How old were you when you got your first Hi-Fi?
- Thread starter godzilla
- Start date
cq.ab0nf
Active Member
I was in the 4th grade. And I'm not sure if this counts as a Hi-Fi... but it was a Realistic SA102/TA102 combo, like the one pictured below. I think it was $60 each piece at Radio Shack. I got the amplifier for Christmas, and raked leaves/mowed lawns for the matching Tuner the following summer. Cool little system that had absolutely no chance of loosening wall plaster, but still sounded pretty good.
Originally it had an old Garrand turntable connected, which was soon replaced with a decent Akai. Got a cassette player, then a Montgomery Wards CD player and it was complete.
Originally it had an old Garrand turntable connected, which was soon replaced with a decent Akai. Got a cassette player, then a Montgomery Wards CD player and it was complete.
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Lavane
Lunatic Member
I was 15 in '75. I was working part time at the local Radio Shack, so put a separates system on layaway while I worked there and at other odd jobs.
I would have saved up and bought it all outright, but I was saving for my first car also.
My first system was a SA-1000A integrated amp, matching TM-tuner, Optimus 1B and 2B speakers, BSR TT with ADC cartridge, top loader Cassette deck, and Koss electrostatic headphones.
I still have the TM-1000 tuner and Optimus 2B speakers. My youngest son has the SA-1000 amp that I recapped.
ProudArmyBra
Active Member
I lucked out and when I was 6 in 1979 my Dad got into hifi while int he US Army in Germany. Almost all of my friends dads and girlfriends dads where all into music and hifi. So from about the age of 6 to about 26 I was into hifi and always buying, selling, trading equipment. I left the hobby though for decades only really slowly getting back into it during covid and big time this last year.
Condorsat
Audio Enthusiast
I was 26 when I bought my first "real" stereo system .. equipment that didn't come from a discount retailer (like K Mart for example). Was on my second tour in the USAF and stationed at RAF Mildenhall w/ RAF Lakenheath near by .. assembling a nice stereo rig was something that many young service members did in those days while stationed overseas. My gear came from Base Exchanges at both bases and Electric Avenue at RAF Lakenheath.
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Ross6860
Super Member
Christmas or birthday present. Pretty sure I was 14.
Cheapo CRAIG all-in-one. AM/FM, 8-track, turntable.
It survived through college. It was a joke compared to what some guys had. It worked, and it was mine.
Within a year of graduation I got my first "real" stereo. Technics Integrated, Technics Turntable/Stanton Cart, EPI speakers.
Cheapo CRAIG all-in-one. AM/FM, 8-track, turntable.
It survived through college. It was a joke compared to what some guys had. It worked, and it was mine.
Within a year of graduation I got my first "real" stereo. Technics Integrated, Technics Turntable/Stanton Cart, EPI speakers.
H2oman7.62mm
Super Member
I was maybe 25 when I bought my first so-called Hi-Fi receiver, it was a discounted floor model that cost me $8.00 after my employee discount was applied. I still have this Technics receiver... it works but it needs a bulb or two replaced.
Genov
Super Member
1984 - I turned 23 that summer.
I purchased a Yamaha receiver and turntable, and Bose 501’s.
We were still a few years away from cd, but I got a Yamaha cassette deck shortly after the initial set.
However, my introduction to hifi was when a friend that lived across the street got a Pioneer SX-650 and HPM-60’s. Also a PL-? turntable. This was 1978. I still think that the SX-?50 Pioneer line, were the best looking receivers I’ve seen
I purchased a Yamaha receiver and turntable, and Bose 501’s.
We were still a few years away from cd, but I got a Yamaha cassette deck shortly after the initial set.
However, my introduction to hifi was when a friend that lived across the street got a Pioneer SX-650 and HPM-60’s. Also a PL-? turntable. This was 1978. I still think that the SX-?50 Pioneer line, were the best looking receivers I’ve seen
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MX117.MC7150
Listener
Was 12yr old when we got a Magnavox console. Wish I had had a crystal ball so I would have known to hang on to it.
1974, I inherited our old Zenith two piece console when my folks moved out of state, it was the first stereo I can remember. I remember my mom playing movie soundtracks & dancing around when I was a pre schooler, Dad liked classical. Nineteen and out on my own, I used it with different receivers because the amp wasn’t working. Eventually tossed the cabinets during another move.
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