Who R U?

I am 35, I've lived most of my life in Ohio, but I just came back from a few years in New York City. And it's great to be close to my favorite high end store again! And away from the cramped listening rooms and the awful treatment that I experienced all too often at NYC audio salons.

I got into High End nine years ago, after purchasing some Signet speakers that had a nice midrange and treble response, as opposed to bass bass bass, after discovering opera. Now I'm full blown into it, I've just gone to Thiels, and I'm chomping at the bit to get Spectral amplification. Over the years, the most important lessons I've learned are to trust myself as a listener, to have an open mind about components, and to have a great listening room.

I really love reading, hiking and music, and since I have to take actuarial exams, I have to study alot, so most music I hear is through my discman and grado sr 60 headphones. Right now I listen to The Strokes "Is This It" every day. "Essential Stan Getz" almost every day, too.

Favorite singers: Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Nick Drake.

Some Favorite Bands: Stones, Sex Pistols, Velvet Underground, Smiths.

Favorite Album: Exile on Main St.

Favorite Jazz: Stan Getz, Miles Davis

Favorite Classical: Bach, Beethoven (String Quartets), Ravel, Chopin and various clarinet pieces by various

Best concerts: 1)Tom Waits Beacon Theater
2)David Byrne Columbus Ohio
3)Patti Smith Bowery Ballroom
4)Cincy Symp Orch - contemporary polish piece that could have been the "PSYCHO" soundtrack

I would love to live in the mountains or the coast some day, with a high end juke box, if they ever make one.

Robertd,

It's hard not to like the Strokes. Especially if you're a VU fan. I Listened to "Is this it?" almost daily for months last summer until i saw the band this winter in Las Vegas. The lead singer was really dumb. Pretending to be drunk and "punk" all the while hitting all the notes just right...hmmm. Just haven't been able to listen to that great record recently.

Good to hear that someone else enjoys Nick Drake and Bowie as well.

-Karl

I am 41 and have lived the better half of my life in Northern California (Salida). I am originally from a small town, Salem, Ohio. Unfortunately, my wife is a native Californian and refuses to move from California. God bless her, she has lived all her life in basically the same area and has never seen the rest of the U.S. as I have. HOWEVER, after 17 years she still supports my audio addiction so I can live with it.

I got into audio as a teenager although I still consider myself as a novice. The first pieces I ever bought were a Pioneer SX-737 receiver and a pair of DWD speakers. (Anyone recall them?) Model was a DWD #5 and I thought these were the best things since pockets on a shirt.

I wouldn’t really say I have any favorite “category” of music, as I love it all. Well, for clarification, I don’t consider RAP as music. Sooo Sorry.

My hobbies, other than the obvious, would be:
1. Spending time with my wife.
2. Classic and muscle cars.
3. Collecting Dept 56.
4. Collecting Disney.
5. Spending more time with my wife (she may see this).

Agon is always the first place I go when turning on my computer. I have to see what is the new listings in the classifieds are (Yes, I’m an Audio-Aholic). Sure as hell, the one day I don’t, what I have been searching for months will have come up and already been sold. (Am I alone on this?) Second place I go is the forums. I thank all you all for your post as that is where I have learned most of my audio experience.

Bmccormick-Well you are in good company, I think we are all over zealous with our "hobby". And you better be carful with that Rap remark, I always catch hell for saying I don't like it, but when I say I listen to smooth jazz(aka instrumental pop) everyone gives me hell, guess you just can't win!!!

~Tim

My name is Tom Lyons, I'm 46, single, and live in East Tennessee. I started in audio at about 12 with the usual junk and progressed from there. I've lived in NJ,MI,IL,DC,VA,FL,and TN. After high school I joined a privateer Lotus 23 racing team and ran the pit crew for 4 years. Then I went to college and worked my way through by doing British car work on the side. Then worked in several Jaguar dealers around the country. Got out of cars, and into motorcycles, joining a Ducati racing team in FL. for a couple of years. Worked as an excercise physiologist/trainer to pay the bills. By then, I really started getting into audio and tired of wrenching. So I got a job in a high-end audio store in FL. Got my first Linn/Naim system. Then a business opp. popped up, and I moved to Chicago to become a partner in a Home Automation company and recieved 22 patents for design. Things went bad and I ended up on the skids, so I worked in Pro Audio for a while and played keyboards in a band. All the while through this I still was into audio and designing/ building speakers for fun. Through a little good fortune, I got a little money together and bought 12 acres in TN and designed/built my own log home by myself(and I mean by myself). Quite a job, but now I own it free and clear. The house is entirely run by solar power. I now do freelance alternative energy design/consultation to make ends meet. Since I have had some free time over the past 6 years I have also gotten into competition highpower rifle shooting and have placed 2nd in the FL state championship 600 yd prone match. I own a champion Rottweiler and 4 cats. Drive a Jag v-12 conv't. Currently listen to a Sony dvp-s9000es, Berning MicroZOTL, DIY single driver speakers. I enjoy the AudiogoN and read the forum every day without fail. It's nice to meet all of you.