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

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!

Age 14.    Used to go to the local audio store on my bike (connected to the local camera shop) and hang out & torture the salesmen.    
 

Bought a Yamaha receiver and Polk speakers and it was onward and upward from there.   By the time I was 18, I had a solid starter separates system, with Adcom separates, a Technics linear drive turntable, and a top-of-the-line Harman-Kardon CD-491 cassette deck (couldn’t afford the Nakamichi Dragon).    Fun times.   

I am also a Boomer of 1952 vintage.  Around 1962-1963, I took a commuter train with my father from Westfield, NJ into NYC to visit several dealers on Radio Row.  My dad had already made some decisions , and was finalizing purchases.  It was my first experience hearing “Serious” stereo setups.  My dad purchased a Fisher Integrated amp, a Fisher matching tuner, a Rek-O Kut turntable, empire cartridge and full range JBL 15” speakers in walnut cabinets.  Set up in our duplex home and hearing it for the first time, I was hooked!