HK Citation.
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?
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Sansui was great in audio in the S.Q. /price ratio scale... Now i am on headphone only , and the Sansui alpha drive them very well... but the AKG K340 is near the top of high end not the bottom in the headphone realm... It is very sensible to the electrical noise floor of the house and component... then even if Sansui is more than great, i must think about a dedicated headphone amplifier if not out of the electrical grid as my dac , dead quiet,... more quiet than even the quiet Sansui... I am on vthe fence to upgrade... Even if the Sansui AU 7700 were extremely good so muck i never change it when i had speakers... So much more quiet than the 7700 the alpha is, a top headphone is so sensible to the electrical noise floor i must consider an upgrade... Probably the Berning microzotl... I would had never change my Sansui with any speakers upgrade...So good they are... But refined headphone need dedicated amplification ... My headphone system now is moere resolving than my speakers/acoustic room... So different they are the K340 is my favorite...
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I know better now, and I know that this will generate some snickers, but it was the first time I viewed and heard a pair of Bose 901's. The father of a girlfriend had a sweet system and those 901's just sounded awesome to my 15yo ears. This started my journey. I NEEDED a system of my own, no matter how humble. Saved up what I could as a bus-boy and walked down the three blocks to my local Radio Shack. I had to make three trips, speakers, receiver and turntable. It was mine and I was proud of it. For Christmas the same year my dad bought me a pair of AKG K240's. I swear I levitated while reclining on my twin bed, listening to Led Zep though those cans. (no mind altering aides were involved). |
My dad’s HH Scott 222C, a Garrad turntable playing mom’s favorite Tom Jones album through a pair of 15 inch single driver Altec’s mounted in furniture grade cabinets. Didn’t drive my Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath albums very well, so I went NAD solid state when I had enough cash to buy my own rig after college. Very harsh and grainy, but it would get loud! |
Went from GE fold down record player with swing out speakers to Heathkit receiver (AR-1500) and JBL L-150 speakers with Benjamin Miracord record changer. Tried other speakers but always came back to JBLs. Still have those L-150s, but also 4350s and DD67000 (and dozens of other models). Over 60 years since the GE and still can’t keep from trying out interesting vintage or new stuff. Gonna be a hellacious estate sale when I kick off. Over a dozen pairs of speakers set up currently and multiple pairs of duplicates of the large format speakers, plus several dozen other pairs, and similar situation with electronics (Heathkit, Dynakit, Luxman, McIntosh, Marantz, Thorens…). |
In 1956, as a student at The Eastman School of Music, I found that it was very convenient to pass by Craig Audio which was owned by a doublebass player in the Rochester Philharmonic, Dave Craig. It was only a block out of my way and was located in a tiny little bungalow on a side street. It didn't take long for me to convince my parents that it was an essential part of my musical education to own a decent audio system. It consisted of a 10 Watt Bogen amplifier [mono] , a Bogen turntable with GE Variable Reluctance Cartridge and a 12" Electrovoice coaxial loudspeaker in a tunable infinite baffle cabinet. I still have the receipt ! The journey from then has been a joyous one and definitely the best hobby imaginable ! A set of Bozak "Symphony I" speakers still create an unbelievable sound even though they are in my garage [I'm also a gearhead] . Thanks to the OP for this trip down "Memory Lane" ! |
My first audiophile equipment was a Sony 366 reel to reel tape recorder which I asked my parents for after my bar mitzvah (my friends received $3K to $5K in cash gifts, I got $300 during the Hong Kong Flu season-invested in stock market until 19). Prior to my first serious piece of equipment, I started out with a tube based LP player until an Admiral light tracking LP player with detachable speakers (I had over 1,000 LPs at 10 years old). By 15, I had a tube Kenwood receiver, Advent speakers, etc. and about 3,000 LPs. Note that I currently listen to my collection of 48,500 LPs/CDs/78s/R2R and have disposed of 18,000 unwarranted records. Probably another 5 to 7,000 more to dispose of. |
I've a relatively detailed history in my Virtual System. But before I ever got into all this, a transistor under the covers listening to Radio Luxembourg was where I discovered music. My parents refused to entertain a record player, so I hung at friend's homes and played their records. Penny on the headshell. |
