Your first component that was "special"

I was about to say my Phase Linear 400, but the V-!5 did precede it.

An NAD 3020 integrated amp...... a super low-key 20 wpc amp that blew away my flashy 70 wpc Japanese reciever.  As a 19 yr old college kid, it was tough to buy something that didn't look awesome, but I soon came to love the NAD look, and now equate that to fun listening. I quickly traded up to the 3150 amp and it's still powering my workshop system today, 32 years later!

 My very first system roughly 45 years ago - was a Luxman 1500 receiver, a pair of Bose 301's and a Lenco L85 turntable -- all financed with my college grant money & this served me well for many years  -- but the piece of equipment that started me down the path of financial "unfreedom" and "upgradeitis"  was a pair of ML Purity speakers.

I fell in love with the electrostatic sound -- and moved up to the CLX after a few years  -- once that happened -- I was "forced" into upgrading everything else in my system in order to try and squeeze the very best sound out of the clx speakers.  A journey that has been a lot of fun, very rewarding but never seems to want to end.

I would have to say that 'Special" is a moving target -- as all of these were very special when i first got them -- and there are varying degrees of special -- there's " WOW "  -- then there's " HOLY SH_T"  and then there is "I'M DONE"  -- which isn't true - otherwise i wouldn't be looking at Audiogon anymore. 

Great American Sound (GAS) Son of Ampzilla power amp, with Magnepan IIa speakers.

1976

....MHO, I think the 'digressions' ('L' trains and reverie of days gone by) are some of the finer moments we can share....so, have at it. ;)

The item that changed audio for me was an Audio Control EQ (model number ?), the one that came with a calibrated mic and RTA.  Lead me to investigating setting up system response to 'flat' within the listening space.  Tried it, liked it, haven't gone back since.  Now I've just gotten a bit more sophisticated about it....*G*  Better mic, better Behringer eq, let the 'puter do the 'heavy lifting', all that....