YOUR AUDIOPHILE JOURNEY WHEN DID IT START AND HOW DID YOU GET TO YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?

In the late 70's my start was a Marantz 2265B reciever Teak cassette player and Cerwin Vegas speakers 

For myself: Beethoven’s Pastorale is his 6th Symphony, not the 7th.  That’s what comes from late night— or early morning—writing when you are tired but cannot get back to sleep.  
 

to continue, I am in the final stages of building my dream system, with only a DAC upgrade and a new streamer to wrap up my system; for the latter, I am looking at the Innuous Zen MK3 and the Aurender ACS10.  We have a smaller living room, so the speakers are smaller than I would like— oh, for my old Infinity RSIIbs that were destroyed in an Army move.

Fellas we can go back to my other post. They allowed us to put it back up. There is a long story about Zuesman that I will share with you guys. He has changed name 7 or 8 times. He has been kicked off the forums 7 times for his behavior. Very internet dangerous. Seriously. Will do a long post soon about being careful with guy that post on audio forums. 

When I was in my 20s I bought an inexpensive amp and speakers that really sounded great together but I didn't know it because I thought all systems sounded that good. Later when I decided to get something newer, I couldn't find anything that sounded even close to what I had. I couldn't believe how hard it was to get something that sounded nice. Later in life I stopped by an audio store that sold some high end speakers and then there it was.... B&W speakers that sounded even better that my original speaker system so I bought them. I always enjoyed music and from there out I was hooked.

As a very young kiddo in the 50s, I listened to my aunt's tabletop record player and, later, as a young teen, to my parents' Grundig console.  However, I would say the audiophile bug bit me in 1971, after listening to a high school friend's 2 channel system (i.e.  Sansui integrated + Throrens TT + can't remember the speakers).  After that experience, my amplifier with built-in 8 track player and small bookshelf speakers just didn't cut it!  So, I bought what I considered to be my first "audiophile" level 2 channel system in 1972 at Tech HiFi in Cambridge (i.e.  Sansui 2000X + Phillips 212 TT + Studiocraft speakers).  That, too, was an irresponsible purchase.  That money should have gone to college expenses.  Quickly thereafter, I upgraded the speakers to Ohm C and the rest, as they say, is history.

I wouldn't say what I have now is my dream system, per se, but it is more than adequate for my 23' X 14' living room.  My dream sound system would involve building or buying a home with a dedicated sound room and filling it with new toys.