My first system in 1962 included a Heathkit tape deck, amplifier, and AJ-10 tuner (stereo achieved by one channel on FM and the other on AM) built by father and me; a Garrard turntable (a rumbler), AR2 speakers (we finished).
Funny, my first system when I went away to college in 1971 was a Pacific Stereo $199 special that included a cool Lenco Swiss TT. Look what they are going for now rebuilt!
I bought my first system in 1981 a Harman Kardon PM680 integrated amp, visonik ambassador 120 speakers and thorens td320 turntable, still have and enjoy the turntable. I have gone through many amps and pre amps since. I was fortunate to have a dad who like good equipment as youngest so always had music in my life.
48. I started music lessons at age 5. Around the same time I began listening to hifi with my dad when he got a turntable and speakers. I started my own modest system as a graduation present from college. (Still use the same speakers in my office setup).
HS class of '68 - First "system" purchased when I was 11 years old. Saw live performances of The Doors, Led Zep, Zappa/Mothers, Grateful Dead, Jethro Tull, The Influence, Iron Butterfly, Janis Joplin w Big Brother, Country Joe and the Fish, Jefferson Airplane and others at the Kinetic Playground (nee Electric Theater).
60 and still silly. a life filled with music and singing my lungs out. though, never in front of anybody. not even karaoke. but, that's on my bucket list.
It depend, Friday evening when i go to have a beers with some folks, i start at 62 yo, after some beers i can go down until 15 yo and if i drink until 12 yo then i have to go to bed because it's late for 12 yo... And the morning after i can get 96 yo.
65, Pat Benatar was in my sisters class (71), two year ahead when she was only dating Dennis. Had a Sansui rig then, family friend get this all started with a Mac rig and Klipsch corner horns and a tt with 3 arms on it...
76 and just can't seem to shake the habit. Started out with a Heathkit mono amp and an Isophon speaker in a packing crate. This hobby has seen me thru some pretty crazy times and I still enjoy it. Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl, Joan Baez at DAR Constitution Hall, the Limelighters and the Kingston Trio. I can't remember them all. It's been a long trip and its always about the music and how real you can make it. But I have to admit, I sure love the gear. It's like watches, cars and cameras (whatever they are).
My dad always said he was 39 Plus whatever he needed to get to his actual age . Presently he is 39 plus 55 . I am 32 years behind him. he also said he was Brad Pitt several hundred thousand times to whomever he meets . His doctor calls him Brad to humor him. He always gave me a hard time about my spend on stereo equipment . Then again he believes ground beef tastes as good as a nice piece of steak..... growing up during the depression could not have been easy.
65 First concert - Mountain with Felix Pappalardi opening for Humble Pie and Steve Marriott at Varsity Stadium Toronto Started into high end audio 30+/- years ago - Sonic Frontiers SFL-1, Tannoy Speakers, PS Audio Lambda / Micromega Duo BS2
So many of us are over 50. And I’m guessing that a plurality of us are male. So what about hearing loss. How has that affected equipment choice? Bettter gear because you need it, or you can relax because you can’t hear the high-end differences?
64 and still tweaking my system. Just spent $800 for new tubes. When I die and my son gets my stuff, I'll leave him a list of tweaks still to be done. It never ends....
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So many of us are over 50. And I’m guessing that a plurality of us are male. So what about hearing loss. How has that affected equipment choice? Bettter gear because you need it, or you can relax because you can’t hear the high-end differences?"
Good question. I can relax now. I doubt that I can hear over 14-16 khz, if that. I find that horns are much more "acceptable" to me for mids to highs than they used to be. Spendors, Magneplaners, Acoustats, Vandersteens will always still have a warm place in my heart, however.
" Saw Captain Beefheart, Captain Beyond and Ted Nugent all in the same day!"
Holy crap captain Jim! I can’t top that! Link to one of my sadly deceased best friends, bands, He was the bassist, and dedicated the song to one of our other friends that had just passed. (the Gasholes - Greenville SC, Tony Smith - Roger Greer. may they both rest in peace Carolina hardcore ecstacy..... no doubt.
Three score and ten. Talking of classes, my wife was in Elton John's class at Pinner High when he was plain young Reg Dwight. At 15 he was banging away at the piano saying he would be famous. Just like Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney - seems to be pre-ordained for the true greats.
65. I had the pleasure of selling 'hi-end' audio from the late 70s thru the mid 80s and 'stereo' was a hobby even before then. I can still hear fairly well even after selling Klipsch during that time period. Music has been my go-to all these years and still is! :-)))
60.Starting building my own gear while still in high school. Bought my first gear at 18. (Sansui integrated, Philips turntable) I have now have the best system I've ever had (ARC, B&W, PS Audio, McIntosh etc.) as I head hopefully quite slowly towards the sunset.
64. A while back, I tried to list all of the audio gear I’ve owned through the years since I was given a Lafayette tube receiver and one Jensen speaker in exchange for some lawn service work. I quit trying after about 3 pages single spaced. Been a fun journey and still is. Love the equipment but love the music the most! Jim St. Augustine, Fl
When the greek legislator Solon studied in Sais, the Egyptian high priest say to him that the Greek indeed were very young because they know only one worldwide flood in their short history....
Perhaps here many are more youmg than they think....
i am always 69 +few months....I remember no worlwide flood......
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