What was your first "hi-end" component ?

[MtnHam]

In 1961 at the age of 17 I traded a CB station (International Crystal Executive transceiver, very high end at the time) for used audio gear: Thorens TD124 turntable, Panasonic tube receiver, AKG headphones. It opened my ears and eyes to audio and music!

[Mark J]

Paper route money,

Sony TA-2000
Kenwood KT-7000
Dual 1219 deluxe base and dust cover
Stanton 681EE
Dynaco Stereo 120 Kit
which powered the AR-5s I had.

The system cost about 800 less the speakers back then. Still have the receipt.

[94turbo3.6]

I need to get some posts under my belt.

I caught the bug in the 70's started with a Mac C26 pre an SAE 2200 amp Technics SL1400 mkII w/ MA 2002 cartridge and Tandberg 10X RR. ran that through a pair of OHM L's which quickly switched for Fried Signature series R3's.

The SAE eventually was sold and I purchased a MAC MC2505 and Accuphase T-100 tuner. Ironically I still use all this equipment in my home office and still sounds as I remember back in the day when I thought i was done. The Fried's are in storage though. Too big and the mids need new foam. Was a great system for the time especially rock music.

There have been so many components over the years that have come and gone many of which I am now kicking myself for selling. I still have but don't use the Nak 680ZX the Hafler D200's bridged for mono, PS audio 5.0 Assorted Carver, accuphase, SAE, many Adcom amps some of which are still used for outdoor work. I should never have sold the Dynaco's and dynakit's Then the Garrard, Technics SL-1200, Thorens TD124, sota sapphire and other tables now long since gone. I still have an old Fischer 400 receiver powering KEF 101's I use in my workshop and my OHM L's still make great sound in the garage.

Something about the build from those years there was so much great equipment.

[MORTIS]

I first caught the audio bug in the early 70's and my first serious effort to fulfill the craving was with a Marantz 1060 integrated, a Pioneer PL12D TT, and a pair of Cerwin Vega... model 24 or something speakers, which was a 2 way with the typical CV 12" bass driver.
I was a teenager at the time and loved the way my gleaming new entry into 'decent' home-audio pounded. Eventually blew one the Vega tweets.

I still have that Marantz integrate; the power amp section needs work but its still near perfect cosmetically.

[Niles]

Harman Kardon Citation 17s & 19 - bought new in the 70's from Brack Electronics in Toronto.

I had some mid-fi stuff before this pair but it was the HK Citations that got me into high-end audio...

[csericks]

Hardly high-end or even mid-fi, my gateway "drug" in the mid '70s was my Marantz 1515 receiver.

[Clarifixer]

Well, it was what I could afford back in the early 70's. Built a Dynaco Stereo 120 amp and PAT-4 preamp from kits. I didn't know a thing about electronics, but my dad taught me to solder, and it was paint-by-numbers circuit boards and wiring instructions, so it went fine. What a thrill to turn it on the first time!

[Ch1mera1989]

When I first started with audio it was 2008 and I was 19 years old. And I wouldn't call it High-end, but my first piece of audio equipment was a pair of Focal Profile 908 speakers, powered by a Van Medevoort MA222 amp. With a Musical Fidelity A5CD CD player. It sounded great though

[RLF]

Adcom 555 amplifier circa 1991

[Stereo-head]

for me it was a Nakamichi Stasis PA-5 stereo amp.