First New Purchase: 70's? Lafayette Electronics, Honolulu, HI. Criterion speakers. Lafayette integrated amp. Parking lot blow out sale. New technology called Solid State. Yup. Someday it will take off and be the "thing" everyone has.
First Stereo System: I was about 8 years old. 1962ish. My dad helped me build up one from parts from Salvation Army donated tv-stereo consoles. We pulled radios, speakers, amplifiers and turntables. Built the cabinets. I learned a lot. Some, the hard way. They can bite. Started me into a career in electronics.