Your First System


This should be good!!! Most of us have been in this expensive hobby for years now and have worked our way up to components we only dreamed of. I want to know what was your first system of separate components going back as far as you can remember. My first consisted of a Pioneer SX-680 receiver, a Technics SLD-1 turntable (I think that's the right model #), a Sharp tapedeck, and KLH floorstanding speakers. I was 16 at the time and thought I was the biggest badass on the block. Now, 20+ years later I have a ML 334, Meridian 507 CD, CJ PV10A, Canton Ergo 900 speakers, and a Transparent Power Isolator 4. I'm in the process of upgrading to a ML 390. It goes without saying the IC's and speaker cables are top notch as well. I know my system is WAAAYYYYY down the foodchain compared to what I've seen here but It would be interesting to see what everyone started out with.
pcook15
He fellas, a little late but, had to add this. Circa 1971, my first love was a Muntz(remember them?)4&8 track car stereo with a car battery i stole from a car note being used and a pair of funky plastic craig??? speakers. Accidenty hooked both ground wires to the deck and finally found out what BALANCE meant. Then i moved to discrete quad 8trk decks, what fun. Then, i bought an am/fm 8trk unit, i think it was Electrophonic and two funky speakers for $85 bucks, then added a BSR/Mcdonald record player with a pickering ceramic cartridge, years later i found out the damage i did to some original Blue Note albums that'er now priceless! My, have i grown since then, i have so many toys, too much to list. Thanks for the opportunity to share how i got this disease, or is it ease?
my first system consisted of a marantz sr 430 reciever a marantz sd 221 cassette deck and a small pair of epi speakers,i only had the epi's for a few weeks and then went out and bought a pair of advent 5012's
Garrard record player, Sony TCFX310 cassette, Amstrad Executive receiver and Goodmans Q30 speakers at 16 yo. I thought I was spending a fortune - little did I know until later.
My first component system was a Dual changer (model 1015?) with a Stanton 500E cartridge, a Fisher AM/FM receiver, and a pair of 10" or 12" 3-way house brand speakers from Cal Hi-Fi. This was 1968. For my $500, I could have just as easily gone with AR and Dynaco had someone given me some guidance, though I probably could not have tackled a kit.
Garrard 401 (hand-me-down)
Aiwa cassette deck
Denon DCD1000
Kenwood tuner
NAD 3020
Electrovoice Crystal speakers

A real hotch potch of components, but I loved this little system which I can blame for getting me into this hobby back in the early 80's.