How can anyone afford this ?


I consider myself a dedicated audiophile. I am 36(which I am guessing is a little younger than the average here) and single. I have been interested in high-end audio since I saw my uncle's Mcintosh and Threshold equipment for the first time when I was 5.
Since joining the workforce and saving a little I have always been trying to put together a nice system on a budget. I do OK financially(I am a systems engineer) but I do live in NYC which may put some of this into perspective.
Over the last 6 months I have struggled to buy(all used on Agon) a pair of Dynaudio Audience 42s and a Threshold CAS2 amp, Chang CLS3200, and cables(I haven't gone out[I don't have a girfriend], purchased anything else and really haven't eaten too much to be able to afford these and it is still a real stretch). I am using the amp with a direct connection from my CD/DVD player(Cambridge Audo Azur 540D...slightly modified[op amps, PS caps, bypass caps] that I have had for almost 10 years). A fellow has a Threshold FET2 series II(to match with the CAS2) he is holding for me but that seems like a pipe dream at this point along with a turntable.
A few years ago the analogue bug hit me.
I had a setup consisting of an Audio Analogue Settanta integrated and a Nottingham Horizon SE turntable with a Rega RB300 tonearm with the Incognto rewire and structural mod. This was not an expensive kit by any stretch but for me it almost put me in the poor house. I had to sell the entire rig to pay my bills and it hurt.
It seems over the last 10 years or so I have not been able to keep a kit for more than 6 months before I had to sell it. Whenever I don't have a rig I am constantly scanning the online Ads lusting for the next bargain to set up a system and cannot even listen to music on a mass market rig(I have been spoiled).
Anyway, I guess my question is how can anyone normal afford this hobby? What type of money do you have to be making to be able to enjoy this hobby.....$100,000/year? $500,000/year? Do you need to be worth millions? $5,000 barely gets you in the door(some interconnects cost more) and you could possibly spend millions. I am not looking to put together a $10,000 system(not even close...and that is modest in this hobby) but if I wanted to I don't see it ever being financially possible. If I had a girlfriend or a family(hopefully someday) I would not event be able to think about this hobby with a good conscience. I guess I am wondering if all these people in this hobby are millionaires? I am close to selling my rig again to pay the bills(the amp needed repair/recap and that was $450). Any advice for an audiophile who lusts to put together a nice rig but can't afford it? Should I get out and save for 5 or 10 years and then try again? Maybe I am in the wrong hobby but it is more addicting that crack to me(and more expensive). Maybe I should be a crackhead instead...that might be the only thing to make me forget about it. Thoughts?
adamd1205

Showing 1 response by adamd1205

Thanks for all the great advice guys. I won't let it get me down for sure but struggling to do something you love really sucks(NYC is a hole...formally in San Francisco area and a few other places but SF is the favorite). I am not into the latest and greatest and bigger is better and flashier means better sound and I don't read the audio mags and I am not constantly trying to get better than what I have. I am a realist but the hobby does seem to consume me. I love the history of the hobby and I am a big Nelson Pass fan(theory and gear). I certainly think I am staying witin a budget but it never works out.

The current system I have I purchased a piece at a time over the last 6 months(minus the CD/DVD player which is the only piece I have seemed to hold on to...and my speaker stands). The Dynaudio 42s were $400(always come back to these). The Threshold CAS2 was $375(purchased with the intent of rebuilding/upgrading at $450...being rebuilt now...so $825 total for amplification which I think is really fair for the quality). The Chang CS3200 was $170. Cabling from Verastarr was $340(I guess I went a little high here and I don't buy into all the cable hype but I got a really great deal and plan on holding on to them...also picked up the extra RCA pair for the eventual addition of a preamp so at least I am set there). Fairly modest I believe.

It is a really great sounding system and hope/plan on it being even better when the amp gets finished. My plan was to add a Threshold FET2 series II preamp(and upgrade that later on...I am a big fan of modding quality older/vintage gear)and a turntable over the next 6 months. I am definitely putting the turntable on hold for a long while because I know what that involves and I am a very thorough person.

I am not struggling as much as I made it sound. I am able to pay my bills but always wind up selling my system to have that extra savings behind me just in case. I do date(yes...girls) but I do sacrifice other things for the hobby. Anyway, just rambling now. I am not selling the current system and I am going to add the FET2 series II or a Spectral DMC-6(if I can find one) with the hopes of adding a turntable(and all that goes with it[I do still have my vinyl] down the road in a year or so. And I am getting out of NYC. I am planning on going back to SF. I know the cost of living is the same but I will make more money and the quality of life is soooo much better.

Thanks again for all the thoughts and advice. Now if I only had my amp so I could listen to some music(I think that is why I got all frustrated and wrote this in the first place...it has been 2 weeks)!!!!