The first system you had that was "high end/audiophile", by you standards


I did have some others before, but the first system that hooked me on this passion/hobby and would still be pretty good today was:

Stacked Large Walnut Advents, with the top ones upside down so the tweeters were close together,
Yamaha CA-1000 integrated (usually run in the class A mode)
Yamaha top end direct drive turntable (YP-800?) with ADC XLM II cartridge 
Yamaha CT-7000 tuner
Early Monster interconnects and speaker cables 
Advent cassette deck
Teac reel to reel with 10" reels (model ?)

The first thing(s) that were replaced was the Large Advents that gave way to a pair of 
Dahlquist DQ-10.

From that system I have gone on to several others that I have enjoyed, but I do remember that first one.







jusam
I don't think it was ever thought to be state of the art, but the old Empire turntable was such a classic look.

empire 598 iii troubadour turntable - Google Search
1974/76 Paragon System E, preamp, Dyna ST70 &/or Audionics CC2, amp, big University triaxial speakers &/or Fried R4, Strathclyde TT with Luster 801 tonearm, dynavector 10?? &/or Grado Signature (middle of the 3 models). All bought used except for cartridgesLushious sound, that preamp had so much muscle, it loved the diet of Frank Zappa, Kraut Rock, Sun Ra, Prog Rock, Miles Davis, Roland Kirk, etc.
@annalog I still have a CC2 it was one of the first low TIM amps and a real sweetheart. I use it to run the Totems in our sun room….

@bdp24 great story about David Fletcher
1970, just home from Vietnam.

Sherwood SEL 200 receiver
Wharfdale W90D spkrs
Garrard SL95 w/SHURE V15
Ampex reel/reel and cassette

then upgrade: (1975)
Crown DC 300A
Crown OC150 
Beogram turntable/arm/cart
Klipsch Cornwall spkrs.
1973, just graduated from college.

Almost bought Large Advents or EPI's at Tech HiFi (Ann Arbor), but then asked to hear the Walsh Ohm F's. Was blown away, couldn't not spend the money.

Ohm F's
Heath AR-1500 receiver
AR XA turntable with Shure V15 Type Whatever it was in 1973.

Those speakers were incredible. Soon after, my dad bought a pair himself.

After a while, one of mine started to separate at the seam on the back, and I got it replaced under warranty -- and the replacement sounded WAY WORSE. Took the good one to the store and compared it to their demo, and the demo also sucked. Sold the F's and moved on.