What was your first system? When was that?

After escaping from high school in June of ’68, I got myself a job for the summer before starting college in September, mostly to get money for a car and a hi-fi. That Fall I bought myself a Garrard SL55 table and Shure M44e cartridge, a used Fisher X-100C integrated tube amp, and a pair of Acoustic Research 4x loudspeakers and Koss Pro-4AA headphones. After that, I upgraded as often as I could, at least once a year.

!959-Eico kit mono amp, Heathkit FM tuner, Garrard Changer, GE cartridge, Stevens speaker. Sound was fantastic.

1998 - Pioneer stereo receiver with Bose 301 Bookshelf speakers. 

My first real stereo was in 1980
Klipsch Heresy speakers ,Kenwood integrated amp,tuner and  Lafayette receiver- Anyone remember  them ?  Nakamichi 3 head 
cassete deck , Audioquest cabling. Technics direct drive turntable
audio shure  cartridge. In my neighborhood it was pretty dam good for a 22 year old kid.

Around 1974-76, I started mowing lawns. Saved $$ and wondered what I should buy. Stereo of course.

No 1 - MCS 3112 or thereabouts Receiver, MCS cassette deck, speakers my uncle gave me, zip cord. My child hood best friend had this stereo until about 10 years ago.

No 2 - a few years later. MCS 3233 33 WPC Receiver, MCS cassette deck (much better than the prior deck), MCS TT, MCS speakers plus more speakers my uncle gave me, thicker zip cord, Radio Shack EQ. This system was much better than No 1. Lasted me until I went in the military in 1983.

Check out Ebay for MCS (Modular Component Systems) stuff.