What was your first system? When was that?

Around 1974-76, I started mowing lawns. Saved $$ and wondered what I should buy. Stereo of course.

No 1 - MCS 3112 or thereabouts Receiver, MCS cassette deck, speakers my uncle gave me, zip cord. My child hood best friend had this stereo until about 10 years ago.

No 2 - a few years later. MCS 3233 33 WPC Receiver, MCS cassette deck (much better than the prior deck), MCS TT, MCS speakers plus more speakers my uncle gave me, thicker zip cord, Radio Shack EQ. This system was much better than No 1. Lasted me until I went in the military in 1983.

Check out Ebay for MCS (Modular Component Systems) stuff.

I almost forgot my most priced possession at the time my Tandberg  Reel to Reel
it was going out with the garbage from a neighbor who brought it home after Vietnam.it did not work ,$35 and 2 capacitors that was the techs repair charge back then . It was excellent sounding and master tapes were easy to sourse and sounded  Great !!

I was in the service at the time, so it needed to be easy to travel with. SAE I-102 integrated amp, Kenwood cassette deck (don't remember model number), and Fried C2 speakers. Probably 1984 or 1985. Pretty good sounding little system.

I had a Webcor Holiday

Maranta 1060 integrated, later supplemented with a Marantz tuner.  Sonar speakers.  Gerard 1229 table and a Shure cart, can’t remember the model.  No name cables, but a heavier gauge than zip cord.  I’d like to hear it again.