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
Tympani 1a, December 1973. Eventually added ARC SP3a and ARC active crossover. For the day, only Magic.

Rega Planar 2 with a Dynavector Ruby 23MR.  Opened my ears right up, that combo did.
zavato and kenny

IIRC

From suburban NJ, it was a NJ Transit train to Penn Station then a shuttle to Grand Central and a 7 train out to Shea Stadium.  Mostly when the Dodgers were in town,  as my family had moved out to Jersey from Brooklyn.

Last time I did that was probably 1970 or 1971. I live in LA now, so it's definitely long ago and far away!

BTW, I probably live only 25 miles from Dodger stadium now, but - with LA traffic - the car ride  often takes longer than the three trains from Jersey did back in the day.  I guess that's progress for you.
70 or 71? Hope you got to see Seaver pitch. I did. He was a childhood hero. And #41 is the only player number the Mets have ever retired (of course, Jackie Robinson's number is retired throughout baseball).