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


Wondering how old people were when they first started to get interested in audio gear. 
 

I first heard of Dual and Acoustic Research when I was around 13, but it did nothing for me, however, by the time I was 15 or 16 I definitely was interested. A relative had a Dual turntable, Scott receiver, Tandberg reel to reel and Rectilinear speakers (and he still has that gear, and the Rectilinears are still in use).  I remember helping him get the speakers into his apartment. I also knew of Thorens. 

That’s all back in the 70’s 

 

 

zavato

My best friend and I were just discussing this. When we were about 16 we would take the speakers off the Sears "portable" stereo (turntable folded up into the box)... about $49 in 1967 and put them on the floor and put our head in between the speakers. The bass was great at 2"

So, there are stories a few years earlier of me listening with my ear to the speaker  late at night to the tube counsel in my bedroom at whisper volume so my parents would not hear. But, I'll put my stake at 16.

My father bought an all-tube Fisher system in a console cabinet in 1964 when I was five years old. It came with a Dual turntable and a Teac reel-to-real. He knew what he was doing - his Bachelor's Degree was in engineering physics from the electrical engineering department school and he was in grad school having finished his Master's in physics. He knew electronics. And I was fascinated.

I bought my first system with my paper route earnings (I saved up for over a year). at Christmas time 1974 when I was 15. It was a Pioneer SX-636, Fischer XP88 speakers, and a Dual 1215 w/ a Stanton cartridge. 

I was on my way,

On was on my way

1965 I was four. Dual 1019 w Grado cartridge arrived w store demo MC240 and new MX-110Z and custom ordered cherry cabinet Bozak speakers - half a Concert Grand in a low boy configuration 

Young Persons Guide to Orchestra and Al Hirt - Carnival of Venice ensued…

this eventually led to a Denon TT, Grado, Onkyo A5 and Infinity Qb speakers… leading to employment at two high end stores…

I still have and greatly enjoy the MC240

I was in 5th grade when I inherited my older brother's portable stereo record player. Speaker in the base and the other in the lid. Wore out several Beatle albums with that thing. I think it had an ice pick for a needle! Then when I was 13 he decided to move back to the Dom. Rep. which meant I got all the stuff he left behind including a Dual turntable, a Dynaco SCA-35 integrated and a pair of AR speakers. Talk about an upgrade! I spent hours upon hours listening to music up in his old room. Had my first girl at 13 one rainy afternoon while Quadrophenia was playing...

Both the stereo and girl are long gone. Still have the LP though. wink

Happy listening.