Where did you buy your first audio gear?

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.

Philadelphia, PA in 1972.  I don't remember the hi-fi store. It's long one.  I bought a Kenwood receiver, Dual 1215 turntable with a no-name cartridge and KLH 17 speakers with zip cord for cables and little RCA interconnects - all for $500 total.  A few months later I purchased a Nakamichi 1000 cassette recorder/player with Dolby B and Dolby C. They served me well.

I bought my first audio gear from the Base Exchange in Okinawa where I was stationed while in the Air Force. 

Pacific Stereo, Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, ca. Early 1970’s. Kenwood or Pioneer ??receiver, speakers?, turntable?. Was stolen from my North Oakland apartment a couple of years later. Moved on to Harmon Kardon, Yamaha, Klipsch ……etc, etc.

Noticed in the thread, quite a few systems purchased overseas by vets. I would like to thank all of you for your service. Klipsch La Scalas in 1985 and I still use them today albeit modded to the hilt with Soundcraftsmen amp and preamp. Purchased all in Omaha Nebraska.