I am 29, live in New York, and am a true rookie to the audiophile world. I have a pompous and overly inflated title at a great firm that has genuinely talented folks advising big investors and governments about what is going on in the world (I am a useless management stooge). No family, but am going to be living with my girlfriend (who has shockingly good musical taste and has been angelically indulgent of my new-found audio habit (I just need to hope she never finds out how much this stuff costs)) and our wonderful dog. Silver is a golden retriver/chow mix we rescued who will turn 2 on April 11.
My love of music probably started with the combination of my father's forcing me to listen to lots of James Taylor (as well as his own strumming on a Martin dreadnaught) and the stereotypical Sunday morning classical music (through my parent's great old Marantz receiver and old AR3 speakers). It accelerated through my passionate (and as yet unfulfilled) commitment to a career as a blues guitarist through high school and many, many long nights playing around with my Strat, an effects board, and an old Tascam 4 track. Much to my parents' disappointment (I am not being sarcastic here actually), I went to college and my descent into becoming a boring corporate tool began (I was an interesting person once, really).
Musically, my first love is probably blues (Buddy Guy, Otis Taylor, John Lee Hooker, Son House, etc.). Coming a close second are well written singer/songwriter stuff (Tom Waits is probably my all time fav; Leonard Cohen; Ani DiFranco; Lullaby Baxter; Cowboy Junkies). Also love instrumental and instrumentally oriented stuff (Bela Fleck; Edgar Meyer; Squirrel Nut Zippers). Like, but don't at all understand classical and jazz. Have gotten some staples for each, but will begin exploring them in greater depths once my new system is fully up and running (see below).
I am moving into a new apartment (I have lived in a true post college dump with way too many people) and using that as a catalyst to finally get a music set up that makes me happy. I have a duplex and, with advice and wares from Audiogon have almost completed setting up a 2-channel system upstairs (Arcam FMJ CD23; Classe CAP-150; Joseph Audio RM22si's) and a HT set-up (primarily for music -- this will be the first television I will have lived with since high school) -- Marantz SR8000; Sony DVP-S9000ES; and speakers to be determined (looking at Tyler Acoustics as per RGD's recommendation).
I think audiogon is truly fabulous and look forward to learning more from all of you who have put in the blood, sweat, years, tears, and dollars to figure out answers (or at least gain insights) into all things audio. Apologies for the length of this posting, I had not the time to write a shorter.
