your first system-

1976

Sony  80 wpc STR-6800, Marantz 6800 TT, Infinity 1001A's (rear firing tweeter) and a BIC two speed cassette tape deck

1980

First "real" one was a Hafler 500 Amp and Carver Holographic Pre, B&O BeoGram TT, Nakamichi Tape Deck, a Pair of Infinity Column II’s (Transmission line) and a Miller Kreisel Triangular shaped subwoofer. It was in a very small living room and that thing ROCKED !

1995. I was living in Allentown, New Jersey at the time.

I decided I wanted to ditch the Kenwood integrated amp and get a true hifi system. I was just starting my career in design so I didn’t have a lot of money. Luckily the local stereo retailer took trade ins. I had recently bought a Paradigm passive subwoofer from them and decided to trade it back in with some recently acquired Infinity speakers from a big box retailer.

I came home with a Carver TFM-15 amp and two Paradigm 2-way monitor series speakers with 8" speakers. My CD player could go directly into the Carver and I could use the the 2 gain knobs for volume control.

I was expecting sooooo much when I first played a CD on it and...I was entirely underwhelmed. There was a lot to learn.

I still have the amp...it went a good 20+ years before needing service. It’s now my garage system. With a good preamp in front of it, it sounds pretty good I must say.

My first system was two mismatched Sherwood tube amps ( kits, one 15 watts the other 25 watts) a Garrard TT and a pair of speakers with 8” drivers, I built into some bookshelves in my bedroom.

All the best.

JD

Marantz speakers, Sanyo turntable, AT cartridge, Pioneer receiver, can't remember specific models.