What was your first system, & did you like it?


I don't know if this is the spot to post this. Please tell me if not. Since I just put my first ever system together, I would be interested in finding out what some of you started out with,whether or not you liked it, and how much it cost. Sort of a nostalgia trip. I know mine is simple and just barely, if at all, considered "audiophile," but for a first, I love it. So here goes for my humble beginning.

CD - Yamaha 845
Amp - Yamaha RX-596 (integrated)
Speakers - B&W 601

Total cost used - $458
baileyje
Technics TT w/ Pickering cartridge
Harmon Kardon receiver
JBL L 100 spkrs.

I still listen to rock music and to this day my present system still can't "rock" like this simple system.
Loud, electronic-sounding, booming bass with a lot of slam and an in-your-face sound-but boy could it play Led Zeppelin and Earth, Wind & Fire.
I wasn't listening for soundstage, high end bloom, transparency etc.-I simply enjoyed the music.
Mmmmmm...
-Lafayette Radio Integrated Amp
-Lafayette Radio Cassette Deck w/ outboard Dolby unit
-Used pair of Fisher bookshelf speakers from a camera shop's used equipment section.
-JVC TT with an Audio-Technica cart

It was OK but it didn't last long cause I was hooked. My freshman year of college (I was away from home), I hit the Tech Hi-Fi (anyone remember them?):

-Sansui AU6500 Integrated amp (still have that bad boy)
-Klipsch Heresy Speakers in unfinished birch
-Thorens TD160 Turntable
-Some huge, thick (or so I thought at the time)speaker cable
-A bunch of CTI jazz LP's engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.

That setup was satisfying in spades for many years until I was out of school and making some money.
First system: Nov.1969
Lafayette LR-500B receiver
Garrard 40B changer
Pickering cartridge
KLH 22A speakers

Second system: 1971
Dynaco SCA-80 intergrated amp
KLH-18 FM tuner
AR Turntable
Shure M91E cartridge
Dynaco A-25 speakers
Koss ESP-7 headphones

That second system was a giant leap forward!
My first “real” rig, other than a record player and then dad’s console, is still my favorite because it meant so much to me. I saved like a dog and still borrowed a couple of hundred and made payments.

Keep in mind that these were the brief days of “quad”.

Pioneer QX-747 Quad Receiver (later traded it and a couple of “bags” for a Marantz 4400)

Pioneer PL55-D Direct Drive Turntable w/Audio Technica Quad Cartridge

Pioneer CT-F9191 Cassette Deck (still have it)

ESS Satellite 4 Speakers – Four 2-ways (6” mid – 2” tweet), a 12” “Bass Reflex Sub” all run through an outboard crossover. I bet no one remembers these. Still have the sub and two of the two-ways (re-coned). The cases were covered with an EXCELLENT, and now somewhat rare variety of African Zebrawood.

Though most all has gone away, the memories will last a lifetime!
My first system (after suffering with an "all-in-one") consisted of:

Technics SU 8011 amp
Technics SL-B2 TT w/Audio Technica cart.
SOTA 3-way speakers
Sound Shaper One EQ
JVC KD-V100 cassette deck

I thought this system really rocked....I still have most of it in original boxes with manuals (sentimental fool), but gave some to my parents for their new sunroom.