My first player was a Sony CDP 101. It sounded like crap compared to today's players. I remember for about 4 months I could barely find any titles I liked.
That player was $1000 in late 1982/1983...... I think I paid $600 as an open box unit at Manufacturer 's Marketplace in W Roxbury MA. That was a great place that had some pretty good brands that were overstocked / c,osed out. It was like a dream being in that place as a 15 year old kid. I purchased quite a few things there with my paper route money