before i decided to buy a real stereo system my gear consisted of several cd players, receivers, integraded amps, speakers and so on. but they were all mid class. and i always thought that i do have a great sounding system. i used to spend a lot of time in so called ''hifi-supermarkets'' were 1001 brands are spreaded all over the place and the guy who ''sells'' them was overstrained in some ways. i was about 18 years old at that time and far away of thinking to visit a hifi dealer. few years later i started to read hifi magazines and discovered the whole range of products that is available. then there was no way out for me anymore to visit hifi dealers in my area. i was impressed on how different hifi equipment is made and how it sounds.WOW! and it was a great experience to get REAL support by someone who knows what he is selling! i guess i had a million questions and almost broke the dealer's nerves with all my ''low level knowledge''. i realized that i spent too many times at the ''wrong'' places. i was quite a young man with no real chance to buy the gear that i auditioned

. but i knew that i would do it one day...
the years went by. and i never lost my interest for this hobby. during these early days i began to understand that hifi is not a cheap adventure. but i remember myself sitting in all these demo sessions arranged by some hifi dealers and the sound always blew me away...
and i began to understand that a grown up stereo system was all i ever wanted!
we can talk a lot about money here or if a certain product is worth the bugs or not...all the gear that i owned before i made my decision for Bryston NEVER had the same ability to produce the sound that way! there are a lot of great manufacturers out there. and everyone should feel free to choose the way he wants to listen to music.
i love this hobby. and yes, i spent a few bugs more than i used to when i was younger. but now my equipment makes me happy. its all i ever wanted. i can say that i arrived.
just my 2 cents,
al.