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Why do people think I'm nuts involving audio?

Let me start by saying that I don't drink, drug or smoke and that my only vice is audio. I've been a Mac junkie since '80 and to date, I own a Mac system that I've put $40,000 into. To me, it sounds WONDERFUL! I'm very much into music, as opposed to philes that appear to be more into "sound" than music, at least this is what I'm gathering from the stuff I read.My problem is that NOT ONE person I know has a system that's more than maybe $1500, and mostly everyone I know thinks that I'm mentally "defective", although they all love the way my system sounds! They just think that I'm NUTS! I have money, so I'm not being irresponsible to anything, I just LOVE audio. Two weeks ago, I took a 4 day trip to the McIntosh Labs in Bingimton, about 170 miles from my home. A guy from Audio Classics in that area set up a tour of Mac for me and I just loved it, BUT, took major heat from my friends about taking an "audio" vacation. SO, is there anyone out there with similar experiences with friends who can advise me on how to respond to them? Thanks, A SANE AUDIOPHILE!
sal
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lak
3,516 posts
 
Some people spend dollars on their interests and others are very tight and have no vices they will spend money on. I feel fortunate to be able to spend some extra money on a few different hobbies and am proud of it! I also learned a long time ago to keep it to myself unless in the company of others that does the same. Each dog has their own Poisson.
sal OP
31 posts
 
To all of my audiophile friends who responded to my inquiry about my friends thinking that I'm "audio defective" THANK YOU ALL! You're comments have truly helped me The underlying theme that I heard was basically "enjoy it and keep to myself" unless someone shows a sincere interest, as opposed to one who merely wants to judge me and my passion. Thanks again, Sal
6bq5
62 posts
 
Sal,
I am a bit late in responding to this one; however here goes:
My first Job out of College was working for a tube audio mfg!, talk about dream come true! I loved it. It took me a while and another audio mfg to realize that I needed to make more money that what I could make as an assistant, or manager of one of these companies, but what I learned will keep me in this hobby for life (I got hooked as a kid w/ my fathers mac, fisher, bozak, ar system).
I haven't spent quite what you have spend, but I am getting there...
When people find out that Hi-Fi is my hobby, they ask: "what should I buy?" My universal response is: "how much are you willing to spend?". this separates the seekers from the serious, and allows me to answer their question appropriatly.
Happy Listening
ohlala
993 posts
 
I keep my audio quiet. Most of family does not even know of its existence. It is visually stunning compared to Best Buy gear, so it has dropped the jaws of friends and cablemen. There's always the 'What's that?', and I hate explaining what phono stage is to someone who does not recognize the word 'turntable'. When they inquire about the stereo, I quickly get off the subject. When people ask for component recommendations, I just tell them B&W 302s and stay away from Bose (sadly, the Bose part almost always elicits an argument). I have been in audio a short enough time to realize that it is bazaar. Way more bazaar than golf or photography. Laymen are used to those kinds of weirdos. All this is okay because normal people are boring.
sc53
689 posts
 
I love the last response, about trying to explain that that box is a phono stage, and that other one is the power supply, for a turntable with a moving coil cartridge--when the inquirer has never even seen a turntable before!! And refers to the major part of it as a "needle," anyway. My friend just refers to each of my audio "boxes" on various racks and spikes as "receivers," except for the two boxes that she readily recognizes, the "speakers." She has also learned that all the strings she calls "wires" and "plugs" are actually "cables." It's really hilarious, when you think of how much I've spent, and all the time I've spent researching and auditioning and trying and experimenting with all this different gear over all these years, to hear someone refer to it all as "receivers" and some "wires." I actually get a kick out of this!
Sarah
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