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

Wow I was about 12 yrs old. My dad was in the Air Force in Thailand. He sent back a Sony reel to reel. He sent me tons of music on reels. About a year after that he sent me a JVC tuner/table combo unit with speakers. It had a 4 band EQ and quad capabilities. It was a whopping 47 watts and I LOVED it!

From there He got me a pair of Sansui (I think 5 way) speakers. Then I saved up and bought a Marantz 1150D integrated and a 10 band Souncraftsman EQ. A Marantz 6501(i think was the model number) turntable with a Goldring cart. From there I lived to read mags,literature, listen to anything at a store.It has never stopped. Now between money and liking what I have I spend every day listening and enjoying music.

It was 1986 and I was 24. I was in the Navy stationed at Norfolk, VA. when I walked into a HiFi store and they were playing Mannheim Steamroller's Fresh Aire 6 on Mark Levinson gear connected to Acoustat panel speakers. Is that weird that I remember the exact event? Anyway, I was hooked after that.

I had a portable Phillips Reel to Reel Tape Recorder when I was a teenager. I recorded my own guitar instrumentals and I guess it all started there.

I was 15, went to camp in WI, came home wanting a 'real' stereo system. My dad bought me some DLK 1 speakers that I liked (seconds), picked up a Pioneer PL10 turntable and a Sony receiver model I don't remember. Thus began my journey.

Hello All!  t the age of 9 or 10 I started drilling holes in my mother's book cases and mounting speakers in them. I went door to door with my little red wagon asking for old radios and record players. I disassembled them to find out how they worked. Great fun. I still watch trash cans for discarded audio gear. Enjoy the hobby and the music.