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

I was 15 when I purchased my first stereo system at the end of 1976. They were no-name brand components that I can’t recall. but the thrill of having my first system was immense. In 1980 while in college, I saved money from a part time Summer job and upgraded to my first decent system (Sansui receiver, Infinity speakers, Technics turntable with Ortofon cartridge). For the next several decades, it was a slow but steady upgrade of components (Sony, Denon, M&K, Acurus, Marantz, Rotel, Linn, Music Hall, Velodyne, Elac, Audiolab, McIntosh). 48 years after this all began, I feel that I finally achieved my "End Game" system. The only constant in this journey, is the importance and joy music has had in my life.

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11787

Teenage years

Nikko stereo receiver

Yamaha speakers

After that 20's

Nad 3020 integrated

Kenwood tuner

Luxman turntable which I still have but not used in 25 years

Demon bookshelf speakers

40's

YBA  1 stereo amp still using to this day

Baetis streamer/TotalDAC D1 DAC

Various bookshelf and floor standing speakers

Bought my 1st record when I was 8-10 yr5s old. That was 1959-61. Got $2 allowance and bought 2 45's every week. I've loved music all my life. I had a turntable console of some sort. I have never been without a music playing system since then. I had a lot of low fi but the music has always been the important part to me. Got my 1st good system in 1978 while in Charlotte NC. A new Harmon Kardon HK 730 receiver, Big Advents and a Tecchnics TT. later I added a Teac 3 head cassette player. I made many cassette tapes from LP to listen in the car.It was a great starter system. Then I tried a Luxman R115 receiver. I hated it. It had nothing but THUMP for a bass line. Sold it and got the HK running again along with Infinity RS 5 speakers. Add a Maggot box cdb 650 along the wayand I was happy until about 2000. Thats when I decided to reach higher.

I found audiogon & audio asylum and learned a lot. I learned that audiophiles mostly listen to funny music. Well...at least its funny to me. I never knew anyone who listened to female vocals & jazz. I tried jazz & just don't get it. but what I do get is NOS music. My new systems have opened the door to music UI never was interested in before. I was a hard rock/metal guy. But softer stuff like Billy Joel, Supertramp, Elton john, etc sound pretty darn good on a good system. Acoustic music in general sounds good. So I have a lot of NOS music to listen to now. This is stuff I heard on the radio but would never have thought about buying before. Its been a great learning experience. The audiophiles I met early on were very helpful in teaching me. My system was far inferior to others but they never made me feel bad about my system. The early internet experience was quite a bit different that today. I had a good experience and will never forget those who helped me along the way.

@jrwaudio i don’t know about the trade. But I appreciate the sharing.  There are a lot of factors in that trade. 

@brandan i understand I got lucky early. I got try without buying a lot of stuff early. It helped me.  Me and my friends went on a 12 year equipment and cable run that saw us spending and trying a lotn I’m at the top of where I wanna be. I’m done. Just listening to music now.