For me it's been a lifelong curse.When I was young certain sounds would drive me nuts, fluorescent lights,screaming kids,etc.
Until I hit 30+ I
could hear dog whistles and out of adjustment FM carriers.
When I was a teen a car equaled freedom. I spent all my free time in mine so music was a must.Back then car stereos were pricey had about 4WPC (amps were an exotic,unreliable, bad sounding that cost 3x-4x more than my car). The car speakers then available were outrageously expensive and made hideous unlistenable noise,not music. Out of desperation
and lack of funds I started building my own from old home speakers. My favorites came out of discarded
console stereos
They usually had 12" or 15" paper cone woofers and mid- tweets with tiny alnico magnets They didn't break my budget (free on trash days in upper class neighborhoods) the highs didn't grate on my nerves (rolled off around 8-10K) produced great base and would play at
unreal volumes
powered by a 4WPC cassette/FM. Building systems for other teens became my 1st business amd I've been involved in audio part time ever since.
.I couldn't understand why my cheapie speakers didn't get on my nerves like "good" home and car speakers ( female vocals were especially annoying) until a few years later when I walked into a high end audio shop. The owner must have been bored or had a sadistic streak, instead of running off a goofy, ignorant,empty-pockets kid he took the time to let me hear some MUSIC. I sat there totally awe struck and speechless while he cued up classical,jazz and rock tracks on an exotic looking record player and giant speakers for over an hour. It took deep into a place deep inside that I'd only glimpsed until then while experimenting with potent psychedelics lt left me disoriented,weak, and near to tears. He spent another hour giving me a very,very basic education on how this magic was made. I was hooked! Then he completely crushed my new found happiness and hopes for reaching audio nirvana. He let me know how much it all cost! Even the cheapest most humble entry level system was completely unattainable with my pitiful budget I left his shop in a deeply depressed state. Ever since, I've devoted much free time, on DIY projects, bought,sold, traded gear and spent way more of my total income on this insanity than any normal person could ever imagine trying to try to get back there! ---- Still trying! . ---- It's a curse worse than any heavy drug habit!!!. ----- Wish I'd have been born tone deaf! I'd have been far happier and had a bit of cash in my pocket for food and paying the bills.
----To my fellow addicts, My heart felt condolences!
.I couldn't understand why my cheapie speakers didn't get on my nerves like "good" home and car speakers ( female vocals were especially annoying) until a few years later when I walked into a high end audio shop. The owner must have been bored or had a sadistic streak, instead of running off a goofy, ignorant,empty-pockets kid he took the time to let me hear some MUSIC. I sat there totally awe struck and speechless while he cued up classical,jazz and rock tracks on an exotic looking record player and giant speakers for over an hour. It took deep into a place deep inside that I'd only glimpsed until then while experimenting with potent psychedelics lt left me disoriented,weak, and near to tears. He spent another hour giving me a very,very basic education on how this magic was made. I was hooked! Then he completely crushed my new found happiness and hopes for reaching audio nirvana. He let me know how much it all cost! Even the cheapest most humble entry level system was completely unattainable with my pitiful budget I left his shop in a deeply depressed state. Ever since, I've devoted much free time, on DIY projects, bought,sold, traded gear and spent way more of my total income on this insanity than any normal person could ever imagine trying to try to get back there! ---- Still trying! . ---- It's a curse worse than any heavy drug habit!!!. ----- Wish I'd have been born tone deaf! I'd have been far happier and had a bit of cash in my pocket for food and paying the bills.
----To my fellow addicts, My heart felt condolences!