Hello ? My name is Jonathan and I?m an audioholic.
I started my habit 37 years ago, when I threatened running away and join the navy, in order to get permission to buy my first stereo system. Good thing that that didn?t happen, but I still remember arguing with my folks ? It is my bar mitzvah money, it?s been four years for the savings bonds to grow, and I want/need my music. My folks were not pleased, but they agreed that it was my money, therefore I bought my first system: Sansui receiver, HH Scott 3-way speakers, Dual turntable, from some warehouse affair in Atlanta. Later, I remember lusting, and then buying a Yamaha CR600 receiver ? all in silver. I remember buying ? on layaway, paying $25 or $50 a month to Fat Julian?s Audio till I could get them? my Magnepan MGII speakers. Going off to graduate school, I remember buying my first car ? a Datsun 510 wagon, $1000 used, because I needed carrying room to cart the Maggies to school. I remember that the Datsun was more than a lemon ? it finally burned up, literally every engine wire went up in smoke, on I-75, near Lake City, FL. I waited in the cargo area for a pick-up. After a bus ride back to Atlanta, my father and I went back down to arrange for the car to be towed back?I have never bought another used car ? once burned, literally?Over the years, I acquired a Philips 212 turntable, the one with the touchkey controls, that I soon gave to my folks so I could buy a Denon table. I sold the Maggies as my wife didn?t care to have 6 foot objects directly from 2001- A Space Odyssey in her living room. We settled on Spica TC-50, instead. Still have them in the basement. In the mid 1990?s, I decided to go into the home theater approach and acquired a big, honking black Yamaha receiver ? I?ve always had a thing for Yamaha ? and VCR and thick speaker cables. When we shopped for furniture, I had to make sure that whatever would fit the equipment. And there things stood, as the kids were growing through elementary and middle school ? weekend soccer, family, etc.
In 2006, my family moved to a new house and a new lifestyle. Finally, I had a basement and media room to start planning for. It was time to get serious, and with the basement build-out and relatively open budget, I started all over on the system. I read everything, at least it seemed so. I decided to go simple and purist ? no multi-channel, no speakers in walls, no wires in walls. So I started to buy, again. I ?discovered? the underground world of the artisan and visionary. I started down the path towards magic. However, something was still missing ? I kept fiddling with things, move this, adjust that, etc.
To confess, Michael Lavorgna?s recent posting, Road Tour 21 ? Exit 21, on 6 Moons is the inspiration for this monologue and confession. He states ?Yet many an audiophile shopper is distracted. They?re distracted by the shit they read, the shit they think they know and how much they think they can save by not dealing with audio dealers. Instead they rely on their own auto-erotic system scripture cobbled together from reviews, forum posts, myths, whims, lies, misdemeanors and the Robert Langdon-esque ability to read between the lines.? Thankfully, about a year ago, I found my guidance counselor (see Jeff Day?s Music Lovers - Road Tour Exit 1) who has patiently guided me and permitted me to go to other side of the rainbow ? a synergistic patterning now with Shindo, Auditorium, Wavelength and soon to be added, DeVore. I like to think that I have grown ? that as I added/replaced pieces I?ve approached the music, not the ?stuff?. One of the continual threads All the new ?parts? have real people with vision and weight ? a sense of purpose of what it right and real ? behind the products. It is not the pieces, but the whole that counts, and I am in debt to Matt for allowing me to realize this. As Michael says ?We need to learn to appreciate the simple truth that listening to music on the hifi is what it is.? I believe that I have finally, after many years, come to that mental place where that is possible. I think that my wife will be pleased?
Best, Jonathan
