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
22 in Las Vegas while I'm the Air Force. Had returned from Japan for camera equipment and went back 8 years later for audio after 12 months in Korea where I dipped my toes. Discovered S'phile and TAS and in two years had: B&W CM-2's, 802's, Adcom 565's/GCD-575 cd player, Pioneer PD-75, three Teac tape decks. Went to Singapore on temp duty, got mesmerized and came to Sacramento, where I stayed poor. |
@tabl10s I grew up in Sacramento and left in 1973 for the Navy. Got out in ‘77 and immediately moved to Seattle for work with Boeing. Left there in ‘88 and started a new career in Seattle. I hear Sacramento has grown! |
Fall of 1959: I was visiting my Aunt & Uncle in PA... just 10 years old. My Aunt said "if you want to say hi to your uncle you'll have to wait till he's through listening to his music". He was in the basement I could hear the sound, so I snuck down there. The lights were off but there was a faint glow of tubes in the distance. The sound was everywhere, he motioned me to sit down and be silent. I sat there for 15 minutes listening to his newfangled stereo LP's. It was jazz. When he finally turned the the lights on I saw these monster speakers (Klipschorns) tucked in the corners, a TT, amp and pre-amp. I've never looked back. |
I was in law school. My first week there, I went to a wine party for the law school newspaper. The editor asked me what I'd like to do for the paper; in a rare stroke of genius I said I'd like to review records. He responded "That's great. We've never had a record review column." I bought John Lennon's Imagine album and Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells A Story; wrote a review and sent it out to every major record company. For the next three years, I received EVERY rock album released, most of which I sold to my classmates. I took the money and bought a Garrard Zero 100 turntable, a Sony receiver and AR 3A speakers. My current system consists of Magnepan 3.7i's on Magnarisers, Conrad Johnson amp and pre-amp, Technics SL1200 GR2 turntable and Marantz CD player. Roughly 2000 CDs and 1000 LRs. My three sons have systems largely composed of my hand-me-downs. |
I was 9 years old. My uncle was an audiophile (of course I had no idea what that was at the time -1967). All I know that my dad (who worked for his older brother at the time would get his old equipment when he upgraded). I have a very clear memory visiting my Uncle Marv’s home and seeing what I know realize were Thiel speakers (taller than I was at the time), a very impressive reel-to-reel which I can picture but don’t recall the brand, Thorens turntable (which inspired my first college purchase - and which I’m certain was stolen by my landlord my junior year. He left my Marantz amp, so at least he knew what he was doing). I also remember tucked away in the reading nook at the far end of the room were several large electronic components - all black with very cool aqua-marine lights. lol). My very first pair of speakers in jr high were hand me down bookshelves from him. After college and outgrowing the obligatory dorm room Marantz my first system was a Technics table (of course), used Polk SDA2s which made my ears bleed and constantly popped fuses, one of the first Carver CD players and Hafler DH220 amp and DH110 pre modded by Musical Concepts. Kept those for 20 yerars with recaps, etc along the way. |
