What were some of your early Hi-End audio gear/influences?

In college, a friend's AR-5's and AR turntable, driven by a Tiger .01 amp, which was a kit (can't recall the pre-amp).  The quiet background, clean sound and bass extension got me hooked on good gear.  My subscription to TAS started with Issue No. 6.

43 years ago I bought my 1st system: Dahlquist DQ-10a's, Harmon Kardon TT with Rabco straight-tracking arm, Soundcraftsman pre-amp and Dynaco ST-400 amp.  Heaven.

The DQ-10's were unbelievable at imaging for the time.  Soundstage width and depth, coherent image, lovely timbre, sufficient bass.

@gillagth "Technology is the driving force and what used to be best is relegated to low."

A fair amount of gear that "used to be best" is still excellent stuff.  And no way the old "best" is now low end.

@gillatgh:  "today's worst will beat yesterday's best every time."

There you go again.  So the latest mass-market Onkyo preamp beats a 70's Audio Research SP3?  And you might want to A/B a pair of 50's Quads against a pair of current big box store cheapies.


I would avoid such extreme, absolute pronouncements, but that's just me.