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Your first system

First system was a Marantz SR 240 Receiver(The 80s Marantz one), Polk Audio M3ii speakers, Dual 604 TT and a Technics RS B24W cassette deck... Way back then, when I was 16, it got me interested in audio gear and I still have that equipment. The first system, not gonna lie, is still my favorite to this day.
 
Realistic STA-15 or STA-16 receiver (3.5wpc) package. I remember the turntable being the "upgraded" BSR-based changer but the speakers being the low-end ones (single 5" driver). I later added a TR-882 8-Track Player/Recorder as my parents bought a new car in 1976 that had an AM/FM/8-Track deck in it.
 
My first system really wasn't a "system" at all. It was about 1972 and I was 15 years old. I was with a buddy at a Walmart. I saw a display of Channel Master AM/FM/8-Track compact all-in-one stereos for $75 and I had to have one. It came with a pair of small separate speakers but I don't remember if they were detachable or not. I thought it was great until I discovered B/A and Radio Shack not long thereafter.
 
Scott 222C integrated, 350C tuner, Thorens TD111 with Ortofon Arm and Empire cartridge. Then changed to an SPU in 1961.or early 62.
 
My first real system was a Marantz silverfaced rack system given to me by my uncle. I hated how it looked compared to his Pioneer SPEC system so as soon as I was able, it was gone and I started getting Pioneer gear
 
jdmccall said:
My first system really wasn't a "system" at all. It was about 1972 and I was 15 years old. I was with a buddy at a Walmart. I saw a display of Channel Master AM/FM/8-Track compact all-in-one stereos for $75 and I had to have one. It came with a pair of small separate speakers but I don't remember if they were detachable or not. I thought it was great until I discovered B/A and Radio Shack not long thereafter.
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I never saw a Walmart back in 1972... just Nichols, Whites, Kmart, Sears etc... must not have been in upstate NY back then. I see that Walmart first opened in 1962 so it must have been primarily a southern store back then
 
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Mid 60's Lafayette

Lafayette LA-224A integrated amp. 24 "music power"watts, 6 "real" watts per channel.
Lafayette Criterion 50a 2 way 8" speakers
Garrard AT-60 "automatic turntable" with Pickering cartridge.

Whole shebang went for either $160 or $180. Saved money from shoveling snow and mowing lawns

Interesting random note. That amp sold for $60 back then. Today, this $25 amp can outperform it by a wise margin, but lacks flexibility It's a great dedicated television amp, though.

https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2020A-Digital-Amplifier-Stereo/dp/B00C2P61FO/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1JN1ZO0TVUOQJ&keywords=lepy+amplifier&qid=1556722261&s=electronics&sprefix=lepy,aps,196&sr=1-4
 
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Northwinds said:
I never saw a Walmart back in 1972... just Nichols, Whites, Kmart, Sears etc... must not have been in upstate NY back then. I see that Walmart first opened in 1962 so it must have been primarily a southern store back then
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I used to look at lower/mid-fi stuff at a place called Jafco back in the 70's, a little later than '72. It was across the parking lot from Tower Records in Tacoma. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jafco
 
Late 1968 or maybe '69...

Electro-Voice EV-1179 Receiver
Realistic Lab-6 Turntable
Realistic Solo - 1 Speakers

I know where the tt and speakers went, but wonder whatever happened to that little FM-only receiver?
 
Let me try this again :confused:

I had one of these until 1976 (11 yrs old) and an Uncle gave me a Sansui 350a (oldest has) AR XA (I still use) and KLH-17's (with the 350a).

ge_phono001.jpg

350a and KLH's at my daughters.

IMG_2879.JPG
 
First was a Sanyo all in one. IIRC, it was actually decent as those things went. The tuner had a weighted, flywheel knob and recording levels could be set for the cassette.

12460dff36464ab1adb226a6ebfbe480.jpg


After that, it was this Sony receiver along with a belt drive, p-mount Technics tt, Teledyne AR speakers and a Sony CD walkman.

sony-str-vx350-audio-video-receiver-35wpc_9680334.jpg
 
Sedge said:
Your first system
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My first “decent” system as spark1 said very well, was a system composed as follows:

An integrated 2×90 W “≤0.009% THD within “20…20000 Hz” at full nominal output power, absolutely clear, “transparent” signal. And absolutely “silent” in absence of signal on its linear-level inputs even at its “full volume” position.

A 10-band graphic equalizer, with its “lowest” slider at “31 Hz” (NOT higher, it’s very important for to be able to equalize the “25…45 Hz” band, victim to lamentable roll-off down from “50…80 Hz” in practically all “consumer market” LSs models); ≈0.00x% THD and ≈90 dB S/N with its sliders at “0 dB”.

A quartz locked direct-drive TT with an “S-shaped” tone-arm and an “MM”-type cartridge with a “hyper-elliptical” stylus (that I tested later by means of a test record and a program spectrum analyzer), the result was a really sufficient linearity within “20…20000 Hz” and “L-R” balance just as declared in its specifications.

An “ordinary” stereo tuner with a good antenna, delivering very good stereo reception in FM stereo.

A “pre-top” 3-head cassette tape deck with real “20…21000 Hz” recording-replay band on very good quality type II and type IV tapes (also tested by means of a program spectrum analyzer).

Finally, a pair of rather big 3-way “floor standers” with “12-inch” woofers, and high quality headphones, the “floor standers” and the headphones well equalized to “deliver” full “30…20000 Hz” acoustical output.

Later – a CD player and a DVD player/recorder, and a TV set also outputting stereo sound signal; stereo sound material found on the Net.
 
I've had several noise making apparatuses growing up, but the one that started me down the road to audiophilia was a Bose Wave radio. I got it from my grandma when she bought a new one when I was 14. That's when I really started getting interested in music.

My first real system was a Sansui 5900Z receiver, Dual 1219 turntable, Kenwood five disc changer and DCM KX10 Series II speakers. That system could rock hard!
 
9 watt Fisher receiver, 3-way Becker speakers and a Pioneer turntable with an AudioTechnica cartridge. Soon after I added a Kenwood cassette deck. The turntable/cartridge combination was the most expensive part. Do not recall any model numbers but the Fisher had a nice sound for something out of low end department store.
 
That Sony receiver above looks like the one my wife had. Burned it out pushing my Advents. (no speakers were harmed in this production)
 
First "good quality" set? By circa 1967 a Sony receiver, Garrard TT, and AR speakers. But before that set, 2-3 "all-in-one" dawgs, hell I no longer recall the marques, but probably a Yorx and/or Capeheart badged o' shite among 'em. Maybe Lloyd's too? I cannot remember. I also had a portable, built-in speaker "schoolroom" record player which, IIRC, could handle 33+1/3, 45, and 78 speeds, though the 33+1/3 speeds were confined to 7" (we called 'em EPs) and 10" (we called 'em 10-inchers). That lil' TT I kept for years and it is, in fact, still @ my parents' house and it still works.
 
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