1973

 1973 - first year post high school, hair down to my ass, working at Columbia Records (factory), driving a 1972 Kawasaki H2 750 two cycle. Dynaco Quadaptor, 4 Martin floorstand Speakers, Thorins turntable, dynaco preamp and amp.

But me wonders if the OP was asking viability of speakers in suspended nets, I've found having speakers spiked to the floor, bolted to the stands to be the best sounding, rock solid unmovable so they don't smear the sound. Swinging around is for Tarzan not speakers.

I remember putting a nickel on top of my turntable cartridge to keep the needle from skipping. Toward the end of the table's  life, it was up to 30 cents (nickel and quarter, or 3 nickels and a dime).

Getting ready to open the shop; carrying in Tympani I speakers and Audio Research amps--HEAVY!

Unpacking many brands of speakers I had dreamed of hearing and finally got the chance. Other separates: Phase Linear, McIntosh, SAE, Crown, etc.

Cassette decks and lots of reel-to-reel’s--Revox, Tandberg, tiny Stellavox, I forget the others!

Many receivers on the shelves--Marantz, Scott, H-K, Tandberg, etc.; meeting Zane, the B&O guy who probably thought we were nuts but we sold a TON of B&O over the years and even made some stands for them eventually.

Good days--lived on the beach for $150/month!

richmon said... "driving a 1972 Kawasaki H2 750 two cycle."

A friend of mine had one too... one hell of a fast bike! Smoked everything in the day. It wasn’t called the widow maker for nothing... I eventually bought a Kaw 900... that although...pretty fast...the 750 would eat it for lunch...

1973- Sr. in HS.  I had purchased my first system from Tech Hifi two summers before.  It was a classic of it's day- HK 610 receiver, dual 1219 tt and a pair of large Advents.  That system rocked and I think I'm still trying to chase that sound today.  Santana Abraxis, Sticky Fingers, Tumbleweed Connection and Humble Pie Rockin the Filmore are some of the lps I remember from that year.  It was also the year that pot and I first met.