Your first component that was "special"

I could say my Stax SR-40 electret head phones. My first amazing transducer, Shure V15 III notwithstanding. Circa 1980. Still enjoying them.
Or the Linn Basik I bought last year that re-infected me with the stereo bug and introduced me to vintage bargain hunting.
But, truth be told, it was a small sample of really good pot that an old biker gave me as a tip in 1969. When I got home I went out on the roof and smoked some. Nothing. Climbed back in the window and put Led Zepelin (1) on my Magnavox portable record player.  http://https//s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/94/64/29/946429236679894d29bfd5254d2332aa.jpg

Half way through "Good Times Bad Times" something happened that changed my relationship with Rock 'n Roll forever! I took the removable speakers off the Maggie ;^) and used them like head phones. What a memory!

The original Vandersteen 5 speakers with the external crossover, purchased second-hand from a friend. Revelatory!

I was about to say my Phase Linear 400, but the V-!5 did precede it.

An NAD 3020 integrated amp...... a super low-key 20 wpc amp that blew away my flashy 70 wpc Japanese reciever.  As a 19 yr old college kid, it was tough to buy something that didn't look awesome, but I soon came to love the NAD look, and now equate that to fun listening. I quickly traded up to the 3150 amp and it's still powering my workshop system today, 32 years later!

 My very first system roughly 45 years ago - was a Luxman 1500 receiver, a pair of Bose 301's and a Lenco L85 turntable -- all financed with my college grant money & this served me well for many years  -- but the piece of equipment that started me down the path of financial "unfreedom" and "upgradeitis"  was a pair of ML Purity speakers.

I fell in love with the electrostatic sound -- and moved up to the CLX after a few years  -- once that happened -- I was "forced" into upgrading everything else in my system in order to try and squeeze the very best sound out of the clx speakers.  A journey that has been a lot of fun, very rewarding but never seems to want to end.

I would have to say that 'Special" is a moving target -- as all of these were very special when i first got them -- and there are varying degrees of special -- there's " WOW "  -- then there's " HOLY SH_T"  and then there is "I'M DONE"  -- which isn't true - otherwise i wouldn't be looking at Audiogon anymore.