Your first component that was "special"

Ayon Ayon CD5S 5s - My first CD player that provided full scale 3 dimensional organic sound that lifted my entire system to a new level providing ultimate cd playback and streaming audio (2016)
Brinkman LaGrange turntable with Brinkmann arm re-defined the potential of vinyl (2010)
Apogee Duetta Loudspeakers (1994) - a replacement for Quad ESL 63 and a massive upgrade
Audio Research VM220 mono blocks - the first amp that made the Apogees sing!  92010)
Stax/SrMT1/Lamda Signature Pro bought used 2003 

Dahlquist DQ 10 in '70s

Ohm F 1975

Audio Research D-60 Solid State Amp. I eventually got two and ran them in bridged mode. Lots of power, but had to be careful with speaker impedance... which I knew nothing about. They never had a problem though.

My special component was a complete system, purchased in 1970 while stationed in the Navy on Okinawa. Purchased all in same day.

Dual 1219 turntable,
Sure V15 type II or III, (can't remember),
Sansui AU555 integrated amplifier,
Pioneer 63DX speakers.

Replaced this system in 1982.