For me it was Electronic Specialty in Charleston, WV around 1973. My dad bought a Sony 6065 receiver, a Dual 1229 and a pair of AR3a's. I remember that shop being very conservative in their approach to audio leaning very much towards "east coast" sound. They about blew a gasket when I later wanted to add an equalizer to that system. We had to specially order it as equalizers went against their philosophy. I found out later in life they were probably right. That shop also hated rock music, which I was very much into. There was a competing store Mack and Dave's that was more of a hipper, younger vibe and had Phase Linear, JBL, EPI, Pioneer etc. Soon after High Fidelity Center opened and offered McIntosh, Nakamichi, Design Acoustics, B&O and Mitsubishi. I was in heaven!
Where did you buy your first audio gear?
I bought my first audio gear in a Post Exchange PX store in Baumholder Germany. I was a young soldier about 20 yrs old and bought a SAE amp and Preamp, Bose 901 speakers, Sony CDP-101 CD player and a Thorens TD 320 turntable. Where did you buy your first audio gear? What did you get?