First, just a little about me. I am just a normal man, husband, father etc. I do happen to thoroughly enjoy state of the art electronics like most men. It started when I was in high school and I started putting car audio components in my Nissan Pulsar NX. (Yea, I know! I could have yanked your chain and said it was a pimped out ride that I personally tricked out but then what would be the point of putting real life reviews here if its fake?)

Anyways, back to my story. I started putting together a stereo system by buying piece by piece because I did not have much money. Who does in high school? I worked my after school and weekend jobs and started by buying an Alpine in dash CD player. Now this was 16 years ago and Alpine was the top of the line then and their green color button and displays looked phat then!

Slowly over the next 2 years I added a Rockford Fosgate Punch 200 amplifier. Alpine 6.5" Component Speaker sets with 2" tweeters. I also got Alpine 3.5" 3 way speakers for the rear seats. Then I had a store named Sight N' Sound Audio build me a enclosed bandpass sub box for my 10" Fosgate Punch subwoofer. When this was done, it was rare to see subwoofers in enclosed boxes at all. On these type of speaker boxes not only do they have to be built correctly they must tune the ports for the best sound.

I ended up getting a Kenwood KAC-21(I believe that was the model #, it was so long ago) to run the sub box with the Punch 200 running my satellite speakers (The Components and 3.5"). I personally put in every piece into the car and hooked them up. Ran the wires professionally. I actually took the seats and carpet mold out to run the wires correctly and this was my first time doing anything like this and I was 16 years old. I fell in love with electronics then and I have not lost that passion.

How does the saying go? The only difference between Adults and Kids is the price of their toys!

I still like my car audio, however since getting married and having a child my priorities have changed as they should. Most of my attention and money is toward my family. I still have the same passion for electronics as I did when I was young I just refocused them into my home theatre! But I do keep up with what is out there and I am also the friend that everyone calls when they need something installed in their car. Of course I gladly do it because its my way of doing something I enjoy without the cost of doing it.

When I go out to buy anything electronic I decide which one to buy using several different methods. These are:

1. Name Brand - Everyone has a favorite. My favorite for the last several years has been Sony. Friends call me Sonymon, but I have really been happy with most of my stuff from Sony. Currently I have a Sony VVega 32" Flat screen TV. Sony home theatre, that is actually quite old but still works better than some new ones! Sony MP3 XM Car stereo. Sony Vaio desktop that is a 2.1ghz Processor 80g hard drive 512mb of ram and it is about 3.5 years old and still works like the day I bought it. That is unusual for a computer. I have a Sony Vaio laptop, Sony Digital Camera(although Im due for an upgrade on that, its only 2.4 mega pixles) and a Sony HandyCam. Plus my car stereo I just sold with my car when my son was born was 2 12" Sony subs a Sony 300 Watt amp and the head unit I stated earlier. My wifes car still has her Sony MP3/XM receiver and amplifier, but we went with top of the line Rockford Fosgate Punch 12" because we only put one sub in the car.
2. Word of Mouth - Believe it or not, I think this is the BEST way to get information on your potential purchase. I happen to prefer Sony, however my best friend Jimi likes Kenwood. He literally has his home stereo and his 300 Disc changer on Everyday! Im dead serious too, i have know the man for 12 years and there is not one day it is not playing, with the TV volume turned down until a show they watch is on. I would buy Kenwood on his opinion alone because of his experience with the brand.
3. P.V.P. - Price vs Performance - This is something most people do not understand. If I have an electronic device I want to purchase I don't automatically buy the best version or model. If you do not plan to use it to the capaicty your paying extra for why spend the money unless your mega rich. But if you were mega rich you probably wouldn't be reading my blog, huh? For example, if you watch DVD's every so often there is no need to go buy the top of the line DVD player for $300.00 more than a servicable one. I happen to have 3 DVD players. My Sony, Oops I forgot the DVD player on my Sony list above. I told you im obssesed with Sony. Anyway's my Sony DVD on my main floor is the one I watch DVD's on the most because that is where my 65" Mitsubishi is located is an older top of the line. In my basement where I rarely watch DVD's there is my Apex DVD. that is a GENERIC DVD player if I ever saw one. But it serves its purpose. My bedroom where I NEVER watch DVD's but want one there so if I wanted to I could, is a Cibavision. Yup, thats what I said. Ever heard of that? Well it was cheap and served my purpose of having the ability to play DVD's in our bedroom if I wanted!

To Be Continued