Who R U?

Very good thread and a great idea: Well, I'm 67 now, a shrink by profession and I live in the heart of the old continent. English is not my native language. I come from a musical "Jekke" family and I have been involved with music, actively and passively practically all my life. I am into tubes, vinyl and ESP's, but run a fairly decent digital setup as well, because I don't want to miss new important software in my fields of interest. I am heavily into jazz, blues, funk and classical music. I have a grown up son who is in the computer business and is a DJ as well. My wife died five years ago and I live alone now. The passion for this our hobby has not abated through the years, it keeps me alive and on my toes. I am fairly new here on AudioGon and I enjoy the threads and posts and often try to participate. The results are a mixed bag , I suppose I still have to learn the "mores", but thanks to all I have been in closer conversation with. I learn something new every day.

Hi, I'm Ed. I'm an aural-a-holic.
Also a dad, husband, humor writer (10 books published--search Amazon.com), tech writer (dull, but pays for the mortgage & toys), engineer, inventor (only 1 patent--Tom Edison's legacy is safe!).

Now a maker of DVD's, have worked in consumer electronics for over 25 years. Was a guerilla in the home-video revolution. Wrote instruction manuals for Sony--you can blame me for alll those VCR's, helplessly blinking "12:00!... 12:00!...12:00!"

Have been obsessed with all things hi-fi since age 13, when I yanked speakers out of junked cars and installed them in shoe boxes. (Yeah, they did sound "boxy," so don't ask!... Shoe-ey, too.)

Have a dedicated "movie room," (now also known as "Junior's Bedroom/Dad's Movie Room")and a separate music system, now 5.1 channels with SACD and DVD-A players. Was a quad-guy back in the 70's, so this is deja-vu all over again...

I think I've built or owned almost everything ever made. Well, maybe not, but it sure seems that way (ever list all the audio stuff you've had?? Try it sometime.).
Dynakits? Been there; done that; burned my fingers; got heaping hacking lungfuls of toxic solder fumes... Shortwave radio? Hey, what's yer 20 good buddy? 73's! (I'm into collecting cool radios too--ah, that audio addiction goes deep).

Hope to converse with and possibly meet f-2-f other local audio-holics (live in the cultural center of LA--the beach, Redondo that is), but I fear we're becoming harder to find than rocking-horse manure. We're a rare, strange breed. But there are worse things we could do with our time and money. Like attend John Tesh concerts.

I guess I throw my two cents in. I'm 43. I got hooked listening to my mother's console stereo. Went ot prep school, got really hooked and bought a Dynakit, Large Advents and a Dual 1218. Years later, many, many components later I'm hooked on big planars ML, Maggies, reference Infinities. I know it's a problem but I'm in denial. So my wife gives me the basement to play with.

I am 48 , have been involved in hifi for 25 years-hardly ever known a woman who cared about it! And they can hear better than us guys!

Su2618 - brilliant!!! You summed it up in 2 simple sentences. I agree 100% - and that's a first on this site!!