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What's that you say, sonny? Speak into my good ear. Say, while you are here check out my latest system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayld6Yl3n54
Reader "craig" writes: "Okay, let's get right to it. What is the age of <I>Stereophile</I>'s readers? The reason I ask is the choice of 'favorite music' in a recent Vote question." So how old are you?
I read Stereophile and dream of the expensive systems. I assume that if you asked the readers what was the age and total cost of their systems, you would see a trend pattern. That would also help to explain why the age is so high; most young people don't even know this type of equipment exists.
Been into audio for about 10 years. (I'm 29), basically since I've had a job making over $9 bucks an hour, I've spent some or lots of it on audio. Since I've started to earn a more professional income it all goes to the house! But I have had just enough to have some wonderful equipment under my belt.
When most of us were growing up, a stereo was the ultimate in cool technology. TV was pretty generic, computers were still room sized, there were no iPods and portable music took the form of boom boxes or perhaps a Walkman. Today's youth have so many more toys on which to focus their technology attention. Furthermore, they mostly just download their music for free in the form of MP3s which don't have high enough quality to justify a high-end stereo rig. The resurgence in vinyl is encouraging though and appears to be bringing some young people back into the fold.
As an Electrical Engineering student, I really don't think my generation could understand half of the techinical reviews without background knowledge in power, circuits, and acoustics. I seem to enjoy the magazine a little more after I study each new subject and have a greater appreciation for the detail in each review.
I have always loved classical music and use to listen to records (the real item) on old Magnavox all in one consoles. Then in the mid '60's I was introduced to "hi-fi" by my cousin who had Dynaco equipement,a RekOCut Turntable and Lafayette Criterion speakers. After that I was hooked and have been for the past 42 years.