How long ago did you catch the bug?

I remember walking into Stereo Exchange in the City when I was 14 and being in awe at all of the used gear they used to have in the racks along the front wall.  It was audio nirvana.  Everything you saw an ad about in the magazines was there in real life.  A little while after that, my sis was dating a guy who was a hi fi salesman at Harmony House II on Amsterdam Avenue in NYC.  He invited us over to hear his rig (a Sony tonearm and table that used a cake cover as a dust cover, Dalquist Speakers and can't remember the rest) and that was it.  1974 

Folks bought me a CRAIG all-in-one in 1974 or so.  Turntable, 8-track, and tuner.  It made music and drove a pair of Koss headphones to my liking.

A couple of buddies were CB geeks.  It was a big thing back then.  They also had real stereos, so I was exposed to better gear early on. 

Then in college it was crazy.  Guys exiting the service and coming back from overseas with all the cool Japanese gear (it wasn't vintage back then...).  I was also exposed to real blues and jazz in college.

Late 60s. Junior high or High School. Find myself sitting on the floor between speakers of our Sears stereo. You know the ones. Big ole hunk of wood. Herb Alpert was playing and at the end of one track they bounced the trumpet back and forth quickly in the mix. I thought that was cool. First time I’d noticed audio/stereo. 
 

Got some B&O bookshelf speakers for Christmas coming out of HS. Bought a used Fischer integrated (still have it) and a Garrard turntable freshman year of college. Wow!  Bass!  (Hauled this rig from hotel to hotel for literally years when I was on the road with traveling bands.)
 

College early 70s.  Drummer in a band I was with was into audio. I was hanging at his house and he wanted me to hear his new Cornwalls.  He dropped the needle on a track with a female singer and acoustic guitar (Pentangle?).  It sounded to me like she was RIGHT THERE, sitting inside the speaker, singing to me.  Had no idea recorded music didn’t have to sound, well, recorded. I was totally amazed and totally hooked.  

1970

Middle school in the late 80’s to early 90’s.  Friends Dad had a state of the art at the time Home Theater set up.  Lost count on how many times we watched Tombstone! 
 

First spade of my own where I could let my love for Audio shine was at 16, my car was the spot.  My audio gear was worth more than the mighty Toyota Tercel. 
 

The bug has shifted from Car Audio to Home Theater to now a heavy focus on 2 Channel.  Just bought a Krell stack, never thought I would have the means or opportunity for the kind of gear I have today and…. Still always looking for ways to get that next little bit further.  Crazy, fun, stupid hobby.