Your first component that was "special"

Great American Sound (GAS) Son of Ampzilla power amp, with Magnepan IIa speakers.

1976

....MHO, I think the 'digressions' ('L' trains and reverie of days gone by) are some of the finer moments we can share....so, have at it. ;)

The item that changed audio for me was an Audio Control EQ (model number ?), the one that came with a calibrated mic and RTA.  Lead me to investigating setting up system response to 'flat' within the listening space.  Tried it, liked it, haven't gone back since.  Now I've just gotten a bit more sophisticated about it....*G*  Better mic, better Behringer eq, let the 'puter do the 'heavy lifting', all that....

Everything is special!!

almarg wrote:

"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"

+1

There have been many "special" components in my (very) long involvement with this hobby but, like Al, I bought a Grace F-9E in the late '70's and still love the sound.  Right now I have 3 F9 bodies and 4 styli, including a Soundsmith Ruby OCL, 2 original 9E styli and one original Grace 9E replacement stylus.  They kind of circulate among a fixed-headshell SME Type 2 Improved, a Grace 707 MkII, and a SME M2-9.

LarryRS

LFD MK IV