Vote

Well, duh. I can't listen while my 1- and 2-year-olds are awake. And I can't listen while they're asleep.

The volume level has come down a bit. Maybe I should try small amps :-)

Having once been a child myself, I can only imagine the sticky fingerprints and spilled peach preserves all over the room.

Hey, I had no problem. But it was 30 years ago. I just put my gear out of reach of the kids. Later, at age 7+, I used to pay the kids 10 cents to turn a record, 25 cents to change a record. Both my kids grew up watching very little TV. And if not committed audiophiles, both have systems with tube gear. Bottom line: Involve the little urchins in your hobby.

Listen now almost exclusively through headphones—in the evening, after everything has quieted down. Have trouble sometimes hearing the baby monitor, however

I stopped listening to records. They were always in the way! I decided to make things easier and listen to CDs and FM.

I have two girls, ages seven and three. While they enjoy music, they would rather play. Most of my serious listening is done during those rare moments when my wife has taken them from the house. Even so , this is fine. I mean, after all, if you would rather listen to music than play with your kids, you have a problem!

I may have less time to listen to music alone, but that's a small price to pay in exchange for my two sons. Also, it sure is fun to see them dance around the room when I play music. They're learning to be music-lovers too!

Actually, having an audiophile life seems to be affecting my prospects of having kids. Happy birthday, dear, here's a nice stunning diamond (stylus).

I was lucky enough to have a dedicated listening room when my 3 kids were small, so sticky hands on the Quads was never a problem. I always encouraged them (boy, now 18; twin girls, now 15) to listen quietly with me & we spent many hours together in the sweet spot. OK, OK—I was in the sweet spot . . . but they were close enough not to worry their fuzzy little heads. Fortunately, all of them have grown up continuing to listening to music, and all have their own sound systems (low to mid-fi, as yet). The biggest effect on myself, from an audiophile perspective at least, has been to temper my spending. After all, couldn't let the kids starve while I went out and buy the Sony SCD-1, could I? Mmm . . . or could I . . . ???

I was a fledgling audiophile, mid-'60s to mid-'70s, when 2 kids forced a 20-year retirement from serious devotion, although maintaining an interest in music. A relapse of audiophilia with the emptying of the nest in the last few years has contributed to coming full circle to single status again!

Less time one can devote to listening (or any other activities). Volume restrictions!

Since they finished college and got married and moved out of town, I have somewhat overcompensated. A dedicated two-wheeler for moving speakers is a hint.

Would it be safe to buy a pair of Maggies with my two-year-old? I don't think so...

I can't do a damn thing! My son is either sleeping or turning off the power!

Kids? spend all that custom room and monster monitor money? No way! I'm way too selfish for that!

Not much time to listen to the BIG stereo like I used to. I still buy lots of music but mostly I listen on the road to and from work everyday.

It changed, but actually for the better. After two and a half years of marriage, I finally talked my wife into allowing me to move my listening room from a tiny room upstairs into our 10-ft.-high-ceilinged family room. We also have a 15-month-old daughter. Though this sounds bad, it has actually worked out pretty good. One of the 10 words she knows how to say is "hot," and she knows that that word applies to the Dynaco ST-70. She has to be reminded from time to time that LPs and CDs are off-limits, but she is learning. She LOVES to watch the turntable in action, and we listen to music together a lot, especially Ella Fitzgerald, who she is named after. Actually, it's been a great idea.

Time,money and curious hands!!!

My "rugrat" is now 25, but she never stifled my love for great music. In fact, she has always made me think more about what I am listening to. We are a family that grew up enjoying many types of music and looking at each for its own value. I don't think having a child should ever be considered anything but a blessing, ranking right up there with a system that lets you enjoy the music instead of worrying about the equipment.

Less disposable income. Less time. Need to "blockade" routes equipment!

In the beginning, I was discovering the world of music to my son. Now, I am exposed to his newly developing musical taste, which gives me opportunities to listen to the kinds of music I never dreamt I would ever listen to (and occasionally discover something I like).

I LOVE my wife and children; I like music. Now which do you think is more important in my life? That's correct . . . my family! I would rather hear the laughter of my children, than Mozart, Coltrane, the Beatles, et al. I am quite content to listen to music through headphones, or via AM radio. My family and I frequently watch old musicals TOGETHER. Music is important, to be sure. But still, after all, it's just a small part of life. While I associate certain moments in my life with certain songs (mostly Sinatra—my favorite!), I can just as easily remember the moment sans the music. How about you?

speaker damage

Since the baby was born over a year ago, the dedicated listening room is dedicated to SILENCE. Still, I now enjoy high-end nursery rhymes on the baby's "Jungle gear" high-end cassette player.

Well, I really didn't become an audiophile until after I had kids, and could also afford decent equipment. But my listening is confined, volume wise, to after the kids go to bed, and only when the wife is willing to watch TV somewhere else. That combination actually occurs about once or twice a week on average—not too bad.

Two kids 18 & 10 no effect whatsoever...why would it...a man is king of the castle(audio system)else he is no man.

Less time, money, and volume.

less time and money to devote to audiophiling

With kids, I still am able to listen to lots of music, but now I listen mostly while doing something else, since I no longer have time sit in the sweet spot and just listen.