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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
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
1974, 14 yrs old - am/fm car stereo with homemade power supply, home made speakers. Added a ratshack 4w amp with phono in and Gerard TT w/Pickering ceramic cartridge. Ouch. Upgraded the amp to a Fisher 12w intergrated and the TT to a Techniques SL3300 and built bigger speakers. Dumped the car radio for a Scott tuner-I have fond memories of that system.
redd1
4 posts
 
Circa 1968, Sanui 800a reciever, I believe it was 15 or 20 watts, University Sound Speakers and a entry level Dual Turntable with Shure Cartridge. When I came back from overseas in 1971 I had a Sansui 5000 Reciever, AR3 Speakers (wish I still had them), Teac Reel to Reel Deck and Dual 1225 Turntable with a Shure Cartridge. Over the years I have owned Technics TT, Phase Linear, EPI (Epicure), DB Systems, Magnapan, Kenwood, Denon, Mac 1900 Receiver, Mac 2105 Amp - C 26 Pre Amp, Spectral, Bryston, Theil CS3.6 speakers, Linn LP 12, Itok Arm, Madrigal Carnegie I, Dynavector, NAD, Roksan and Paradigm speakers and too many others, including expensive cables, wires & tweeks to remember. It has been a long & wonderful journey. I am thankful I can still hear. I know it was about first systems but I got too reminiscent to stop.
bones45
23 posts
 
1985 Living in Japan at the time with a px. I still use the tuner, and my church uses the amp for the cryroom.

kenwood m1 amp
kenwood c2 pre
infinity rs3b speakers
onkyo t4017 tuner
onky0 eq35 eq
teac cd player
techniques phono
jotam
17 posts
 
Year 1966. 19 years old -very limited income.

An old JBL solid state integrated amp for $20 from a friend. Another friend's former speakers Acoustic Research AR-5 for $15 and a third friend let go an AR-XA turntable no cartridge fitted for $5. Got a new Shure M91 phono cartridge ($23) some lamp zip wire ($2.00)as speaker cable and no recordings! A total of $65 for my first stereo set (more money than my monthly salary income then).

My first LP -Beethoven's Violin Concerto - Ruggiero Ricci violinist let me discover my AR speakers had blown tweeters and failing mid-hi level knobs and also that my JBL electronics had scratchy tone / volume controls!!!

So guess had to start up as a tweaker as well as an audiophile.

After cleaning up my JBL's volume / tone pots and replacing my AR's hi-range drivers with new original ones plus cleaning up mid-hi pots I added AR's recommended fuse setup - and was finally able to enjoy the magic of good music at home!!!

Was quite happy for some time. Till another friend listened to my stereo rig and offered me to buy it all. Sold it for $250.

Then started my search for more used equipment. But that's another story.
kollert
13 posts
 
My brothers pioneer all in one receiver/tape/phono and loads of 70's rock lp's. The benefit of being the baby brother in the 70'/ealy 80's.
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