How long ago did you catch the bug?


My first inkling was about 1972 when a friend mentioned such things as Dual, Thorens, AR, Scott, etc. By '74-'75 I knew about all the Japanese manufacturers (courtesy of a military PX catalog) and about McIntosh. By '76 ​​was using a hand me down all in one Panasonic compact system. The compact system did not last long and very shortly after, '77, came a "proper" 1970's system with such names as Pioneer, Kenwood, Shure, AR, Teac. 

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Around 48 yrs ago when I was 10. I remember it quite well. I was running through a large department store in 1974 with my twin brother to go check out their sporting goods section when I was stopped dead in my tracks running past a full display of blue light Marantz gear that was expertly displayed on isle racks with literature.

What a discovery to find such cool looking and well thought out gear that made music!

Well I wanted good sound in jr high as early as '73. Didn't but anything worthwhile until my inheritance in '80. 

1979, as a college freshman, at tech hifi in providence r-i, first hanging out, became a go-fer, then worked there part time on big sale days, then became a regular inventory clerk and sales person on fridays and holidays weekends through the balance of my undergrad engineering years

dual, technics, thorens turntables, micro acoustics, stanton, pickering, sonus carts, ohm advent and jbl speakers, harmon kardon, pioneer, sherwood receivers, higher end was sae and nikko phase linear separates, micro seiki tt’s (still have my dd40 w ma505!! )... discwasher record cleaners with the red fluid bottle in the wood handle, early akg and sennheiser 414 h-p’s with bright yellow earpads... jackson browne, michael henderson, commodores, chic, jazz crusaders, stanley clarke, earl klugh, chick corea ... fun times...

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*L*  At my age, I've no short stories anymore.

Always loved music, grew up with polkas, Cosby, Sinatra, Martin, Spike Jones, and was forced to sing in a choir.  Why do parents thinks moppets 'singing' around a key sounds so cute? *sigh*
Got expose to 'better' when older bro' convinced Da to let him wire the new home with 'music in every space, switched with volume control'.  'It' worked in ways unforeseen...
Bro' put together an H-K integrated, had a pair of Jensen (?) bookshelves, and a Sony r2r...and the mid-60's hit LA., my jr. > snr. 'Hi daze'....

Yes....'ruint' That Long.  No cure, none wanted.

Listened to jazz vs. the early Beatles and 'bubble-gum Muzak'.  Later, Zappa, The Fugs, Firesign, Airplane....anything that made an impression, CA AudioInsanity.

'That' hasn't changed much....the means to Listen, Yes.

Good items, 'meh' ones'.....current is yet another 'concoction' that pleases me and out of bars and youngsters' cars.....;)

@oldhvymec  I've been 'bit', but have yet to 'stick' and take 'that ride'.
Poses an interesting issue here, tho'... 
Onboard pacemaker: Will it survive to 'kickstart'? 🙄
(No, I'm not game to go and Try.  You first...;)....*L*)

Need that upgraded with an external power supply and potentiometer to turn it UP. Upgrade the cable too. You need a jump start on board.. No outside stuff. Keep an extra battery pack handy.. :-) I use mine to jump start the car every now and then.. 

Regards

1984, I was 11 and won an AM/FM boombox with cassette player. I used to lay in bed with it on my chest and listen to FM radio with my head between the two speakers. I was amazed by the "stereo" sound.