Telex-Phonola. I still have it! It was a hand-me-down from my parents and is actually a piece of furniture, about the size of a coffee table, speakers at both ends (covered by cloth) with a drawer that pulls out revealing a turntable and tuner! I "upgraded" to a Craig receiver in the late 70's then to a Fisher rack system in the mid-80's with a CD player. I thought I was Cool with speakers the size of small refrigerators - 15" woofers and all! I saw the light when I moved to "the big city" and went in to my first "better" electronics store. I quickly bought some Yamaha gear in the late 80's and moved on from there! Present day - I no longer have any of the aforementioned products, except for that vintage Telex!
Your first stereo system
What was your first stereo or hi fi music system? What do you remember best about it? What were its strengths? Its weaknesses? What music provided you the most enjoyment from it? What did you trade in first and why? My first system was from Lafayette Radio Electronics. It consisted of a very small integrated amp, two small book shelf speakers, and a turntable I don't remember much about. I was thrilled to have the tiny amp, it provided much better sound than an a.m. radio, in such a small package. My system was in the basement of my parents home, with the speakers on opposite sides of my round water bed! The first "up grade" was to a cool looking Garrard turntable with a clear plastic hinged cover. My favorite music of the time was by Jim Morrison and the Doors. That system did its best to light my fire, and the memory of it still does.