dust cover.

In college I was relagated to OP's (other peoples), but started collecting albums.

After college, I married a university schlorship trained, professional opera singer, with perfect pitch, who had no interest in listening to music. Indeed, she had/has not the slightest clue what music can do to, and for, a person. She did have the remarkable ability to spend every penney I ever made, often before I made them. Twentyfive years of silence followed my voluntary enslavement.

Now free, I am building a system, listening to great music, and enjoying every minute of it.
jim_fitz
4 posts
 
I won't bore you with how I got started because everybody else has done such a good job, but I will tell you I used to go through the same "if I did this or that to my system...." Here is how I stopped doing that; Scotch on Friday after work! Of course now I weigh more than I did when I just worried about my system (I wonder if that's the booze) but I enjoy my stereo more. Just a thought.
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