I won my first stereo in a sales contest, the paperboy who signed up the most new subscribers for a local newspaper. One of those real cheesy $100 systems, but at the age of 8, I liked it. I used to go record shopping every Saturday, and one day wandered by a high-end stereo store. I was curious what this stuff was all about, 12 year old kids can be inquisitive. This place had affordable audio, NAD and Mission gear as well as more lofty gear. The people in this small audio specialty store took the time to walk me through some of the basics, and let me cue up some of my own records I had just bought. I listened to a NAD3020, Mission speakers, and Thorens TD147 turntable. I was smitten by the sheer musicality and how much I enjoyed the sound coming from this budget set-up. Compared to my friend's Akai receiver and Ohm speakers, this system was incredible, for about the same money. For the next three months I cut lawns, painted houses, did whatever I could to make the money required to buy this newly found killer rig. That three month period was tough, I learned to really hate the rack system I won and used daily in my bedroomm, and still dropped into the audio store to gawk at the gear. The day came when I finally had enough cash to buy the NAD/Mission/Thorens, and haven't stopped upgrading and tweaking, 25 years later. Oh, and where do I buy the bulk of my gear today? The same audio shop that took the time to get a 12 year old interested in just how enjoyable music can be.
How, all this obsession started
I remember in 70's, back in Yugoslavia, collecting the "catalogs" Technics, Tannoy McIntosh...i "knew" about belt drive t-table, being sonicaly "superior" to direct drive, i "knew" that "Revox" was the best reel-to-reel, Nacamichi best casset deck, and Thorens "best" turntable. Even i never had to chance to acctualy see it, never mind listened. never. Remembre the old "Grunding" "quadrofonic" reciever, that our family friend had it (after years of working in Germany)and listening for the first time "The Dark side of the moon". Than me "bulding" big boxes and mounting "low" quality car speakers inside them, than all hookin-it up with the lamp cord and "phono" jack, into the headphones output (mono of course)of the Radio-cassete deck. ...so i had chance to "finally' hear what is "all" about. The "New Year" 79-80, my brothers friend invited us to the party...and he had "classic" Marantz reciever (brand new)Technic's T-table and Wharfadale -70 speakers! WoW! I was blown away! Only when i moved to US, six years later i was able to seriously consider buying my first Hi-Fi system! And i did, in 1987 went to the best stereo shop in Las Vegas (the upper-ear) and bought me a NAD separates, and Klipch heresy II speakers! Well, my first "ex" took care of that after the divorce. However i still have a Nad cassete deck i was able to "save".