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

@vetsc5 You’re very welcome! This question came to mind in a fit of nostalgia for what with the perspective of time seems like a simpler era. I have an older sister that was obsessed with Neil Diamond and she often played Neil Diamond records. With her bedroom next to mine I always heard Neil Diamond. There was this one Phil Ochs record too- that started me on a discovery journey for my own music which was a via listening to the radio. My interest in music definitely predates my interest in the gear by a number of years 

My Dad always had a decent system.   When I was 15  I bought my first real piece of stereo gear.  A Sansui AU9900.     I found it in The WantAdvertiser and my Dad drove me out to pick it up.   $300.   

I was about age 28 when I got the bug for nicer equipment. I was married and more settled down. I am now 71.

Born in 49. I bought a kit amplifier I bought in the early 60's. I do not recall the brand but it was not Heathkit. I also bought some speaker kits from them. I do not recall the turntable brand. It was fun building the kit and my first record was a Ventures. 

~ 8 years old. My dad owned a TV/Stereo business called "Audio Sales" in California.  He would take me into the shop on Saturdays.  Him and his partner would work on repairs and misc..The smell of grill cloth and solder sucked me in.  He sat me down on the floor with an old destroyed turntable for me to work on. 

  We had a console stereo with records that my mom played all of the time, but for me it was all about the gear.  I got my first set of separates (Receiver, Warefdale speakers, and a turntable) when I was 15 and started buying records. Then it became more about the music AND the gear..