My first audio system

[Joseph]

Checking out the great systems in member profiles made me think of what my first attempt at a sound system was like.

Old discarded Dual t/t /ceramic cartridge with no base sitting in a piece of luggage.
Right channel was a mono p.a. amp driving a Kodak projector speaker.
Left channel was a non-functional Revere (?) reel to reel with functioning mono amp and built-in speaker.

I thought I was in heaven! A totally disfunctional system yet I still have fond memories about it since it was my first very own system.

Any memories about your first system, good or bad?

[Steve Hoffman]

The first system I bought for myself (as opposed to my Dad footing the bill) was one of those Concord receivers with the built in Garrard turntable built in on top. The entire thing cost $100.00 at University Stereo.

Then, I picked up some "white box" speakers from Costco (Gemco) and I was in heaven. They had a 12" woofer (floppy as hell) a midrange unit and a tweeter. $89.00 for the pair. Real wood too!

I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I actually had bass and top end for the first time!

Loved that stupid system.

Sold it for $200.00 two years later and bought a Sony receiver, a Garrard Zero 100 with a Shure M91ED and a pair of JBL 100's.

THAT WAS GREAT!

But, a year later I got the system that I held onto until 1990!!!!

1975 Pioneer 1010 Receiver with 100 watts per channel, Pioneer PL 12D turntable with Shure V15 Tape III cartridge, TEAC Reel To Reel and a beautiful pair of AR3a's. All from Pacific Stereo.

Bought it in 1975 and kept that sucker for 15 years. Worked like a charm. In 1990 I gave electronics and turntable to DCC's Marcia McGovern, who still uses it. The AR3a's are in the garage.

The good old days.

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman

But, a year later I got the system that I held onto until 1990!!!!

1975 Pioneer 1010 Receiver with 100 watts per channel, Pioneer PL 12D turntable with Shure V15 Tape III cartridge, TEAC Reel To Reel and a beautiful pair of AR3a's. All from Pacific Stereo.

Bought it in 1975 and kept that sucker for 15 years. Worked like a charm. In 1990 I gave electronics and turntable to DCC's Marcia McGovern, who still uses it. The AR3a's are in the garage.

The good old days.

My first really good system consisted of a Pioneer 1010, Technics SL-110 t/t with Shure V15 III cartridge, and double Advents. Imagine it probably sounded similar to your setup Steve.

[Steve Hoffman]

Very close,yes.

Double Advents. I had that setup for a while when my AR3a's kept blowing tweeters.

We matched sonically, that's for sure!

[Dave]

My very first stereo was back in 1973 and was a Lloyds amplified turntable (don't remember the model) and two included speakers. Cost $12.00 Can.

Didn't up grade to anything decent until 1981 when I bought a Pioneer SX-434 receiver for $50(my parents are still using this!), then I got my first cassette deck a Nikko for $20, then a Pioneer TT for $15 and finally 4 Realistic 100W speakers, bought these brand new.

Finally in 1997 I bought the system I have now with a few up grades along the way. There were other components in there as well, but too many to remember them all.

[Steve Hoffman]

Amazing how that older stuff never broke.

[Dave]

Actually Steve, I know of two others that are the same model as my folks and both of theirs are working as well......hmmmm.

[Dan C]

Way back when, my sister and I shared a big phonograph/amp/speaker combo from the 60's. It had tubes and ran very hot, our Sesame Street records would warp when we left them scattered on the thing (you know how kids are:) ). Can't quite remember, but it might have been a GE or Sylvania model.

I got my very own stereo for my 8th birthday, a Soundesign console:eek: . All decked out with a changer, FM stereo and 8-track! I remember closing the lid and laying on top of it while records played. I still have a few Elvis and light classical LPs that somehow survived that era.

My first separates were hand-me-downs from my Grandfather. A little Fisher solid state integrated, some Electro-Voice EV12's, and a Panasonic turntable and cassette deck.
The Panasonic 'table was soon replaced by another Soundesign turntable which was dressed up to look like the then very hip Technics units. Even as a kid I couldn't stand the noise and rumble from that beast!

I still have the Electro-Voices, used them up until early last year. They're practically heirlooms now :) .

Dan C

[Paul Chang]

I still have my first system, which has been with me for 17+ years. Sadly, it went mono just over three months ago when I blew the "bass"/mid range drive unit in the right channel Rogers LS3/5A (15 ohm version). I'm moving the old system upstairs to my master bedroom and hopefully will have the blown driver repaired/replaced someday.

The first system I ever used was a Motorola automatic record changer. My late father bought it in the U.S.A. and took it back to Taiwan. It had a stereo tube amp, the left channel speaker and a two-hand analog clock built in. The right speaker was in a separate box connected by a cable terminated with an RCA jack. It had a "convertible cartridge" with two needles mounted on opposite (top/bottom) sides. I think one was for LP and the other for 78. You switch it by rotating the head 180 degree so the right needle would face downward. The arm was about 1" wide at its thickest point. We would get shocked by the leakage current from time to time when we tried to move the arm manually. My dad told me multi-disc record sets were not paired sequentially so they could be stacked on the spindle of the changer waiting for their turn to play.

