I may not be the best resource to lean on but don't mind helping if I'm able.

I am what true audiophiles would consider an audiophile-wannabe or an amateur because I have never been able to afford to get into it "properly" but I am a musician (or have been up until a couple of years ago anyway) with a pretty good ear and I know what sounds good to me and most people. I initially got into technology primarily because of my love for music.

I have been an electronics technician and a computer technician / systems admin but I've probably forgotten most of what I used to think I knew about electronics and have been out of the loop with technology in general for a couple of years too.

I used to do a LOT of home recording with chintzy gear and learned how to make crappy gear sound as good as it possibly can. It's really a matter of getting the best stuff you can but more than that using your ears and not being afraid to experiment. If you have good hearing and it sounds good to you then it is great.

I am not into being an audio or a tech snob for the sake of being one and I don't automatically take everyone's opinions as gospel either. I've known a lot of snobs who although do have something valid to say at times are often just full of shit, that shit being themselves.

I think that the digital music revolution is fantastic but there is still development in the analog realm. I'm not an analog snob either but a 30 ips tape deck would be awesome to play with. I wonder if magnetic disc technology has been or will be adapted for analog recording. Like I said, I am terribly out of the loop on stuff and just know the basics anymore. It would be cool to see somebody develop optical media for analog use. Hell, for all I know they may have already. I'm sure it is technically possible.