Results 1 to 19 of 19
  1. #1
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    St. Paul, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,421

    What was your very first audio equipment you bought?

    I thought it might be interesting to see what audio equipment people bought as their very first stereo.

    I bought a very nice sounding Pioneer 15wpc receiver with 2way Altec Lansing speakers and a JVC direct drive turntable in 1977. Also had and still have a Sanyo tape deck and BSR 10 band equalizer. That 15watt receiver had plenty of power and great sound compared to some of the high powered junk sold today at chain stores.
    Last edited by blackraven; 12-30-2006 at 08:10 PM.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  2. #2
    Demoted to Low-Fi Carl Reid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    285
    Does that question include Mini-systems and portable CD players etc....?

    Ignoring mini-systems, the first setup I bought was a Technics Receiver (100W x 5 channels) with a Technics SLPD9 5 disc CD changer and a pair of Technics LX70K 3 way speakers.... all new about 4 years ago...

  3. #3
    Forum Regular JDaniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Birmingham, AL
    Posts
    369
    I bought a full Marantz Gold system circa 1982 - 25 watt receiver, two tape decks, tt, speakers. This was past the glory days of Marantz (70s), but that little receiver still goes strong 25 years later, as do the two tape decks. I traded the TT and speakers about 10 years ago. Wish I had the TT back.

    I've since bought a lot of vintage equip. from the 70s, and am happy with what I've accumulated.


    JD
    Tu le ton son temp..... That's what we'd say ... (Lucinda Williams)

  4. #4
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    St. Paul, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,421
    Now don't be shy about mini systems too, lol.

    Yeah, the equipment from the 70's from Marantz, Pioneer, Yamaha, Kenwood and Technics were well made using quality components (I don't think that cheapo solid state electronics were mass produced back then). My vintage Technics integrated amp from the 70's is built like a beast and weighs a ton for an intergrated amp compared to the amps of today.
    My first CDP was a Technics SLP J1 if I remember correctly. It finallly died 5 years ago. I bought it in 1980 for $200 and it too was very heavy compared to todays equipment and was better sounding than many of the sub $1000 players today. Suprisingly, that CD player had an optical digital out port for future digital connections.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  5. #5
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    St. Louis, MO, USA
    Posts
    10,176
    My dad bought me a Realistic STA-78 receiver when I was 16, I'm about to date myself, that was back in 79. I scraped the money together to by a pair of Centrex 12" 3-way speakers. Then came a used Pioneer PL25 turntable. Eventually a Teac cassette deck. I had this stuff for years as I was fairly poor for years. Centrex was a cheap line put out by Pioneer. Those speakers were under $200.00. The STA-78 was rated at 22 wpc, it had a walnut case with a black face, it was beautiful, and rocked. I foolishly sold that and bought a space age looking Pioneer rated at 45 wpc. I regretted that move until the day I could finally afford to move on. That Pioneer had no balls what so ever. Back in those days though it was bigger numbers and bigger woofers.

    This brings to mind how fortunate today's generations are to have the internet to learn quicker about audio and to have access to used gear and better variety. Newbies probably learn in months what it took me years to pick up. Still nothing takes the place of hands, or ears, on experience.

  6. #6
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Long Island, New York
    Posts
    494

    Ouch - we're going back almost 30 years now...

    Quote Originally Posted by blackraven
    I thought it might be interesting to see what audio equipment people bought as their very first stereo.

    I bought a very nice sounding Pioneer 15wpc receiver with 2way Altec Lansing speakers and a JVC direct drive turntable in 1977. That 15watt receiver had plenty of power and great sound compared to some of the high powered l junk sold today at chain stores.
    ...I believe the first thing that I purchased with my OWN money was a pair of Criterion (from Lafayette) 4-way (IIRC) speakers. Yeah, that's about right... 10 or 12", mid, tweeter, and a supertweeter. Contour controls for mid and HF on the front. Sounded "OK" at the time, bad now. A friend has a very similar model in mint shape... not too good. They did, however, w-a-y beat the sound from the all-in-one Soundesign speakers I was using.

    After that. ditched the Compact, and got a Realistic STA-110 receiver and LAB-440 turntable.

    Then Pioneer HPMs...

    Then Boston Acoustics...

    Etc., etc., etc...