No particular piece of gear. I only noticed that some gear just sounded better than others. In audio stores I used to hang out with friends (with the same interests) at various audio stores. Impressed with everything from Klipsch to Maggies to, well nearly everything. Being poor, I started with a raw speaker and tiny mono tube amp from a junk pile sale at Lafayette ($5 each… ha!). Soon I “upgraded” the raw speaker by soldering a cap to a found “tweeter” (woo-hoo!”) My first “real” system was a Kenwood integrated amp, a tiny pair of Advent speakers and a Dual TT with a Shure M91ED cart… from there it was off to the races! |
My older brother after his freshman year in college(1977) came back for the summer with a B & O Beogram 4002 table, Yamaha receiver(don't remember the model), and a pair of large Tannoy Era Monitors with classic 12" dual concentric drivers and a ceramic Elephant shaped Bong. If you placed one speaker on top of the other, it was the size of a refrigerator. After a summer of that system(I was a high school freshman), I was hooked on audio. |
This thread obviously strikes a nostalgic chord with everyone. it's a chance to travel back in time to a younger more innocent time. For me, it was Natural Sound in Framingham, MA. Went there with a buddy in 1974 or so, (stoned of course), and listened to stacked Quad speakers, with Mark Levinson pre and amp, and some turntable I can't remember, but nice. I think in those days, the system was $30K! It literally blew me away. Whatever we listened to sounded like the band was playing right in front of us. It was incredible. I have been chasing that sound (or how I remember it) since I started buying equipment. Alas, the only things that I could afford were a Harman/Kardan receiver, a Phillips Turntable (with the very cool LED lights) and ElectroVoice Speakers. Started upgrading in college and never stopped! But still haven't gotten that sound, although my current system is excellent. |
I was extremely interested in sound quality starting in 1973. Purchased Technics SL1200 with Audio Technica Shibata tipped stylus, Sony receiver with Dolby FM. A friend that worked at that store had Pioneer Quad system with Quad Open Reel and Tapes, with 4 JBL L300s. That was pretty cool. When I heard the Heil Plasmatronics in 1976, I was hooked on High End from there. (I didn't get them). |
Waytoomuchstuff ,,I was one of those other guys hanging around David Beatty. Great place and great time. My roommates brother brought home Sansui gear from being stationed in Korea. For the next near 50 years, same Sansui 2000x, and turntable. Same sweet wife. On retirement, I moved to Primaluna, VPI, Sutherland, Soundsmith, and Klipsch Cornwall’s . I have to feel the air moving around me a bit. Close as I’ll get to those VOTT. Lucky guy |
When I was 14, I saved up all the money I made working in the back room of my uncles liquor store sorting return bottles and bought a Panasonic compact stereo system with a built in cassette recorder, BSR turntable, am/fm tuner and speakers for around $200.00. When I turned 16 and started working at Burger Chef and was making better money, I sold my Panasonic to a co-worker and bought my first real stereo system. It was a 20wpc Sansui receiver, Sony Dolby Cassette Deck, Garrard turntable with a Shure M91ED cartridge and a pair of Bozak bookshelf speakers. 2 years later I started working in that store that would last another 15 years. I was constantly buying better equipment. The disease never left me. |
It was My buddy's system: Hitachi receiver Unknown turntable Pioneer Cassette Deck with fluoroscan meters Realistic Mach One speakers ...followed within a few years (early '80s) with my own: Luxman L450 Integrated Luxman Graphic EQ Nakamichi LX-5 3-head cassette deck Pioneer PL-200 (?) direct drive turntable with Pickering XV-15 cartridge Realistic Mach One speakers. ...oh yeah, there was also that first time I heard Rush in my other buddy's car on a Craig stereo of some sort--Cygnus X-1 and............I was hooked. |
I was in preschool and there was an all in one portable record player there. I was facinated by it and what it could do. I had to have it. I went home with it. There was much conversation afterwards that i cant remember. My grandfather, a successfull architect, with many cool things in the eyes of a youngster, gave me my own with a 45 of, eight days a week. This was in holland in the mid seventies. |
