After introducing his daughter to high-end audio with his own setup in the family living room, Audiogon user Pjudice decided it was time to create a small system just for her to enjoy in her bedroom. Read more below to find out his thoughts on introducing kids to hi-fi, creating child-friendly systems, and the future of hi-fi with new generations.
Equipment Pictured:
Arcam Arcam iPod dock DA converter
Audio Engine AE2 self-powered speaker
Audigon cables unknown interconnect
Audio Engine AE2 self-powered speaker
Audigon cables unknown interconnect
AUDIOGON: Could you give a little background on what you do for a living, where you live, and your family?
Pjudice: My wife and daughter and I live in Manhattan, so our living space is smaller than what most families would have. The up side to having a small home is that we’re often together in the living room with music playing on the main hi-fi. I’m an account rep for a studio that does retouching for the fashion industry, and my wife is an architect. We all love the arts and NYC is a great place to raise kids with exposure to the arts and to people who make their living through creative expression. We’ve been fortunate to know actors, musicians, dancers and other creative people who provide interesting role models for my daughter.
: How did you get into audio? How long have you been interested in it?Pjudice: I became interested in audio as a teen and had an old Fischer tube amp, Advent speakers and a JVC turntable that kept me in music for many years. Currently, we have a lovely little Luxman tube amp running iTunes/Amarra through a Wavelength Proton into Sonics Amima speakers. All of this is out and exposed to the dangers of play dates and curious children, but somehow the audio gods have smiled upon our family.
: How did your daughter become interested in audio? Is it a whole family affair?Pjudice: Every morning I get up first and start the coffee and the music. We enjoy Sharon Jones, Radiohead, Esperaza Spalding, Maria Callas, Bill Evans, Clogs and all sorts of other things in a variety of genres. Although my daughter has her little iPod system with Audioengine powered speakers, we almost always listen to music as a family on the big hi-fi. I know that as she gets older she will retreat to her room and her system more often, but for now it’s great to enjoy music together.
: How much did your daughter’s setup cost? Did you get any of the equipment on Audiogon?Pjudice: Her little system was a mix of leftovers from me and the Audioengines we’re purchased new to complete it, so the only out-of-pocket expense was $200 for the speakers. I chose the Audioengines for their durability (kevlar!), good reviews, and low cost. Once I cranked them up, I was pleasantly surprised by their sound quality.
: Do you have any advice on setting up systems for kids?Pjudice: I would advise any parent looking to buy a sound system for a child to accept the fact that something will get scratched, mangled, or totally vaporized at some point. Factor this into your decision and look for castoffs and used items, but you can still offer something of real value that may last them well into young adulthood. In our case, I had an Arcam iPod dock I wasn’t using and some cheap interconnects I had snagged on Audiogon.
: Do you have any advice for how to teach kids about audio?Pjudice: Spend a little time explaining how things work, what they can touch and what they shouldn’t touch (like tweeters) and how to manage friends who are interested in their system. For us, this was a great opportunity to teach responsibility and ownership.
: What, in your opinion, is the future of high-end audio? How will the industry have to adapt to continue to grow with new generations?Pjudice: I think my child will appreciate good audio throughout her life, though she may not be too wrapped up in gear, tweaks, and some of the nonsense that I’m guilty of. Sadly, most of her peers probably won’t know this pleasure unless there is a significant cultural/behavioral shift. However, with the rise of good computer audio and even with the American interest in slow food, good wine, and all things refined, maybe we’ll see a new wave of interest in quality sound.
Are your children becoming interested in audio or setting up their own systems? Comment below with your experiences. To become Audiogon’s next Featured Member, submit your info here.
Audiogon Blog 
Great topic, particularly for those of us who can’t include the “no kids, no pets” disclaimer on our Agon ads. In our house we have room for a couple of systems, all of which are tubed or hybrid tube/solid-state. I let my kids use all of them with the exception of my finest rig. While initially fearful, they have really taken to turning the amps on, letting them warm up, treating the CDs/laptop with care. In fact, my son (the younger one) frequently schools my wife on audio care.
The biggest benefit to easing/lightening up to let the kids play with the audio gear is that we are all more involved and bond over the music. Plus I can plug ‘family values’ when talking to my wife about my next audio acquisition. Yes, there will be scratches and dings, but I’ve made bone-headed moves even without the kids…
This ain’t no audiophile system, but it’s a first step away from crap sound…
My kid is learning to play the bass, so all I had to do to get her to STOP using those horrible $20 iPod speakers the Ex bought, was to give her a mini to RCA cable and have her plug into her Ampeg Bass Amp. Now she even carries the heavy amp from room to room when she is going to take a bath.
I did a similar thing with my daughter who is 6 years old. I got the Audioengine A2’s and ran a USB dac I was no longer using into her computer running ITunes . I was very surprised how good it sounded, and she loves it. I just wish she played it more than she does instead of playing video games and watching TV. I don’t know if she will be an audiophile(I doubt it) but I feel that music is a crucial component of a child’s education, so I want her to be exposed to it, as I was.
I have two kids bedrooms set up with
Dayton Audio T-Amps and Dayton Audio
bookshelf speakers. With an IPod or IPhone
it makes a decent sounding low cost set-up.
Speakers and amp can usually be purchased for around
$60 from Parts Express. I’m lucky enough to live about
5 miles from their huge warehouse and small
retail store
Great article!
My sons are audiophiles, both use and love their McIntosh. And are vinylphiles. Teach your children respect for fine things early in life, you’ll be rewarded. My older son gets to play whichever system in the house he loves. And gets the run of the pianos, and younger mainly right now sticks to his little system. He is learning.
Stepdaughter was sent to school with a nice Rotel receiver from the 70’s and a pair of advent mini’s. No room for a turntable but she has one waiting for junior or senior dorms in 2 years. Plays flac file from her laptop…no dac yet…soon.