What was your first "hi-end" component ?

[dirtbag]

In 1981 I spent 5K and bought a system with SAE amp and pre amp (forget the models), Rega P3 T with SME arm and cartridge and Magnaplanar MGIIA speakers. Sounded great. Still have the Maggies up in the attic.

[AudioNut]

$5,000 was a lot of money in 1981 . . . . Adjusted for inflation:

$5,000 of 1981 dollars would be worth: $12,803.80 in 2013

[Fat Mac]

Bryston 4BST, Bryston BP6, Arcam FMJ23 and Polk Audio RT2000P

[Formerly YB-2]

What is the definition of "vintage"? Am thinking the move from analog to digital (~1982) might be a good break-point.

Sony STR-6200F receiver in 1969. Had it almost a week before got transferred overseas. Outstanding build with fully shielded tuner and preamp sections. McIntosh MC60s in 1977 and then Bryston 2B-LPs, McCormack Line Drive and Threshold FET10/pc in 1985. Most of my current system is made up of refurbished vintage gear of one sort or another. Am a fan of discrete components and today's digital stuff does very little for me.

[OldTex]

I was a sophomore in college (1970) when the hi-fi shop next to campus foolishly allowed credit to a 19 year old kid. I came away with a kit for a Dynaco PAT-4 solid state pre-amp and an assembled Stereo 80 amp, along with some AR bookshelf speakers and a huge Sony reel-to-reel with solenoid-operated drive mechanics and all manner of flashing lights. (Model 800 or 850? - their top of the line consumer recorder at the time) It wasn't the McIntosh I wanted but I was in heaven. Dynaco was a well-respected name in those days. Took me longer to pay that off than it did my first car. My parents hit the roof when I came home at the end of the year. First music recorded - Who's Next album.

[cma29]

Counterpoint SA-100 stereo amplifier purchased in 1991.

It was my first "separate" component and it drove my KEFs and, later, PSB Stratus Golds nicely.

The Counterpoint was replaced by an Aragon 4004 mk ii which I kept for almost 20 years.

[CGabriel]

Bose 901 Speakers
Phase Linear 4000 Pre
Phase Linear 400 & 700 Amp
Technics SL1100 Turntable
Nakamichi 600 Cassette
Teac and Akai Open Reel


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[thesaint519]

Legacy Audio Monitor Speakers and Meridian 596 CD/DVD player and a Meridian 568 Pre/Pro.

[nguyendot]

NAD 214 amplifier purchased with matching pre, cdp, tuner for $60 at the local thrift store. I regret selling it now

[Tasuke]

a 1985 DENON DCD-1500 dual-mono CDP i got at a thrift for like $12.00
back around '06 or '07ish. my first taste of something above entry-level.

now, while the -1500 is quite good, especially for a beginner,
i really didn't get my ACTUAL first taste of high-end anything
until just a couple years later, when a came into a non-functional
Pio ELITE PD-91 CDP that i repaired back full operational health by myself...