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
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.
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.
1985, I feel like I am in the middle.

1 Boom Box (Panasonic)
1 Phono Pre (Radio Shack)
1 TT (Technics I Think. The cartridge came with the table)

1987 Ok for the first real seperate system.
NAD Receiver
Same TT
Technics Dual Cassett Deck (Model?) I still have it in the shed.
JVC 6 Disk CD Changer.
1 Pr. 10" Home made subs.
1 Pr. Minimus 7's (Radio Shack)

Now the question is how much did we spend on our first systems and how much do we have in our current systems.

Pretty Scarry,

Happy listening.

Michael
I was in my residency at the Cleveland Clinic probably in 1986 or 87 when, after much study of Stereophile and Absolute Sound regarding bang/buck ratio I purchased a Superphon Dual Mono Revelation preamp, Adcom (? GFA 555) 200W/Ch power amp and Vandersteen 2C speakers all new to replace my Marantz receiver and Ohm speakers. The Rega 3 table replaced the venerable Techniques turntable soon after. Sorry but I have no recollection of the cartridge.