Audiophile

Takayo Morita The music fan spends thousands of dollars on high-end stereo equipment, all in a quest for audio perfection. But Morita, nicknamed rock grandpa by the clerks at his favorite vinyl record shop in Tokyo, has taken his hobby even further. The 82-year-old retired lawyer has installed a 40-foot utility pole in his front yard that he connected to the power grid, so he can have a personal source of pure electricity. Morita says that having your own power source eliminates electrical interference that comes from sharing a public utility pole. Japanese audio files are known for going to extreme lengths. Itsushi Hamasaki lives in a 250-square-foot apartment so he can afford to spend more money on his stereo system. His speakers alone cost $100,000. Hamasaki's apartment is so small that he has to move his couch to open his refrigerator. Another sacrifice, he says he hasn't purchased new clothes in about 15 years, a small price to pay for what could be the most essential part of his life.