How old were you when audio gear first caught your interest?

I was 23 when I made enough money to buy my first system. I think I had met all the criteria of an audiophile when I hooked it up and played it hours on end.

Ironically, the first soundstage I heard was in a car with a Bose system in 2003. It was magical. 

But now that I think of it, I was annoyed with the clarity and detail of my own sound when I was born, crying, so there. I win. Audiophile from age 21 minutes.

I remember when I was 16, going with my father to pick up our new Fisher 500c receiver and Dual 1019 turntable (which I still have), and AR 2ax speakers for our newly remodeled den...I was hooked...

My grandparents had a wind-up record player that I fell in love with when I was 6 or 7. I remember them putting on a record and being amazed the needle and arm could make sounds coming out of a horn speaker. Later, when I was 13 I had a newspaper route and saved up money to buy Lafayette and Garrard audio equipment.

Its all about having big brothers in the 60's and early seventies!  They were 4 and 10 years older, so they turned me on to the good stuff!  I was about 9.  By 14 had my own receiver, turntable and cassette deck.  By college I had the rockingest system in the dorm!

My dad and one of my many uncles were both into "Hifi" as it was referred to back in the day when I was a youngster.  Both also enjoyed woodworking, carpentry and cabinet making.  I would watch dad build speaker cabinets.  He would source his speaker components from Olsen Electronics.  Dad had a Fisher receiver and uncle Hitch a Mcintosh, tube gear of course as this was early/mid 50's.  As a little guy I was memorized by the the VU meters and the warm glow of the tubes.  That's when I caught the audio/electronics bug..Watching dad and uncle Hitch building and comparing their hifi/stereo rigs.  That electronics background contributed greatly to my time in the USAF as an Avionics tech.  Your question is much appreciated as it triggered warm memories. BTW I recently added a Prima Luna EVO 400 IA as i was jone'sn to bring tube gear back to the room. Thank you.

Enjoy the music.