@corelli , saw your post dated a year ago but it resonated with me. I was 15, the year was 1975, in high school, and like you I put together my first high-end system (by mail-order) from The Stereo Warehouse in San Luis Obispo, CA. What made me feel compelled to post this was the gear was similar to yours: a Pioneer SX-737 receiver, Electro-Voice speakers, a BIC belt-drive TT, a Shure cart. Yes, it was quite a system for a high-school kid. I had worked all summer before and saved about $800 at age 14. The system cost almost $700, delivered to a little town in Texas. Wonderful memories.
Tom