What was your first audio system?

[usbcd36]

I was messing around with my old stereo today, and began to wonder what experiences other people had with audio when they were younger.

Several years ago, I asked my dad for a stereo after finding out that one of my friends had one. I expected it to come from an electronics store, not from our basement, but looking back now, I'm glad it did. He gave me an old Harman Kardon 730 amp, my current speakers, and an old Teac tape deck (which has since died).

Eight years ago, it was upgraded to its final version, which consists of:

•a Lafayette LR-9090 amplifier
•a pair of Presage Model Nine speakers
•a Phillips Electronic 312 turntable

…all of which came from the basement.

The speakers don't have working tweeters, something that I am investigating, and their paper surrounds have disintegrated, and have since been replaced with duct tape, but they probably have the best low/mid-low frequency response of any system in my house (and there are quite a few: my Klipsch ProMedia GMX 5.1-D, our main system: a Sony STR-DE425 amp and some KLH speakers (the model has faded into obscurity, so the number doesn't matter), a make-shift car radio system in the basement with speakers by an unknown company, and an all-in-one system, like the one I wanted when I got my system).

I'm happy that I didn't end up getting the system I really wanted at the time, as this was much more fun, and it probably wouldn't have lasted up until now anyway.

So…what was your first audio system? Any stories?

[Triton]

my sound systems have always been rigged up and cheap, for a while i used an old all in one tapedeck/turntable/am-fm radio that we got at a garagesale and ive used cheap boomboxes and the like but i love my current system, its not audiophile quality by far but it sounds good enough for me it consists of

kenwood ka3500 amp (circa 1977)
bang and olufsen beogram CDX cd player (oct 1985)
kenwood kd 3055 turntable (mid 70s)
2 3" realistic tweeters
1960s magnavox speaker system (like this)

and in my workroom i use a 1959 zenith x323 7 tube am/fm radio (sounds AMAZING, huge sound form a tiny radio)

[bicostp]

My first "audio system" was one of those Playskool tape players. I remember listening to a bunch of old books on tape on it. Remember those square purple-ish Disney books that came with a narrative tape? I remember they always had a brown outline drawing of a main character on the front inside cover. Memories... but I digress.

Now I have a Sony reciever from '91 or something, a Realistic equalizer from '83, a Realistic tape deck from '83 (with an automatic track skipping system), and a Sony PS-77 turntable from about '76. As far as I know it has the original stylus on it. Note the absence of a CD player. I used to have an old 2x external top-load SCSI cd player hooked up, but that's been replaced by a modified ethernet cable that connects to the AUX input on the reciever from my PC's sound card.

Speakers? Before I had a couple old floor size speaker boxes. They're from the Realistic 1983 set (which my EQ and tape deck came from), and all the speakers were original except for the woofers. (The rubber surrounds on the originals dried up and ripped to pieces, so we replaced them with car speakers. It was an improvement!) They took up too much space, so I put together a couple tuned boxes around two car speakers. I bet I can smooth out the bass by using a QuickCrete tube...

Someday I'm gonna build a rat boom box out of the head unit that came out of my uncle's old '89 Sierra. Hey it has a CD player... I figure I can tune the box and use some regular car speakers, with an old ATX power supply for... power duh. )

@ Triton: Yeah. Tubes create a warmer, richer sound than solid state components. Too bad they're somewhat hard to come by...

[daguuy]

My first audio system sucked: it was a pair of weak, distorted computer speakers I found in my basement.

The next one was better, it's the one I still use in my room for my computer. My dad switch offices because his company changed buildings and his new office doesn't have enough room for his little stereo so he gave it to me. It has a CD player, dual cassette, and radio tuner so I use a cassette adapter thing to hook it up to my compy. What sucks about it is that the CD player is getting pretty messed up because it can't skip tracks or it freezes. It's not all that powerful either, it's 20 watts and has pretty small speakers.

My favorite one, the one I use for gaming and watching movies, was also free. My great grandma died so my step grandma was giving away her stuff to family members. She gave me a huge stereo with 2 loud speakers. It has the same stuff as the small one except it has a turn table instead of CD player and it has audio in plugs. I also hooked up another even better speaker laying around in my basement to it and to balance it out, I went to Goodwill and got an even better speaker and hooked that up to. It's pretty awesome.

