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Your First System

This should be good!!! Most of us have been in this expensive hobby for years now and have worked our way up to components we only dreamed of. I want to know what was your first system of separate components going back as far as you can remember. My first consisted of a Pioneer SX-680 receiver, a Technics SLD-1 turntable (I think that's the right model #), a Sharp tapedeck, and KLH floorstanding speakers. I was 16 at the time and thought I was the biggest badass on the block. Now, 20+ years later I have a ML 334, Meridian 507 CD, CJ PV10A, Canton Ergo 900 speakers, and a Transparent Power Isolator 4. I'm in the process of upgrading to a ML 390. It goes without saying the IC's and speaker cables are top notch as well. I know my system is WAAAYYYYY down the foodchain compared to what I've seen here but It would be interesting to see what everyone started out with.
pcook15
squeegy200
14 posts
 
My first true system was an NAD 3020 with an Audiocontrol C22 graphic equilizer. I used a Technics SLD1200 belt drive turntable, and Akai GXF-71 cassette deck as sources and a pair of JBL 3012 monitors connected using Monster cables.

It took me months to get that stuff out of layaway.
w9tr
7 posts
 
Circa 1965.
My first system was a Knight Kit KM-15 tube amplifier driving an 8" "full range" paper cone speaker, also from Allied Radio in Chicago. Speaker was in a homemade plywood box with no back. Phono source was a "Dynamic" cartridge (Stanton, I think) on a turntable of uncertain origin. Added another KM-15 amp and another speaker a year later for stereo. Beatles Rubber Soul, Revolver (Mono) were in heavy rotation, and Sgt. Peppers (stereo) was a revelation. Added a Pentron 1/4 tape machine and a Knight Kit tuner later.

My peers all had Silvertone or Wards pull down portables, at best.

Sometimes I wonder if it hasn't taken me 40 years to get back to the sound of that system.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Rogers Cadet integrated
Leak Mini sandwhich speakers
Basic Garrard deck
It was so long ago, they had only just invented electricity, it sounded great and I thought I had a Hi-Fi system, no I had a Hi-Fi system.
accorddude
45 posts
 
My dad bought me a Sony ES 5.1 Theater system in 1999 for Christmas it was my first real entry into audiophiledom. Before that I had an Awia cdp and some cheap speakers to go with it.
tvcurin2b5f
1 posts
 
i still have my harmon kardon arv 10, which has recently been put in a second room. my new stereo is a marantz, which lacks to fun of my earier much loved harmon kardon.
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