I discovered the hi-end in 1964 when I was in grade school. My older brothers' friends' father was an electrical engineer and built his high-school son a radio station and equipped it with Logen & Thorens Turntables, Mac Reference tuners etc. The dad had all Mac and Marantz tube equipment that he kept in perfect condition. What a time to get introduced to the wonderful world of hi-end listening when everything was handwired by passionate folks in New York and California. Hi-end audio consumers were really more like conservationists that really REALLY took pride in their electronics. I have several 1960's McIntosh Tube Tuners that look almost like they came off the factory floor. The original owner kept everything right down to warranty cards sealed in plastic.
All this is quite a change to today's Home Theatre Processors worth next to rotten dog food a few years after they are introduced. Now that is what you can really call consuming. By the way, that kid (mentioned above) has been a professional radio announcer since 1969.