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Components I would have died for when I was a wee pup

Turn back the dial to 1976-1977 (I was 16-17). What did I really want? 

Thorens turntable or a Philips GA212 with a Shure V15,Type 3 cartridge
Tandberg receiver
JBL L100 Century

what did you have in your cross hairs when you started out? 
zavato
akg_ca
2,479 posts
 
Back in the early to mid-70s, I had the JBL-100s, a Marantz 2245 receiver, and the Shure V-15 in an Elac Miracord turntable back then. They were fun and fine FOR THEIR TIME (emphasis added)

As much as the pure nostalgia attraction factor beckons, this  hobby equipment selection has evolved significantly in that the "old time' 70's era gear cannot even remotely compete with today's equipment. 
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noromance's avatar
noromance
10,482 posts
 
Any record player after I saw and heard my dad’s friend’s Philips Black Tulip quadraphonic? set up. Dad had no interest in a "music center" so we had no records in the house.
oblgny's avatar
oblgny
849 posts
 
Oh man...

Pioneer HPM100 loudspeakers to go with my Sansui 9090db receiver.  Crazy Eddie had 'em,  a few of the other local audio/appliance stores had 'em.  

I never got 'em.  

Every once in a while I see a pair for sale and I have to stop myself from buying them.

(Pioneer SX1080,  Pioneer SX850,  and a Marantz 2252b still working 2016)

I just got chills....


bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,492 posts
 

The first speakers I heard that completely changed my concept of what was possible was the Electrostatic Sound Systems (ESS) TranStatic I loudspeaker, in 1970. It had three RTR electrostatic tweeters, a KEF B139 woofer (the oval one Dave Wilson later used in his WAMM) loaded in a transmission-line enclosure, and a KEF 5" Bextrene midrange driver. FAR more transparent and uncolored than the AR, Rectilinear, JBL, etc. bookshelf speakers I had heard. But a pair retailed for $1200, far more than this starving musician had to spend on speakers. I already had an AR turntable with Shure M91e cartridge, AR integrated amp, and AR 4x speakers, and those would have to do for awhile.

The following year I heard the Infinity Servo-Static I. Even better, but $2000! By 1972 I had money to spend, and by then the original Magneplanar Tympani T-I was available. With a pair of them bi-amped with ARC amps, a Thorens TD-125 table with SME arm and Decca pickup, I finally had a system that satisfied. For awhile ;-)!

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