[Khorn]

Well, wouldja look at that, what a coincidence!

In the post above Paul Chang has a picture of my first system as his Avatar!
No, that's not me lookin' into the horn. Wonders never cease....

[Paul Chang]

Khorn,

You are kidding, aren't you? Do you still have it?

[Gary]

My first system was purchased from Eaton's (a department store). It was a Viking - their home brand. AM/FM radio, turntable on top, amp section - all in one. The speakers, connected by RCA plugs, were very deep and had lots of bass. As a kid, you wanted lots of bass! Loooots! :D

I remember that the FM signal sounded lots better than the TT. The TT section was 16 / 33 / 45 / 78. Versatile! Still have that unit but the speakers are gone.... (stupid Gary - gave 'em away to a girl) .... (but maybe it's better that way.... they probably sound horrible!)

The first records that I bought were Bobby Goldsboro (SP?), Hair (the purple cover with the re-recorded music) and The Illusion: Togeather as a Way of Life. And some '45's........ all from Savette, a discount store in Thorncliffe mall.

Have most of my second system - Technics receiver, Advent speakers but Technics TT with the "S" arm is gone, though. :(

[MikeT]

My first system was a Fisher 5055, all in one stereo. It had the Garrard turntable built in on top, and probably one of the first commercially available cassette decks (no dolby, etc.) available - also built into the unit on top. (This cassette deck was the first Fisher cassette deck and could also be purchased separately). The system also came with two Fisher bookshelf speakers (can't remember the model number).

I got the system when I was 12. I remember sending away for the Fisher glossy color catalogs all the time, and salivating over the systems. The 5055 all-in-one system seemed best suited for my needs at the time.

This was when Fisher was still considered an audio company - when Avery Fisher ran and owned the company.

[Jim Ricketts]

My first system (other than those little portables) was a Harmon-Kardon 630 receiver, original large Advents and a Dual 1215/Shure M91ED. Picked it up on a Friday and had one hell-of-a-weekend! First LP played was Abraxus and never stopped lovin' it! Eventually re-discovered tubes and never looked back!

[Bob Olhsson]

I suppose the first thing I had that qualified as a "system" was a Motorola portable record player that I put a ceramic stereo cartridge into and used along with an old Bendix TV set to get two unbelievably unbalanced channels of stereo.

The first thing I had that qualified as high fidelity was a McIntosh 60, a Scott 310c tuner, a Dynakit PAS-2 stereo preamp kit, a used Radio Shack speaker system that I upgraded with a Bozak 8" driver and a Radio Shack electrostatic tweeter, a Radio Shack turntable and a Pickering cartridge. My intention was to eventually wind up with a pair of Macs and a pair of AR-3s. I wound up getting an AR-3a but by the time I got a second one there were no Mac 60s available so I got an AR amplifier along with the second AR-3a. It was my first major lesson that newer often isn't as good.

[John B]

My first was a plastic battery powered portable - can't remember the make and model. I remember my excitement when I got it.
For one year when I was twelve, I was completely happy with my "hi-fi". Since then, I've never been satisfied.

[rudy]

The first turntable I actually bought was battery operated plastic gizmo that was portable. I think I was about 12 years old and was thrilled I could take this to all my friend's homes. I remember hauling around a Dave Clark Five LP to show it off.

[akshobhyavajra]

Originally posted by Tangent
Checking out the great systems in member profiles made me think of what my first attempt at a sound system was like.



Any memories about your first system, good or bad?

In 1968 I was given a 1953 - 54 Loewe Opta Rheingold - Musikschrank 53 / 3953 W, which had UKW - 2 x KW - MW - LW and a Dual 1002 E Plattenwechsler (a horrible turntable by today's standards). The unit was mono, used EF 42 ; EC 92 ; ECH 81 ; 2 x EF 41 ; EABC 80 ; EM 34 ; 2 x EL 41 tubes and.... I wish I had it today - the radio sounded nice and it was a beautiful cabinet.

Today I am still happy with tubes and enjoy their sound...

[Khorn]

Originally posted by Paul Chang
Khorn,

You are kidding, aren't you? Do you still have it?

Sorry Paul it was just a joke. Yeah, it would be a gas to have one of those things.

[KeithH]

Growing up, I used my parents' systems. Back in the early '60s, before I was born, they bought the Marantz Model 7 tube pre-amp and Model 8B tube power amp, along with a Thorens turntable and McIntosh tuner. I have the Marantz components now, but I have not hooked them up yet. My folks still have the turntable and tuner. I'm not sure of the model numbers for the turntable and tuner, but that's some great stuff. The turntable is cool. It's enclosed in a wood case that opens like those old-fashioned roll-top desks. My dad said I could have the McIntosh tuner, which he believes is still functional. I will be grabbing it soon.

