What was your first 'hi-end' system?

My first hi-end system was in the early 80's and I didn't know what to do with it. An older neighbor with family problems very unexpectedly brought over a McIntosh C-22 preamp, MR-71 tuner, a Dyna Mk 2 amp, and a Thorens TD-124 TT w/SME tonearm all in pristine quality. (He had a pr of Marantz 9's still in the house that he didn't grab) He had boxes to all this stuff but didn't have time to box it all up. Instead, the IC's were hanging out of all the gear like he just unplugged it. He said use it, enjoy it, I'll be back in 6 months, maybe a year, maybe never to get it back from you...

I didn't even know what tube equipment was as I had a HK 330C receiver, Dual 1225 TT and Advent speakers. I plugged in all his stuff and turned it all on. Didn't know you had to let tube gear warm up.

1st Impression: What's wrong with this stuff? The music doesn't even come on when you turn the power on.

2nd Impression: This stuff sounds like crap (I expected it to sound great in the first 5 seconds after it was on)

3rd Impression: (after 10 minutes) This stuff runs so hot, I'm going to burn my house down.

...so I unplugged it and never used it again....how dumb was I? Don't answer that :)

Apt Holman Pre, Acoustat TNT-120, larger Maggies.....heaven in the 80's. 70's was not bad with Nikko Pre, Mistubishi Power, and small Maggies.

First attempt was an all Lafayette system with integrated amp, tuner, and Heil AMT speakers.

Second attempt shortly after was a Hitachi Class G receiver, Philips 312 table, Aiwa ad6550 cassette deck, and OHM L speakers (which I still own). The Class G Hitachi was very nice in many ways but the weak link sonically. AN upgrade to a Tandberg TR2080 a few years later set things up nicely at last.

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When I purchased my Oracle Delphi Mk I turntable, I knew that I had arrived.
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By 1982 I'd worked my way into Klipsch Heresy pro monitors, Halfler DH200 power, RGR Model 4-1 pre-amp, Marcoff PPA-2 pre-pre amp, Rega Planar 2 turntable, Dynavector Karat 23RS, TEAC A3440 reel-to-reel, Tandberg TCD440A cassette, DBX 224 Type 2 noise reduction system, DBX 3BX Series Two dynamic range expander, MXR 15 band stereo equalizer, assorted Vampire Wire and Monster Cable ICs. Still have the RGR, Tandberg and Vampire Wire. The RGR is stored and needs a lot of work, but the TCD440A and VW still sound as good as the day I brought them home.