In '85 I bought my first amp, a Yamaha M-2, and my first CD player (Sony 501 ES). A friend loaned me a wee pair of AR bookshelf speakers and I was set to play....I bought Telarc's Star Tracks and plugged in. Well, the volume at the beginning of the set was dead, quiet so I bumped it up a bit. Still very little there, just an eerie sound. Then, the whine kicked in. Louder and louder and still louder....Before I realised what was happening, KABOOM! Cymbals crashed! Star Wars and Han Solo and the Milennium Falcon descended and the tweeters and woofers were killed instantly.

At that same time, my (ex) friend went deaf. No apologies or explanation would sway him...

And that was when I knew that CD's, Hifi and me would have a very wonderful relationship.