2. analog
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How can anyone afford this ?

I consider myself a dedicated audiophile. I am 36(which I am guessing is a little younger than the average here) and single. I have been interested in high-end audio since I saw my uncle's Mcintosh and Threshold equipment for the first time when I was 5.
Since joining the workforce and saving a little I have always been trying to put together a nice system on a budget. I do OK financially(I am a systems engineer) but I do live in NYC which may put some of this into perspective.
Over the last 6 months I have struggled to buy(all used on Agon) a pair of Dynaudio Audience 42s and a Threshold CAS2 amp, Chang CLS3200, and cables(I haven't gone out[I don't have a girfriend], purchased anything else and really haven't eaten too much to be able to afford these and it is still a real stretch). I am using the amp with a direct connection from my CD/DVD player(Cambridge Audo Azur 540D...slightly modified[op amps, PS caps, bypass caps] that I have had for almost 10 years). A fellow has a Threshold FET2 series II(to match with the CAS2) he is holding for me but that seems like a pipe dream at this point along with a turntable.
A few years ago the analogue bug hit me.
I had a setup consisting of an Audio Analogue Settanta integrated and a Nottingham Horizon SE turntable with a Rega RB300 tonearm with the Incognto rewire and structural mod. This was not an expensive kit by any stretch but for me it almost put me in the poor house. I had to sell the entire rig to pay my bills and it hurt.
It seems over the last 10 years or so I have not been able to keep a kit for more than 6 months before I had to sell it. Whenever I don't have a rig I am constantly scanning the online Ads lusting for the next bargain to set up a system and cannot even listen to music on a mass market rig(I have been spoiled).
Anyway, I guess my question is how can anyone normal afford this hobby? What type of money do you have to be making to be able to enjoy this hobby.....$100,000/year? $500,000/year? Do you need to be worth millions? $5,000 barely gets you in the door(some interconnects cost more) and you could possibly spend millions. I am not looking to put together a $10,000 system(not even close...and that is modest in this hobby) but if I wanted to I don't see it ever being financially possible. If I had a girlfriend or a family(hopefully someday) I would not event be able to think about this hobby with a good conscience. I guess I am wondering if all these people in this hobby are millionaires? I am close to selling my rig again to pay the bills(the amp needed repair/recap and that was $450). Any advice for an audiophile who lusts to put together a nice rig but can't afford it? Should I get out and save for 5 or 10 years and then try again? Maybe I am in the wrong hobby but it is more addicting that crack to me(and more expensive). Maybe I should be a crackhead instead...that might be the only thing to make me forget about it. Thoughts?
adamd1205
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
If you need to watch your money in this hobby (and who doesn’t) and if you only have to impress yourself :) then the secret is to buy good quality USED gear. From manufacturers that people respect, and want items from.
There will always be someone on every step of that ladder looking for gear when u need to sell. I mean this even if they are not in business – as long as you have a tech for those not around anymore if a problem arose. If their products were good there are people that want them out there (i.e. Acoustat.)

The speakers, amps, preamps and especially the turntables (god help those that get into vinyl because its a slippery slope if you get hooked) - never the less anything good for 2 channel music will stay the same in value due to popularity, value and quality, and even go up in value depending on market conditions.

CD players, AV receivers, anything for digital music up to now is like computers and TV’s - take your hit every year and it will keep going down. 2 channel is different because there are crazy people like us to snap it up. This is an addiction a disease – you can’t lose money with 2 channel.
You do need to have patience when selling though or you will lose like anything in life that you have to get rid of quick.
I can get the same if not more for a lot of my gear than when I bought it used.

Good luck
lewm
13,088 posts
 
FWIW, New York is a wonderful, vibrant city, unlike almost any other city on earth, in a good way. It does cost too much to live there decently however.
loomisjohnson
1,944 posts
 
not to get all dr. phil-like, but it seems like the real issue is not how much it costs to buy a good stereo, but how much of your life you're willing to sacrifice for such goal. like booze or gambling, audophilia is something that can easily move from diversion to obsession. if, for example, i stopped going out for dinner, or pulled the kids out of private school so i can buy upgrade speaker cables, i'd have to look critically at my priorities. which doesn't necessarily mean i wouldn't buy those cables...
raquel
841 posts
 
Onhwy61: Sounds like you managed to maintain the habits of a tourist. Congratulations.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
Ask for a raise. An engineer with some experience in NYC should be making at least 100k a year, right? I would think you'd be able to scrape up a few K for a stereo... How much is your rent, like 4k? If so - maybe move to the suburbs?
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