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
I belive it was 1973. Marantz 2220B receiver, Pioneer PL12 turntable, and a pair of BIC Venturi Formula 2 speakers. I was 13 years old and in heaven. Ofcourse parents and neighbors hated me but that's ok. Thanks to Brian at Sound World in the Pocatello Mall for encouraging my audio curiosity.
I started around '81 with a Technics SL-Q 2 with a Denon cartridge (a 110, I think) a BIC cassette machine, Pioneer SA 710 amp and speakers were Fostex FP253's in back-loaded horns and JBL 2402's crossed over at 5kHz.
Space ship helmet 8 track player. I removed the speakers and added my own that I had gotten from a local junk yard. I had about 6 speakers running of this thing.
I was about 12 years old.
In 1973 No one in My crew even considered anything other than Dynaco electronics and AR speakers. I got AR-5's(in Teak). But I couldn't stand separates, so I got a Sherwood S-7300 and a Dual 718 with an ADC XlM (>1g Tracking).The Speakers and Turntable are long gone,But I still have the Sherwood and its tuner still outclasses all my new digitals.

BTW, I am shopping on eBay for AR-5's. I miss them terribly and I can get rid of these stupid subwoofers.
My first true system was an NAD 3020 with an Audiocontrol C22 graphic equilizer. I used a Technics SLD1200 belt drive turntable, and Akai GXF-71 cassette deck as sources and a pair of JBL 3012 monitors connected using Monster cables.

It took me months to get that stuff out of layaway.