First heard hi-fi music at a basketball team celebration party at the home of our team sponsor in the mid-60's. He had a Fisher receiver and I don't remember the speakers. After hearing that clarity, I was off to the local hi-fi store in La Jolla, CA, and scraped enough together to buy a Fisher receiver. I couldn't afford speakers after that so I built some massive speakers out of 3/4" plywood and some 12" speakers (no tweeters or crossovers as I didn't know about that stuff). Still sounded awesome until 1975 in San Francisco I bought a pair of KEF speakers after hearing Fleetwood Mac's Rihannon in stereo. Been hooked ever since. |
My dad's mono system: Rek-O-Cut turntable, Audax tonearm, GE pickup into a Bogen integrated tube amp into an early KLH 6. I inherited the KLH 6. It still works. He once told me he auditioned early stereo and thought it was a gimmick created to sellore speakers! Whenever my folks weren't home, I would put on some Led Zeppelin and crank it. |
My very first real job ~1977 while still in high school was as a part time salesman at the local Lafayette Radio. I was a kid in a candy store! Was running a $200 Sanyo Integrated system at home for several years prior. Soon I had all Lafayette/Criterion separates: integrated amp, tuner, phono, speakers with HEIL Air Motion Transformer. Nearby shops sold Magneplanar, McIntosh, Klipsch and other goodies I saw and heard for the first time. Then on to college where I landed a similar gig at the local Tech Hifi and away we go.... |
My dad stepped up his stereo game around 1972 with the purchase of a Sony STR-6065 receiver, a Dual 1229 turntable and a pair of AR-3a's. The immediate improvement in SQ was enough to get me interested in finding out what else was out there. The store he frequented was very conservative and tilted towards east coast sound. But I was fascinated by it all and was soon reading through all stereo mags of the day like Hi Fidelity and Stereo Review. Still fascinated at seeing equipment from the 1970's and early 80's that wasn't available in my smallish town (Charleston, WV) |
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During my grade school days, my grandad had one of those console stereo units, with everything built-in. Dad always had a nice Bogen receiver and a Garrard TT that I was allowed to use, along with my little 45 record player (for all those new Beatles releases). In high school, I had a cheapy all-in-one Symphonic unit that I loved to play albums on. I made constant trips to downtown Lexington’s Barney Miller’s tv/radio/record store to ogle the latest Marantz, McIntosh (and other) gear. Then, there was the local Fed. Employees store for the latest Pioneer, Sansui,(and other popular brands of the day) until I saved enough money to buy my first Marantz 2230. That 2230 was traded-in after college for a Phase Linear 400 Series II system, JVC QL-Y5F w/Grace F9E cart, and a pair of Marantz DS 940 tower speakers. When surround sound/home theaters and big screen tvs were all the rage, I set all the silver face stuff aside for decades. At this point in life, I enjoy searching and collecting alot of those old silver-faced gems from yesteryear that I could never afford when new. Ahhh....."old days, good times, I remember." :) |
https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2590355 https://forum.audiogon.com/users/blackbag20 Hello Blackbag20. Here is the website https://harmslabs.com/ Do you know Steve, or are you from the Ft. Collins area? |
At 4 or 5 years old my father singing to me some ave maria stella, i remember it till today ...😊
The radio listening at noon of folklore and small traditional chorus music which gave me for the rest of my life the taste for choral music...i was 5=6=7 years old...
A cheap small radio working with battery in 1964... I used it in the evening beginning of night under my blanket instead of sleeping ... I even remember Paul Anka song and few others that strike me at first... I was 13 years old... After that a Bach concerto in the music course... After that a friend who owned a true stereo system with big Tannoy ... classical music...I bought my first Tannoy pair... They last more than 40 years before i sold them because of their size and my desire to go back smaller... It takes me 9 years to reach a good audiophile level after this move... As all people around me at 15 or 16 years old i was liking the Cream , the Beatles and the Papas and the Mammas, especially for me because of the blending voices, but i stayed mostly in chorus music and Bach listening mainly ... Some french poet singers too till this day Leo Ferré and Georges Brassens with Bob Dylan and Joan Baez and Cohen ......... My life changed when i discovered Bruckner at thirty and Scriabin at forty and Jazz after ... All my life in one page.... The gear was important only for the music listening never the reverse... Now i am done with audio... I succeeded creating at very low cost a system with no apparent acoustic defects..... Under 1000 bucks it is very hard if you are difficult about sound quality as i am... It takes me hard work...
