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

I went through Heathkit catalogs like others went through the Sears Christmas catalog. I still chuckle at being in awe of the Heathkit "computers!"

Freshman year in high school began real interest in equipment. Was lucky enough to receive a KLH stereo for graduation. All downhill from there. Some people, not me of course, discovered student loans were great for stereo stuff! 

When I was a teen I stayed at a relative’s home- they had a military PX catalog- this was during the Vietnam years. That catalog introduced me to brands I never heard of. 

I was a teen and drooled over all the hifi stuff, but could not afford it. In grad school (mid 90s) I got some prize money and purchased a Pro-ject 6.1 TT, otherwise rather bought vinyl than gear. 24 years of school, post-doc, adjuncting, plus academic rat race in MINT-non-profit world is not a good financial strategy, though had plenty of fun. Only since mid 50s I could buy any vinyl I want and still have discretionary funds left over. I am still way more into music than gear. Gear is just a means to an end. 

My story is different.  Born in 1949 behind the Iron Curtain I was hooked up to Hi-Fi around 17. With help of some friends from France I got my first Scott 50W stereo integrated with 50W Scott speakers. Thorens TT and French radio receiver. Later I found a mini Denon reel to reel. Going through 70ies and 80ies I tested Sony and Technics integrated but I can't forget my Scott experience. Coming to USA in 1990 gave me a lot more opportunities for Onkyo, Opportunities. On a trip to OC I swerved to a SALE sign in a warehouse where I found two ESS AMT towers slightly damaged at the top cover. I listened to them for a decade, replaced the surrounds and finally sold them.  Great speakers .  Now I'm streaming mostly with Eversolo, Benchmark and Focals. I guess the bug never goes away. 

What a great topic!!!  I love hearing everyone’s stories and journeys. 
My father was stationed in West Germany and I was born there in 1963. 
He purchased a Telefunken console stereo and it had a record player, reel to reel and multiband radio. 
And of course it was all tube and the wood, if I recall correctly, was teak?  It weighed a ton!!!

My father was a radio operator in the military so he would turn it on for me and dial in the band that had a lot of Morse code broadcasts and he would decipher the messages for me. 
And then around 1974 or so my older brother introduced me to his new Marantz integrated amplifier, Pioneer turntable and Stanton phono cartridge and his loud BIC loudspeakers.  
That was when I really caught the bug!