Mainstream isn't always best. Some of my favorite stuff never got famous. Dig past the top 40 and the big releases — the underground and indie scene has hidden gems that the casual fan never finds. That's half the fun.

GameFAQs is a goldmine if this is about video games. Walkthroughs, reviews, message boards, the works. For music, check Allmusic.com — they have great write-ups and 'if you like X you'll like Y' recommendations.

Personal preference plays a huge role here so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. What I love, you might hate. But based on what you described, I think you'd really enjoy what I'm about to suggest.

Don't spend a lot of money right away. The industry changes constantly and what's considered the best today will be outdated in a year or two. Start with a mid-range option and you'll be happy.

Honestly just dive in. You learn this stuff by doing it, not by researching it forever. I spent months reading about getting started instead of actually starting. Looking back I wasted a lot of time being scared to begin.