when i was young and stupid(er) i ran nice speakers with crappy mass market receivers. at some point i started wising up and got a nad 3155 integrated--not a great piece by today's standards, but much better than the junk i'd used previously. it was something of a gateway drug.
As A Youngster, What Unit Puqued Your Interest In All This?
I figure a lot of us here started hearing music through stand-up furniture stereos and/or composite units (mine was a Craig tt, receiver, 8-track). Then, one day I saw and listened to my cousin’s Pioneer Spec amps (with equalizer and oscilloscope) supporting a Beogram 4004. He also had a Teac R2-D2, but it was the 4004 that had the ever-lasting magnetic effect. What piece of equipment got you?