Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?

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FullRangeMan

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Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #180 on: 15 Sep 2024, 10:47 pm »
Hello Everyone,

Just joining this forum... Looking for opinions on coupling caps.
For me the passion struck back in the early 80's. By best friend and I would go to the local hi-end stereo store and audition various equipment.
It was then that I bought my first component piece. A Nakamichi BX-100. It was the bottom of their line. It was all could afford at the time, but it was a Nak. And it was mine.

Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Steve
Maybe this chart from a test of Lampizaror help you.

orthobiz

Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #181 on: 16 Sep 2024, 01:43 am »
1971. My cousin Craig had a Sansui system he bought at the PX when he was in the Navy. Played Chicago III, first song, Sing a Mean Tune Kid. It had dueling trombones going back and forth between the channels. He had it set up in the house my grandfather built that had a wide narrow front room that looked on the street. Artificially wide sound stage to the max. Absolutely blew me away; he was hoping to get a stereo for me, but didn't work out.

So, I went to Big Julie's on Long Island (Sunrise Hwy off Wantagh Parkway maybe?) and got a pair of his "custom" speakers, 3 way in Advent cabinets (supposedly). Marantz 2230 with a Dual 1215S and an M55e Shure cartridge. He would play an Eagles track off the first album, Early Bird, which has some chirpy bird stuff at the beginning. He'd say, listen to that tweeter! Did I know it was electronic sound and was probably the worst way to evaluate a speaker? Anyway, bought the system, maybe 500 bucks, all the money in the world, but I was over the moon.

Sold it, got a Tandberg 1055 receiver, a B&O Beogram 3000 and tiny Heco speakers, subsequently ADS/Braun 710's. Added a Tandberg 9000X (no dolby). Worked for Dahlquist one summer, got DQ10's for under 300 bucks a pair (dealer accommodation), kept them at my house, they did NOT fit in the dorm.

Anyway, that was 12th grade through the end of college. Still have the Dahlquists!!

Paul

Bottom line: audiophilia is the kind of thing that you just "get." Once you hear it, it happens to you. Otherwise, you could care less and MP3's are just fine.

devloui

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Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #182 on: 27 Sep 2024, 02:14 pm »
Hello AudioCitcle,
I can’t remember when the audio bug bit, as I’ve been into music always.  Beginning in elementary school I played the alto sax, and then, with the British Invasion (Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show), I started playing drums, as an early teen.  Now some 50 years later, I still enjoy playing drums in local groups here in Memphis, TN.  The audiophile thing started with a pair of Advents, and a Marrantz receiver.  I am now retired, and enjoy listening to a pair of Reference 3A monitors, supplemented with a pair of REL S/812’s.  Electronics include Pass Labs XA-30.8 amplifier, Sublime Xover,

Pass Labs XP-17 phono preamp, Audible Illusions L3A Line preamp, Ayre Acoustics c-5 CDP, VPI Classic 3 tt, Mutech phono cartridge.  Most cabling is High Fidelity Cables, with some Siltech, and Goertz Silver speaker cables.

BK

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Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #183 on: 9 Oct 2024, 09:45 am »
Hi, For me my interest in audio gear would have been in the early 60’s.  First system was a salvaged turntable connected to a Leak valve amp which initially only had one speaker attached.  I’ve been through the whole journey, vinyl then CD’s, then streaming and now back into vinyl once again. Fortunately my hearing seems to be holding out well so I can still appreciate good recordings on good audio equipment.

Graybeard

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Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #184 on: 28 Dec 2024, 03:27 am »
My music moment struck early: 9th grade Freshman. First year to play an instrument in a school concert band. Hooked on music ever since.

My audiophile moment struck in 1995. Austin, TX. Discovered an audio shop called 'Circle Stereo' if memory serves. Heard and bought what was presented as the 3rd production unit of their first commercial product (S/N 003) -- the Cary CAD-50 monoblocs. EL34 outputs. Had never heard anything but a cheap, mass lofi system until then (e.g., Sears, JCP, Radio Shack, etc.).

Those Cary amps captured and reproduced 'music' for me. And introduced me to a virtual 'wall of sound.' I was stunned. Still have them to this day packed away in a closet. Kept for nostalgia. My first crush...

Will.S

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Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #185 on: 19 Feb 2025, 11:20 pm »
I had someone help me piece together a system on a budget that included ADS 420s and a Dynaco SCA35. Didn't know what those brands really meant and that system was in and out of use for a few years, then out of use for 10 years. Then I got curious one day 10 years later and did some looking around on the internet about tubes, solid state, speakers, etc. Looked up the speakers and saw it was a well respected brand so for the last 4-5 years I've been super into finding a good combo of things on a budget. I have some vintage receivers that are decent and are in regular rotation. I also 'matured' to separates and got a B&K amp and preamp-solid stuff, mint. I mostly stream through Wiim Pro or Wiim mini, and I'm pretty satisfied with the sound I'm getting out of things now. I have not gotten into tubes as the Dynaco crapped out long ago but the next frontier for me will probably be some type of tube set up. Just seems too much of a hassle right now...

jp58

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Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #186 on: 21 Feb 2025, 06:46 pm »
Hi. I'm new to the forum. It all started when my dad bought me a cheap GE component stereo for Christmas 1970. I was 12. It consisted of a receiver, a separate turntable, and a pair of bookshelf speakers. Cabinetry was all plastic. It was the coolest thing i had ever seen or heard. Within five years i had an AR integrated amp, AR turntable with a Shure M91ED, and AR 2ax speakers. Then, it was on. Like Donkey Kong.

MrDonald145

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Re: Audiophile Moment - When did the passion strike?
« Reply #187 on: 13 Mar 2025, 06:32 pm »
Hi,
I am new on this forum, and to respond to the “when did the audio bug” hit me. I actually put music on the shelf for some time in order to sort out other areas of my life. I later put a little stereo in my office and eventually just a Bluetooth speaker and used Spotify. 2017 I started build a home entertainment center and branched out with a little desktop system in an audio/computer room and now have two amps, a preamp, two streamers and two DACS. And I am looking at the possibility of getting a class A amp. So, this has turned out to be a hobby and journey for sure..