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My uncle built a couple of Singer(?) mono amps. I started with a red and white record player in a box. Years later it was my turn to build. It started with the Hafler kits and then came being in a huge local record store that was playing DSOTM and I heard those footsteps walking across the store. Then building the Dynaco, Stereo 400. Speakers started with homemade, then ADS 400 speakers with a Velodyne sub, Bozak B’s, Duhlquist DQ-10’s, Acoustat Model X’s, a bunch of subwoofers I built, And this was the seventies and eighties. |
Had to wrap some duct tape around my skull this morning to keep my head from exploding. So many woofers. So little time. This complex journey can needs to be broken down into incremental steps, discoveries, and bone-jarring (literally) experiences. 1955ish. Admiral split chassis, 12" 4-way dual mono console stereo. My dad probably walked into an appliance store and asked for the best thing they had. One day, my dad decided to see how many houses away we could get and still hear the stereo. If memory serves me right, the number was 7. Years later, when the parents were gone, I’ll put on Ina Gadda da Vida, turn up the bass and volume to 11 and feel the bass on the wooden floor. First "Hifi" experience: KHL Model 20 A friend picked up one of these from David Beatty’s in Kansas City. At first glance I thought it was a cutesy little system that couldn’t hold a candle to my dad’s system. Then, he played Sgt Pepper. I heard a sweetness, clarity and intimacy that was missing from by dad’s big Admiral. First "High End" system: Mac stack/AMT1a I was loitering around Davy Beatty Stereo and was invited to hear the newest thing. The salesman cued up Blood Sweat and Tears and turned up the volume. I just remembered how "clear" it was. Later I would be able to describe what I heard as extended dynamic range compared to the KLH with more detail and space. First "Scare the ever loving *%$# out of me" System: David Beatty engineered and installed a JBL pro system inwall. They called it. appropriately enough, "The Wall of Sound". Here I was, in the store, minding my own business, when they put on Lincoln Mayorga’s cover of Peace Train. The salesman took it easy on me in the beginning and incremently cranked up the volume. When the kettle drums(?) hit towards the end, I felt a shock wave hit my chest that startled me and shook me to the core. I just wasn’t "right" for a few minutes after that. Years later, I got into the audio business myself. Designing and installing Disco systems and supporting them on site, surrounded by alcohol induced, hormone explosive young adults exhibiting poor judgement. This experience truly qualifies in a class of its own.
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in 1967 I was 5 years old- Dad took an old portable radio and made it a PA box for me- 2 D cell batteries a carbon microphone from a telephone handset. My first rig! I was hooked. Soon after that I "took apart" desktop tube radios trying to make something. I failed :) but it was fun. I somehow found an old Harman Kardon Recital II mono Receiver which played CKLW- the Canadian AM rock station across the river. I was totally fascinated by this whole gear/music/interactive thing, That never changed. By 1978 I had a Marantz 2215B (15 rockin' watts!) BIC Venturi speakers and a BIC turntable to spin my Bob Seger record (singular not plural- as in only 1 LP) all bought with my Detroit News paper route money. Then it really happened: Absolute Sound in Birmingham MI had a D79 amp by Audio Research playing a set of Timpani Maggies. I thought I died and went to heaven. Not long later I had a set of MG-1s (first song on them was Jackson Browne Stay A Little Bit Longer) and the better gear followed as time went by. I've stayed loyal to ARC mostly because of nostalgia. I love music but to be honest I like fooling around with gear better. To me music is there to test and prove gear. Sacrilege! You can tell I'm not a musician LOL!!! |
Like all of you, music is what got me interested in audio gear, broadly speaking. When I was 23 (~1979), I went to a local audio store in Richmond, VA and heard an Audio Research preamp SP-?, Audio Research amplifier, Magneplanar (probably the 2.5’s) and a moving coil cartridge (what the heck is that?). I was thunderstruck. |
