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

I was 15 (1974). I bought a little Marantz amp (25w) with some RTR speakers. I should've waited a few months, save more money and picked up a more powerful amp. Those RTR's were power hogs. Sounded great but were power hungry. 

Where's the "loudness button" we all used to enjoy? 

Thank Goodness for Paper Route Money.

My 1st route was on a mountain in Asheville, NC, I lived at the base of it. 

I loaded my wagon with it’s removable wooden side panels with folded papers, and tossed them up the driveways on the way up the mountain, then I collected bottles out of the woods and side of the road on the way down. Plenty of them every day in those days. At the bottom of the hill, bottles showing, I knocked on doors and the old ladies thought I was such a darling, they saved hangers for me. 

They had no idea that innocent looking kid was such a Juvenile Delinquent.

Later, I was the All-Star Lefty Pitcher. It just occurred to me, probably throwing those newspapers was the foundation of that, and, once I received encouragement for something I was good at, I practiced like crazy every day on my house’s brick wall.

Also just occurred to me, pulling that wagon up that mountain is why hiking mountains all over NC was easy for me.

So, starting smoking and drinking at a young age was good for me (then). 

About 13 or 14 when I first started listening seriously to WZMF in Milwaukee.  They played full albums, or sides of what is termed today as classic rock, such that existed in the late 60s..Hendrix, Byrds...  

Bought my first full setup at 16y/o.  $3K worth($23K today's dollars). McIntosh MA6100 integrated, Tandberg 9200 R2R, don't remember the TT, Klipsch LaScala speakers. It was OK for a 16 year old kid. :) (I worked near full time in high school and paid for the system myself)  Still have the 6100 in my office..the 9200 has worn out heads, but it's in a box yet. 

@nogaps 

$3k age 16, hats off to you!

I was 11 when I won the 5th grade spelling bee and as a prize, received a Sanyo boombox.  thats what did it.  listened to it while i was in bed with it on my chest, so my head was smack dab in the middle of both speakers.  sounded awesome. didnt care about which song was on the radio, i just cared about the sound.