  7. #7
    Shostakovich fan Feanor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    London, Ontario
    Posts
    8,127

    Ah! 1971

    Quote Originally Posted by blackraven
    I thought it might be interesting to see what audio equipment people bought as their very first stereo.
    ....
    A friend got me a great deal on some Dynaco equipment:
    • PAT-4 solid state preamp
    • Stereo 80 solid state power amp
    • FM-3 tube FM tuner, very quickly replaced by a FM-5 solid state.
    To these I added:
    • Lenco L45 turntable
    • Shure cartridge -- a mid range model I don't recall.
    As for the Dynaco, at the time I could have gone tube, viz. PAS-3 preamp, Stereo 70 power amp. Who knows? If I had, I might have a different attidute towards tubes than I do.
    Last edited by Feanor; 12-31-2006 at 06:20 AM.

  8. #8
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    St. Paul, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,421
    Its cool to see what people started out with, especially us forty something folks. I think back in the 1970's, low cost amplifier's were way ahead in fidelity than affordable speakers were, when we all had little money. Back then I dreamed about owning Nakamechi and Sansui equipment with Genesis speakers but couldnt afford it when I was in college.
    Last edited by blackraven; 12-30-2006 at 09:07 PM.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  9. #9
    test the blind blindly emorphien's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    919
    That I bought? A 12" Acoustic Research sub. AR S12HO or somesuch when I was just entering high school.

  10. #10
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    oklahoma
    Posts
    127
    Mine was a SoundDesign tuner and dual tape combo,with Realistic towers that had two 8's and a 4 inch and tweet,I know the crossover selector says T-100.I still have both,after more than 20 years.
    Marantz SR-18
    Eosone RSF1000's
    Eosone RSC 300 Center
    Eosone RSF 400's
    SVS PC 20-39
    Samsung 42" DLP
    Xbox 360
    PS3 60gig

  11. #11
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Margate, Florida
    Posts
    614
    In 1974, I bought a used X-100 fisher tube amp. I had a a pair of two-way Marantz imperial 6 speakers. I used a radio shack fm tuner and some kind of turntable with a Shure m91ed cartridge. Reading some of the other things some AR members bought above:

    Pioneers 15 watt receivers in those days did sound fantastic for their 15 watts.

    The Dynaco Pat 4 was a fabulous pre-amp. It had a great phono section to boot. The stereo 80 was a tremendous power amp. Both delievered sizzling sound. Even better as a power amp. was the stereo 120. I did buy a used Pas 3x and built a stereo 70. Real nice sound from those two.

    The T-100 tower speakers were exactly as you described. To me, they sounded better than the ratings that were assigned to them at that time.

  12. #12
    Crackhead Extraordinaire Dusty Chalk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    below the noise floor
    Posts
    3,636
    Creek OBH-11 headphone amp. I was impressed.
    Eschew fascism.
    Truth Will Out.
    Quote Originally Posted by stevef22
    you guys are crackheads.
    I remain,
    Peter aka Dusty Chalk

  13. #13
    Forum Regular Gerall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    38

    Back When...

    1978 purchase my first system that was not a "Walmart" type of integrated system.

    Dual 602 Turntable
    Marantz 1070 amplifier
    CS-30 three way speakers, 12" bass, 5" mid, and 3/4 dome mylar tweet.
    LOL.....Bell and Howell 8 track player....

    I still have the marantz amp and it still performs as it always had. Have it in my computer room connected to PC with Paradigm bookshelf speakers.

    My how times have changed

  14. #14
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    79
    An Aiwa minisystem that was much better than it had any right to be. We're still using it with another pair of Aiwa speakers - they're actually not bad, maybe equivalent to low-end Bose stuff in quality - but at a tiny fraction of the price.

  15. #15
    Up & Coming Bottlehead jt1stcav's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Lakeland, inbetween Tampa and Orlando, Florida
    Posts
    93
    My very first audio system? Back in '73 I saved up enough paper route money to buy a 10 watt Precor receiver with built-in BSR record changer and two single-driver hi-fi speakers from Caldors. Later added a RadioShack top-loading cassette recorder to record my first LPs onto cassette (I was a budding audiophile trying to preserve my precious albums even back then).

