I also had one of those suitcase stereos by GE. Toke it apart and built a wood console to stuff it all together. Looked good! Than someone brought over the latest Beatles album Sgt Peppers. I thought something was wrong with the unit! Different sounds coming out of different speakers. Lovely sound. Next day toke it all apart and built new speaker cases and a base for the turntable. Ordered a Heathkit FM only reciever. I haven't stopped messing with my systems. It's a great hobby.
Your first system and your journey...
Since we are on a audiophile (or is that audio-pile) site many, if not most, have had some decent systems. I would enjoy in hearing from all/any about what your first system was made up of. Mine was a Dynaco, I think something like a 35, tube integrated with some small British two way speakers and a BSR McDonald turntable with something like a 44E Shure cartridge , ...and yes, lamp cord for wires and whatever came on the turntable. It is almost sad to say I have spent much more on some interconnects than that first system cost.