Your first component that was "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

CM Labs amp and pre-amp bought used circa 1978.

Bang & Olufsen RX turntable when I was 21 years old back in 1982.  So cool looking    

Thorens TD165, purchased in 1975 from Custom HiFi in Burlingame, CA.