So my starter system in 1977 in college was a Phase Linear 4000 pre, a Phase Linear 400 power amp, a Yamaha Tuner, a Phillips 212 turntable (with highly cool green LED touch sensors for speed on on/off, which in 1977, was awesome( and Electovoice speakers which I replaced with Epicure Trilogy 3.0 speakers.
But what sucked me into hifi was a setup at this store called Natural Sound in Framingham, Mass, where I grew up. Mark Levinson separates, a turntable that I dont remember but looked very hi end, and stacked Quad ESL57’s. To me, it was like the band was playing in the room . . . It was just an awesome experience. Of course, the weed might had something to do with it, but I remember that sound so well. I recently spoke with one of my college buddies who went there with me and he agreed that that was just about as great as we could imagine! Ive been chasing that sound since then!