Personal speaker evolution

I've tended to hang on to speakers for a fair amount of time, and have only submerged myself into the audio pursuit in the last couple of years, but here's what I remember..1) Sears brand plastic turntable with supplied plastic cube speakers; owned as child. Speakers now long gone after having bit the dust when, as a teenager, I hooked up my high-wattage amplifier to them and cranked it 'til they started smoking (literally). Good fun!2) Pioneer (?) generic speakers for first hi-fi in high school days.3) Two pairs (for pre-HT 'surround sound') of Altec Lansing speakers through one of my dads trade deals. The model name escapes me. Loud, clean sound that impressed me at the time. Don't know what I'd think about them now.4) Allison floorstanders (forgot the model); nicely finished - upwards firing driver. Great sound! My first foray into the audiophile waters.5) KEF 103/3 Reference series...owned for many years until my more recent acquisition.6) Castle Acoustics Howard S2