2. analog
  3. 1296759668

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
frogman
7,478 posts
 
Mceljo got it exactly right. I would like to add: Welcome to the real world! I costs money to buy the best of anything (material), and to complain about it and decry the fact that others can is silly. Lots of advise already on how to buy used, etc. But, I have to take issue with some of the comments about NYC.

Yes, NYC can be an expensive city to live in, but it doesn't have to be; not to the extent expressed here so far. But I think the tendency to exxagerate the problem is indicative of a bigger issue, which is at the root of a lot of what is going on socially and politically in our country. Some of us tend to guage how we are doing economically by how others are doing, instead of finding satisfaction in our accomplishments, and being more at peace with our own lot in life; while being willing to work our butts off to improve that lot. There is a tremendous amount of wealth in NYC, and the fact that some can afford to spend $125 for a car service to the airport doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with having to, or choosing to, pay $50 for a yellow cab instead. Sure, rents in the city are ridiculous, but what is wrong with a twenty minute subway commute to a nice nighborhood in Brooklyn or Queens, where one can pay half or even a third of what one pays in Manhattan. BTW, last time I checked sandwiches at Starbucks were $6.25-$6.99, not the $10 claimed. There are plenty of places to get a good meal for well under $10 in NYC. If someone has a problem walking past the many expensive restaurants on the the way to Mamum's Falafel, then I think they need to do a little soul searching. I don't mean to get heavy about this, but I get a little tired of the crying about the high cost of audio gear. BTW, there are many places to take in great live performances for little or no money in NYC. With several music conservatories, faculty and student recitals can be wonderful; for no money.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,456 posts
 
Move to a low cost rural area. Buy a nice house in teh country with no neighbors and a large empty room that you can make into your own personal concert hall.

Take the money you save by not living in NY and buy nice gear and lots of music to listen to whenever you want.

You can do the same in NY but for much higher cost of living. You'll get all the other amenities with it to.

Of course, in the country, your leisure options will be different. Hunting, fishing or whatever. But you'll maybe have lots of time to enjoy your investment in music.

Dreams......
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
“It's not having what you want - It's wanting what you've got”
Sheryl Crow – Soaking Up The Sun.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,255 posts
 
I believe there is research showing that Americans don't compare themselves to people they are doing better than economically, but instead to those who are doing better than them. Hence, someone making $350,000 doesn't consider himself wealthy even though he is making 6-7x the average income. Instead he thinks he's just getting by because he knows many people who make $2,000,000+ annually. He doesn't exult in what he has achieved, but envies others for what he aspires to. It plays out in the audiophile realm...people describing their $15k systems as modest. As the great philosopher L. McCann spoke: "Trying to keep it real, compared to what?"
frogman
7,478 posts
 
Onhwy61, my point precisely. And then you have the bigger issue of many supporting economic policies which are irrational and self-defeating, which seek to "even" the playing field by, instead of encouraging self-reliance and initiative, try to take as much as possible from the wealthy. I am not wealthy by any means, but to the wealthy who gained their wealth through hard work, and creativity, I say: Good for you, buy that AR Reference component, so that when you get the itch to upgrade, I can have a shot at owning something I would not be able to afford otherwise.
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