Your first component that was "special"


I got into hifi 40 years ago. I had a Pioneer receiver, Kenwood table, various entry level cartridges (ADC, Stanton, Empire) and Studio Design speakers. I wound up buying a Shure V15 Type 3 cartridge. That was the first piece of gear I bought that was way beyond ordinary. I had kept the cartridge until about 2o years ago- I sold it because by then no decent replacement stylus was available. Wish I still had it.

128x128zavato
"My most special component that I never owned" AND most influential and profound. The only way to answer your query, the ARC SP-10 Mk2 pre-amplifier is the "it" for me.
A Grace F-9E phono cartridge, purchased in 1979. I then proceeded to use various incarnations of that cartridge (the original version, the ruby-cantilevered version, and a Soundsmith-retipped ruby-cantilevered version) for the majority of the next 35 years.

Regards,
-- Al
 
My first "special component" would have to be Stax Lambda Pro headphones from 25 years ago. I still have them, but I have since upgraded to the Stax 009's.
In 1975 I purchased a H/K ST7 turntable with a Rabco arm and mounted a GAS Sleeping Beauty cart. ran that into a GAS Goliath head amp Son Of Ampzilla a Phobe preamp and a pair of Polk model 10s, wow I was set for 10 years. I know you said one peice but this system started a beautiful relationship with audio as it delivered my music in an unforgettable way.

Magnepan SMGc but not until I drive it with a proper power amp instead of a run-of-the-mill Pioneer HT receiver.