[ganonbanned]

in 3rd grade i got a boom-box for christmas. I really wasnt interested in any music at that time, so I didnt use it. about 2 years ago my 3 year old sister (3 at the time) ripped a button off and than claimed it was hers. she still has it. in 5th grade, I got a clock radio, every night when I went to bed I listened to music. in 7th grade, I bought a CD player for $5. there was a led zepplin CD inside . now I have a stereo

[usbcd36]

and in my workroom i use a 1959 zenith x323 7 tube am/fm radio (sounds AMAZING, huge sound form a tiny radio)

I have a Guild New Englander tube radio (with turntable and auxiliary inputs, which I use for my iPod sometimes). I got it from my grandmother's neighbor (who would've had to throw it out if I didn't take it). Supposedly, it's a very mediocre system, but it sounds pretty good, and it was probably the first 2.1 system ever made. Unfortunately, I don't get much use out of it because of its proximity to other systems. It looks like a very nice rolltop desk, but as a result, it also weighs about 200 pounds, which makes moving it a big deal. I've also examined the workings, and the fact that it's modular made it easy to discern the locations of different parts: one level contains the input selector, the power switch and the radio tuners, and the other contains the amplifier and power supplies.

Lately, I've also had another problem: my little cousin broke one of the tubes for the right speaker's amplifier. The numbers on the tube are "6BQ5" and "EL84" Does anyone know where I might acquire a new one (for a reasonable price, and from a somewhat reliable source)? I've seen them on sites, but if anyone has a trusted site to recommend, I could use your help.

[NES_fanatic]

I was too short to see it, but when I was young my folks would help me play records on a turntable on the shelf in my grandpa's room. Every morning he would blast military-ish 78's on it.

[Triton]

my zenith is pretty small (probably about 5x7x14" or something like that. your best bet for tubes is finding a local small time electronics repair place or an antique radio collector/repair shop. other than that there is always ebay or you can look online for a local antique radio club. i am gonna be working on fixing up one of our friends late 30s early 40s philco console radio (has a turntable and everything, real art deco beautiful thing) were gonna take the tubes we have (several spares and the ones in it) and get em tested and checked out and see what ones we need to replace. should be interesting!

[Indigno]

I used to have one of those kiddy tape decks that you could plug a little mic into. I used to listen to my dad's old ACDC tapes on it. When that broke I went back to a walkman with PC speakers plugged into it. Then I upgraded to a CD/ Tape/ radio boom box. The radio works, but the CD player and Tape deck are busted. I use it when I'm working and don't feel like wearing headphones and that's it.

My current audio system is an old reciever with an old CD player plugged into it. It's one of those old ones like you see in old cars where you have a cart that holds 6 or so CD's and you slide the cart into the player. My PC is plugged in through the reciever too, and the only new thing on the whole system is some pretty decent home entertainment speakers (stereo). I don't have a tape deck or a turntable, but I would like a turntable, as we have a bunch of records up there. Including two copies of Abbey Road (one which I believe to be scratched beyond playability). The things are always in jusnk piles, but I've always thought thaat records were just the coolest things. I keep an eye out for a cheap one at garage sales and the good will (but I haven't been there in a while).


Speaking of tubes, though. I was wondering, since transistors replaced vacuum tubes, is there any way to rig up a replacement tube out of transistors and other stuff? I doubt it would work, but it would be an interesting project if you could.

[Krepticor]

Let me clarify some I am a ghuitar play and I heart TUBES!

Tube sound is awesome it is warm and the overtones generated are 100% natural

I have a custom guitar amp that uses 5881 power tubes and combines 12AX7 and 12AU7 for the preamp...I heart Tubes

Also, the power requirements for tube are so ridiculous that one who is crazy about electricity in every degree like my self...I heart tubes...could only be obsessed

I also had a small solid-state panasonic boombox for my first "system"...I heart Tubes

[Indigno]

I like the sound of tubes, but I hear that they are a pain in the ass to get ahold of if one ever burns out. I believe that that may be one of the reasons my grandpa sold off his old wurlizers.

[gamer2]

My first audio system was a Turntable, eversense then all my sterios have had Turntables

[Triton]

speaking of old audio stuff i am currently in possesion of a victor talking machine company VV-240 humpback style console victrola from 1923, its really nice! my parents got it on the condition that we sell it on ebay (might use that money to buy a smaller upright victrola i think model xiv or xii i cant remember)

[Busterblade]

My first audio system was the speaker in my lime green Game Boy Color.