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It is hard to get into high-end audio gear as a young 'un. People our age are not taken seriously when they shop a high-end store.

No comment, but here is my age.

I just turned 40 this year. I might as well tell you, I've been an audiophile since I was 11 years old, and I'll make sure I remain an audiopile till the day I die. Right now, I need to work on making more time to listen to my system, and also to clean up many of the old records I've bought. But it's one of the greatest hobbies a person can have.

Involved with audio since 1960

Been interested in audio and could be considered an audiophile since college days.

Not all your readers are demented....

I'm a 15-year-old boy from Molde, Norway, and I'm into hi-fi. There are not a lot of young people around who are interested in hi-fi. Perhaps home cinema systems, but not real hi-fi. I think that's a shame.

I have been an audiophile for quite some years. Presently I have a system nearing $10K. I love music, but if some of you in smaller cities, like Nashville haven't noticed good radio stations are hard to come by. Nashville got rid of their jazz station and in its place put on christian music. When radio brings new music it to people's attention it is hard to warrant spending a lot of money if the only music you know is a bunch of new crap like Back Street Boys and In Sync. Or how about glass shattering Shania Twain recordings. The only good thing there is her butt in leather pants. Long live that at least. Or how could a good system ever benefit Celine "compressed" Dion.

Hope you are maintaining full security on your resulting data base from all of these questions...

One (of several) big problems with the discrepancy in numbers between older and younger audiophiles is the fact that most music that audiophiles like is not what younger people really like. I know this is a generality; bear with me. I know that my musical tastes have changed due to the prowess of my system. I cannot listen to poorly produced CDs. What the rest of the population does not understand about "us" is that very change. The problem is, how do we get people to feel that little slice of heaven that we do? Sit them down in the chair, put THEIR favorite disc in. If you have a remastered version of the same, do an A-B. The fact is, you can't sell the idea on YOUR musical terms, it's got to be on theirs.

Did you want chronological or emotional age?

Conventional maybe! But definitely not "WISDOM." I've been into high-end audio since the age of 19-20. Many young'uns and old folks don't know what sound really is! My first receiver was a 30Wpc Harman/Kardon. I have found from past experience that if you expose a person to quality audio gear, they are literally blown away by what they perceive sound really should impart to their delicate ears. I have countless converts to prove it!! Lately I've been giving friends (old & young alike) a listening test of my new B&K Ref. 20 preamp/tuner and its matching power amp. The jaws dropped to the floor! Boy was that fun, seeing the expressions on their faces (again) and I haven't upgraded my speakers YET! So folks, take heed, the young'uns are joining the ranks of the elite, once they are shown there is more to audio than the crap you see in your Sunday newspaper ads.

49 years young TODAY (4-21)

My audiophile friends run in age from 28 to 55.

Most younger people I find equate quality with quantity.The louder the better, the bigger the better.

I got hooked on high-end audio after listening to my uncle's Waveform Mach 17s. Don't have quite enough money to buy loudspeaker like that myself, so I build DIY. Maybe when I get older, I'll spend more money on high-end. But right now I'll live with my Focal W cone and ribbon tweet loudspeaker I'm going to build which I happened to get a chance to buy from someone close with Focal.

I was into audio from 15, into high end from 23 (when I could afford it!)

I enjoy your magazine, yes i subscribe. please search out more inexpensive but but hi-fi gear.

Been into audio since I was 18 yrs old....

1-10? Give me a break.

I just started assembling a reasonably-priced audio system (is that an oxymoron, or what?). I have a collection of 800-900 CDs too. It kind of sets me apart from most people who just want the latest pop hit for free.

My daughters (20&24) will probably never get into high end stereo because high paying jobs are getting harder to find, (unless you are into some .com thing)in canada and there is so many ways to spend your money now. I've had copys off your mag around the house for years and music(live and recorded) has been a big part of our household entertainment all there lives.I have always owned decent equipment and have bought them both good quality starter stereos but they don't seem to care much about about upgrading!

My hearing might not be as acute as it used to be, but I'm enjoying the music more as I age.

I've subcribed to Stereophile sence it looked more like a owners manual which JGH printed in his basment.

63 years old. First real hi-fi set in 1958: Bogen turntable, Heathkit and AR2, mono. Lots of radios before that with tubes exposed, turntable wired to the pot. Still have my Weller solder station at the ready, silver wire for the signal line.

I've been reading Stereophile since I was 20. Your magazine has greatly expanded my interest in music, particularly classical music. I'd like to see more classical reviews.

At least they're comfortable deck chairs.

Getting into hi end as my income grows, as I get older.

Is this a trick question?

I'm 40, but feel closer to 32, and relate most to your writers under 30.