Correct me if I am wrong but it appears that a majority of us Forum dwellers are about the same age. My Freshman year in college was 1971. Boomers!
As a Voice Performance major in the conservatory I had to have my first serious system. Anyone remember Pacific Stereo? I was so proud of my $199 PS special.
We would put on Classical albums and everyone at parties would play “name that composer”. And my pianist, perfect pitch roommate would “play” shadow fingers on the ceiling instantaneously to the piano pieces.
A cool Niko receiver, a super duper Lenco TT… funny that about a $100 TT would become a sought after restored item. PS had their house brand speaker. The Quadrelfex. It came with the entry level bookshelf.
Took several years until I started the never ending upgrades. My first was a very great pair of Klipsch Heresys.