What were some of your early Hi-End audio gear/influences?

The DQ-10's were unbelievable at imaging for the time.  Soundstage width and depth, coherent image, lovely timbre, sufficient bass.

Ohm speakers (early 80's). Also the Yamaha B1 amplifier. Both of those opened my eyes to sound quality I never heard before. They are long gone now as I've traveled the audiophile road of upgrades (LOL kind of)

Not long ago I bought a pair of mint New Large Advents - with the bullnose cabinet. You might be surprised how well these fare when paired with some modern ancillaries. I prefer them over many modern designs, upwards of $3K. They handily outperform most $1500 speakers in the current retail market. 

My passion began around 1989 with a modest pair of Yamaha full range speakers with big 12” woofers, a modest Yamaha stereo amp and a Sony CD Player that I begged my dad for and he saved for months to get me for my birthday (we were a blue collar family and this was a huge expense). I carried that rig to college, to NY for my first job and back to Atlanta for my second job before upgrading them. I am sure they would hurt my ears today, but they still sound amazing in my memory and remind me of my dad to this day. 

Oh I forgot the DQ-10's.
They were pretty sweet.
Unfortunately, I had no money then...
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