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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
thejapelvis
28 posts
 
My first system was purchased in the summer of 1972. It consisted of a Sherwood S-7100A receiver, AR-XA turntable with Shure M91E cartridge, and Dynaco A25 loudspeakers. Total cost was $330 from Baltimore Stereo Wholesalers. I received price quotes on this equipment from several mail order houses advertised in Stereo Review. Looking back, I think I assembled quite a fine system for the price and the time. I moved up to a Sherwood S-7200 receiver the following year, and I still have that receiver. I do not even remember what happened to the other components, which I must have sold off to friends at the University of Southern California.

I wish I had kept the Dynaco A25s. I keep reading glowing reports from contented listeners on several message boards. I would love to hear them today driven by my Sumo NIne Class A amp. I wonder how they would stack up against my current Dynaudio Audience 42s.
holzhauer
200 posts
 
Pcook15 Hilarious- My first component was a Pioneer SX-680 receiver also. I used car speakers for a month or so until I saved for a pair of EPI 100 speakers. You and I are about the same age. I bought my SX-680 new around 1980.
dawgfish
110 posts
 
About 1975 or 1976, my first system consisted of a Kenwood 6006 integrated amp, a Pioneer CTF2121 cassette deck, a BIC 960 turntable, and Electro Voice ETR-18 (3 way, 4 driver, 12" woofer) speakers. I can still remember the exact price: $726.50, probably because I earned every last cent for that system by working as a janitor's assistant.
larryrosen
83 posts
 
Circa 1978:

A 40 watt Onkyo receiver, with the amazing servo touch tuning. When you touched the tuning knob, the tuner unlocked, and a red led turned to green.

AES 3-way book shelf speakers, have no idea what ever happend to that company.

A Dual Turntable with some shure cartridge.
larryrosen
83 posts
 
Update, it was a stanton cartridge, not a shure.
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