I don't think that's an audiophile. I think that's an equipment junkie.

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I don't think that's an audiophile. I think that's an equipment junkie.

For some reason, I kept thinking of the lady with 300 cats.

It don't make her the world's greatest cat owner.

Maybe he can settle for greatest equipment accumulator?

Great article, by the way.

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I don't think that's an audiophile. I think that's an equipment junkie.

I would tend to agree. Some of those rooms looked highly reflective and probably sound less than stellar.

I do give him copious kudos for being so generous with access to his syetm and his "clubhouse."

Gotta love and audiophile who's willing to share the joy.

Maybe he is the world's greatest audiphile, after all! Not too many guys like that would let me come over and sit and listen.

I knew a guy like that, once. He 'evaluated Countries' for the IMF. As sales folk, we had to sneak stuff in the house when his wife wasn't around. If we could make it in the door, there was no way she could tell new stuff from old. So..when he called..and said, 'bring stuff now!', he really meant it. Grab the boxes, put them in the car..and run!

And when we got there, leave with something, one box maybe..after the wife arrived back home. Little did she know that we left 4 or five new items, and that the one we took away was only for cover. I only visited him once, but, wow.

For example:There were two tri-amped systems in the spare bedroom..and 4 Monoblock Luxman tube amps under the bed..on the one side..and 4 VTL amps on the other side... it was crazy. Hallways were filled with audio racks. One full of Audio Research, the next with Levinson, the next with Sony (tube and SS)..the next with etc..all over the dang place.
My brain was reeling. I thought I was nuts. He gots me beat. Dis guy too.

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I don't think that's an audiophile. I think that's an equipment junkie.

For some reason, I kept thinking of the lady with 300 cats.

It don't make her the world's greatest cat owner.

She's from the town I'm in. She's down to maybe 100 cats, now. Wait. I think she finally died from all the cat poo?

I could tell you stories on that one.....

Anyway, you could smell the house when you walked by. And she rented the upstairs, if you can imagine.

I think his collection is so mind-boggling, so surreal, that it's easy to question his motives and authenticity. But if we can get over our rational responses we might be able to see that he absolutely loves what he's doing.

This doesn't look like a 7 story monument to a big ego. It's more like an interactive gonzo demonstration facility. I love the big messy piles of records and CD's everywhere and the fact he holds audio seminars and shares his hobby with everyone.

His restaurant must be pretty popular, too.

did it say what he does besides a restaurant? What he has would take STOOPID amounts of money.

I think that guy represents the odd intersection of hobby and seemingly unlimited resources. More a collector than anything, but clearly he does enjoy all that gear (and music, if he EVER could listen to it all) and the fact that he set up a "club" for people to come enjoy it too- well that's pretty cool. Probably a little more socially positive than say a guy who dedicates his mansion to toy trains or walls of stamps...Even if I ever had that kind of money, it's not what I'd aspire to, but somehow he seems like a very benign sort of obsessed collector.

I agree, DB. I don't see a lot of subtlety or finesse in the set-ups shown (not that they're incapable of those qualities), but I think the guy has some heart with his approach. Reminds me of the legendary (mythical?) Japanese audio fanatics who design their homes to be a gigantic folded horn from floor to attic.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder if ever I saw it. Listening 24/7, it would take 17 years 1 month to get through the record collection. If he ever listens.