The price of a stereo obsession

[pavulon]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/interactive/2024/ken-fritz-greatest-stereo-auction-cost/

[herr_oberst]

Thanks for posting. A sobering insight into the human condition.
This is the doc listed in the story.

[Chocaholic]

Saw that a few weeks ago. Much discussion about him on the Audiogon forum. Sort of a sweet sadness kind of thing. Obsession, money and passion can do amazing things…even if they never needed to be done.

[ramonesfreak]

That was great!

[hcoles]

I like the turntable. Has a vacuum to pull the records flat.

[ramonesfreak]

https://aftermath.site/the-worlds-best-stereo-system-what-happened-ken-fritz

[BwshGulbleSheep]

Some form of autism spectrum or OCD
Shocked he got $150k for the stuff
Beats a rusted carcass in the driveway, I suppose

[CurtEgerer]

Same mindset of many with these crazy car collections.

[GG Allin]

I once picked up a pair of Mcintosh MC500's on the cheap.

[stevej37]

I have some of the same stuff he has.....the Grandfather Clock in the room.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

https://aftermath.site/the-worlds-best-stereo-system-what-happened-ken-fritz

That's interesting!

That point of view about Fritz couldn't be more different than the story in the OP.
The OP story reminded me of this lyric from Cowboy Junkies:

"I've heard that the son must bear the burdens of the father
But it's the daughter that's left to clean up the mess"

The second, from Aftermath is nothing but fawning worship for the guy.

The truth is most likely somewhere in the middle, as truth usually is.

(And finding the "Aftermath" site is probably not going to end well for me! What a rabbithole)

[ramonesfreak]

I couldn’t access the OP article so not sure what it said

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I have some of the same stuff he has.....the Grandfather Clock in the room.

He made the clocks too

[herr_oberst]

The gist of it was that Fritz built his achievement at the expense of the love for and of his immediate family. One son estranged, one wife divorced. No vacations, all hands on deck (free labor) to see his vision through. (His estranged son's final words to him were along the lines of "I hope you die slow, mfer". And he did, from ALS.)

[ramonesfreak]

Oh geez that’s sad.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

I couldn’t access the OP article so not sure what it said

It came through an Apple News subscription (for about $13/month, access to a broad range of material including domestic and international car stuff). I like it but as always, YMMV.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

He made the clocks too

I noticed it wasn't running. I do the same (stop it) sometimes while watching a movie.
The thing chimes right during some important dialogue. After 9pm or later, it's too many gongs.

[creaturecat]

Bob Dylan etc etc used to listen via my Mcintosh stereo, when he played in Toronto. i bought it off the rock promoter’s daughter. the promoter had an apartment for accommodating visiting rock acts. one of the “two Bernies”, he was. he also was Gordon Lightfoot’s agent.

[Rusty Heap]

Heck I was stoked when I scored some large 21 year old Klipsch speakers that sound fantastic for $500 over christmas

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Same mindset of many with these crazy car collections.

Good observation..