HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Rega planar 2, ADC XLM mk 2, Quad II, Wharfdale Glendales (replaced with Mission 710 speakers - I still have fond memories of these).

Guy.

My first system was a Garrard SL75 turntable with a ceramic cartridge wired in mono to the microphone input of my valve mono reel to reel recorder/amp/speaker.
I went stereo whilst at uni, same turntable in a homemade plinth and lid with Empire cartridge into a heathkit amp driving Wharfedale 8"RS/DD speakers in home made boxes. In retrospect quite good sounding.

My first real amp, i.e. one that wasn't part of a "music system" or a radiogram (ask your parents) was one of these...

Well, yes, does it have to be my Panasonic midi system that was a present?

First thing I bought myself was a Kenwood KD2550 turntable to go with my midi system at uni. Must have been a Pioneer SA610 and some Celestion UL6s after that as my first seperates and later an Aiwa 6900 tape deck from Loot - all based on looks. CD player was still the midi system or my lowly 386 PC with Gravis soundcard.

When I moved out of my parent's house after university I discovered eBay, bought a big chunky Pioneer SA9500 and Philips CD101 and Celestion 332s (again all about design - looks and feel). At some point I got bored with the SA9500 some months later and it sold for £125 more than I bought it for. That was the eureka moment that got me thinking I could channel that profit straight back into another bargain find and just grow and grow my hifi to something grand without spending another penny! 11 years or so later and I have hifi gear to swap about worth several £k all from that original acorn. It's not been strictly speaking that way but in terms of the numbers it is - sometimes had to sell kit to pay rent but then put that back later when I'd earned it again etc etc.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm actualy still on my first HiFi. It's a lot like Trigger's broom, it's had 17 new heads and 14 new handles but it's still the same broom.