In the '80s, my dad replaced all the above classic gear with a JVC solid-state system and Realistic turntable in one room and a Kenwood rack system in another. I wasn't into audio in a big way back then, but now I can't believe he put the classic stuff into a closet. Anyway, I made great use of that JVC system when I was in high school. Someone commented above how it seems like the old stuff never breaks. So true. The Kenwood and JVC systems from the '80s are still going strong. So is all the vintage gear, from what I have been told.

When I was 15, my folks bought me an inexpensive system from Sears. A dual cassette deck, graphic equalizer, and speakers were in one box, and it came with speakers. It was a POS for the most part, but it worked! Then, when I started college in 1988, I got Sony's first portable CD player, the D-5. It wasn't even called a Discman. I connected the D-5 to the Sears system. So, in 1988, I thought I was cool because I was in the college dorm with a CD player! :cool:

When I was in college in 1989, my parents bought me a Kenwood rack system that was very similar to the one my dad already had. I was in heaven. The system came complete with a single-disc CD player, dual cassette deck, fully automatic turntable, amp, graphic equalizer, and tuner. The CD player died after six months, and for some reason, Kenwood couldn't fix it. It was replaced with a Kenwood carousel changer, which I thought was the greatest thing since sliced bread. That system served me well for 11 years, at which point I began upgrading. I gave the Kenwood system to a good friend, and it is still working for him.

[TimB]

The first was Bose 301 speakers, Radio Shack 35 watt integrated amp, JVC belt drive table, and an Audio Technica cartridge (really cheap one I am sure). The second was a JVC 1050 cd player, Dynaco ST70, Kenwood TT (the real heavy one with faux marble plinth), Shure V15V cartridge and GoldSound and Advent speakers (the Advents where a gift from a friend, at about the same time I built the GoldSounds)

[Tullman]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KeithH
[B]Growing up, I used my parents' systems. Back in the early '60s, before I was born, they bought the Marantz Model 7 tube pre-amp and Model 8B tube power amp, along with a Thorens turntable and McIntosh tuner. I have the Marantz components now, but I have not hooked them up yet. My folks still have the turntable and tuner. I'm not sure of the model numbers for the turntable and tuner, but that's some great stuff. The turntable is cool. It's enclosed in a wood case that opens like those old-fashioned roll-top desks. My dad said I could have the McIntosh tuner, which he believes is still functional. I will be grabbing it soon.

In the '80s, my dad replaced all the above classic gear with a JVC solid-state system and Realistic turntable in one room and a Kenwood rack system in another. I wasn't into audio in a big way back then, but now I can't believe he put the classic stuff into a closet. Anyway, I made great use of that JVC system when I was in high school. Someone commented above how it seems like the old stuff never breaks. So true. The Kenwood and JVC systems from the '80s are still going strong. So is all the vintage gear, from what I have been told.


Keith,
Wow! Your parents knew enough to get the big Marantz system and then discarded it for a JVC sytem. Boy, just add some new tubes and the old Marantz sytem would have kicked butt. Your Parents must have gotten sick of the tube replacement thing.

My first system that I paid for in 1974 was a Marantz 1120 intergrated amp, Pioneer R700 speakers, and a Thorens TD160 TT with a stanton cartridge. The Marantz and the TD160 are still in service. I bought all of this equipment used. I listened to this system through 1988 from there I began to build through trade-ins and upgrades the system I have now.

[aashton]

I have 3 big brothers so I always listened to their systems and my parents - I listened to tapes a lot and loved it :D

The first system of my own was a very early Sony CD - can't remember the model number but it's around in the loft somewhere; a Musical Fidelity (UK) A1 Integrated - great for frying bacon and eggs on the top :) and a pair of Musical Fidelity MC-2 loudspeakers. I loved that system :) I remember like it was yesterday listening to Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and as each instrument was introduced "watching" it float through the air in an arc from left to right :) The 15 year old malt might have had a little to do with it so I would put that down in the accessories.

Very happy memories - Andrew

[KeithH]

Tullman, perhaps it was the idea of replacing tubes that got my dad to go with solid-state gear. I don't know. At least he had the sense to hold onto the good stuff!

[JohnG]

My first system was a Lafayette Radio brand complete system. The ones that have the turntable on top of the AM/FM radio and come with 2 speakers that now looking back were pretty crappy.
But I remember that the Radio did sound nice.

Anyone remember BSR turntables?
Or Panasonic Thruster speakers?

My first real system was purchased down on Chambers Street in NYC at Crazy Ikes's Sound Emporium in 1983 (I was 23).
It consisted of a Sansui DD turntable (I still have it), A Sharp receiver with AM/FM and a pair of big old Pioneer speakers that did sound good with Rock music.