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Your First System

This should be good!!! Most of us have been in this expensive hobby for years now and have worked our way up to components we only dreamed of. I want to know what was your first system of separate components going back as far as you can remember. My first consisted of a Pioneer SX-680 receiver, a Technics SLD-1 turntable (I think that's the right model #), a Sharp tapedeck, and KLH floorstanding speakers. I was 16 at the time and thought I was the biggest badass on the block. Now, 20+ years later I have a ML 334, Meridian 507 CD, CJ PV10A, Canton Ergo 900 speakers, and a Transparent Power Isolator 4. I'm in the process of upgrading to a ML 390. It goes without saying the IC's and speaker cables are top notch as well. I know my system is WAAAYYYYY down the foodchain compared to what I've seen here but It would be interesting to see what everyone started out with.
pcook15
humbucker
4 posts
 
1973-I was 18 and had travelled cross country with a high school buddy after graduating. We ended up in Maynard Massachusetts where I got a job for Digital Equipment Corp. I worked in a department with some Vietnam Vets who were all into audio and, after hearing them discussing gear, and telling them I wanted to buy a decent stereo, they suggested I buy a pair of AR 7's which I did and they also told me to go down to H.H. Scott (just down the street) because every Friday they opened to the public and sold equipment, as is, that had some kind of defect(s). I purchases a receiver that worked perfectly for $75.00. The only thing wrong with it was it was missing the bottom cover. I don't remember the turntable I had at the time but after coming back home to Washington State a few months later I purchased an AR turntable with a Shure cartridge (don't remember the model), and an Advent model 201 cassette player which was the first player to have Dolby noise reduction. For it's time it was an incredible sounding system. Those speakers made a lot of jaws drop. And I don't know if I'll ever enjoy a system, no matter how good, as much as I did that one.
drtalsma
6 posts
 
pioneer sx 1250 receiver, pioneer ctf-9191 casstte and altec lansing model 19. The best, or so I thought in 1976.
mmarvin19
157 posts
 
1964 - College freshman in-dorm audio special:

(1.) Single box all tube record player/pre-amp/10w mono amp/2" woofer (FR: 200Hz - maybe 800Hz).

(2.) Rolling Stones first album ("12 x 5"?).

(3.) Ample supply of model airplane glue.
karelfd
476 posts
 
1975-ish (before that, I used my dad's system, which was basically all Philips)

Sansui Something integrated amp
Pioneer Something turntable with Shure Something cart
Technics Something cassette deck
LSA (Laboratoires des Sciences Acoustiques) Something bookshelf speakers

(no sarcasm, just don't recall the model designations)
2chnlben
595 posts
 
I got my first "rig" in 1972 for Christmas. I honestly can't remember the brand. Dad must have purchased it at a department store (sears?). It was a receiver with built-in 8-track! It had a separate turntable (the platter was smaller than an LP). Speakers were way cheap (about 15 inches high). The tone controls were the "slider" style. My big "upgrade" was to replace the turntable with a BSR McDonald-310 (I needed to get a cheap external preamp from radio shack). My next upgrade was a pair of Ambassador speakers (bookshelf) that were actually acoustic suspension. I had to be clipping that thing every time I played it. I don’t think I ever backed the volume off full blast! It was all about rock & roll in those days; played a lot of air guitar back then! Man, my poor mom & dad were pretty cool about it; the house was too small to filter out the “noise.” No worries back then….those were fun times! (Thanks dad).
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