    In '79 I decided to upgrade from the cheesey Precor to my first real audio system with all entry-level Technics (by Panasonic) components (which I still have out in the garage); a 25 watt SA-5170 receiver, 2-head RS-616 cassette deck, and a belt-drive SL-210 'table with basic audio-technica MM cartridge. Unfortunantly, they all need repairs...someday, perhaps. The speakers were cheap 2-ways from a no-name (Audiotek) that didn't sound much better than the even-cheaper Precor pair...oh well, three outta four isn't too bad (and I've owned much better since then with JBL, Magnepan, Triangle, Loth-X, and Klipsch).
    ~ Jim Tidwell ~



    "Uh, jazz flute is for little fairy boys." - Veronica Corningstone

  16. #16
    Da Dragonball Kid L.J.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Posted in da cut
    Posts
    3,577
    Panasonic HTIB about 10 yrs ago (open box buy). The speakers are boxed up but the recv is still going and I use it to run speakers in my garage.

  17. #17
    Forum Regular likeitloud's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    San Francisco Ca
    Posts
    341
    My first "real" rig was my 2nd year in the navy(1979) they were offering double enlistment
    bonuses, I got a check for $2800, A friend had a marantz 2500(250wpc) with some
    huge technics speakers that sounded very good, so I marched to the exchange(an on
    base department store) with a huge audio department. The pioneer rep was there
    (a common practice in those days around payday) and steered me to a sx1980(270wpc)
    and though I was in search of the kenwood flagship, I bought it, at $525 1979 money.
    I also purchased jbl 4312b controll monitors and a technics turntable and teac cassette.
    It was the best afternoon for a guy just turning 20. All this was done in 2 hours, and
    everyone partied at our room for the next 2 years. Thats why to this day, I prefer
    pioneer receivers/amps, that thing was abused almost 24/7, without even a bulb going
    out, and we all know about vintage jbl. I remember one time a neighbor who played
    a fender strat in the band plugged directly into the input, cranked the volumne, and
    tried to do some damage, no luck, everything held. One day soon i'll have that stuff
    back. Already have some of it. Vintage gear looks and sounds great
    Sunfire TGP-5 Pre/Pro
    Carver A760-x
    Carver TFM25
    Carver TFM15 x 2
    Sunfire Signature "True Sub"
    JBL Studio L890(Front)
    JBL Studio L830(Rear)
    Infinity PC350(Center)
    Oppo Digital 983H
    Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ85U
    Panasonic DMP-BD50 Blu-ray Player
    Power Protection/Filters-Monster HTS 5100 MKII
    Canare Interconnects

  18. #18
    SuperPoser Rock789's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    608
    1st audio equipment I purchased... a pair of rockford fosgate series 1 10" subs for my truck around 1994 (before I had my liscense...lol)
    1st home audio... a pair of technic 15" 3ways for a cheap pioneer dolby prologic receiver my parents just got me for christmas 1996 I think...
    HT: Anthem AVM 50 / PVA-7; Focal JM Lab 4x Chorus 716 S, CC 700 S, 2x Chorus 706S; 2x 12s - Homebuilt Sub
    2CH: B&K PT3 s2, Anthem PVA-2, VonSchweikert VR-1
    Computer: Denon AVR 2805, Old Tecnic & Optimus Speakers
    2004 KTM 200 SX
    2003 Spyder
    2002 Single Cab, 3" cornfed lift, 34"LTB & 31" AT's
    ONLINE PHOTO ALBUM

  19. #19
    Can a crooner get a gig? dean_martin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Lower AL
    Posts
    2,838
    In 1989 I bought my first stereo setup with my own money. I picked up an NAD 7225PE stereo receiver and a Yamaha cassette tape deck at a stereo shop in VA. Both were demo units w/out boxes. The left ch. of the amp section in the NAD blew a couple of years ago, but my son is using the preamp section in his system for a tuner and phono amp. I'm still using the tape deck in my system. At the same time, I bought a pair of rather large 2-way KLH bookshelf speakers from Montgomery Ward that were on sale and I was able to use my ex-wife's employee discount. The speakers are still working and my kids have used'em for their boomy bass.

    A couple of years later I added a Technics cdp and Technics turntable. Nothing changed for about 10 years until I found this site in 2000 or '01.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •