Who R U?

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.

Twl -- wow! What a great story!! Have you thought of writing an auto (no pun intended) biography? If it becomes a movie and Brad Pitt does the lead, it could really give the audiophile hobby a boost! Just the house building part has me in awe. My father did that (not a log cabin) when I was growing up, but that was his job. If you ever get to North Carolina, I'd love to do some skeet shooting with you -- my 40+ eyes can't cope with distant targets.

Twl, I already enjoyed your postings. Now I understand and have respect for the guy that penned them.

Welcome to Audiogon and thanks for sharing your history.