I bought a Harmon-Kardon tube-type tuner, a separate H-K tube type receiver, Jensen TX-5 speakers, and a sherwood turntable - all purchased in 1962 for $1,100. I passed up the AR-3 speakers ‘cause the magnet in the Jensen’s was about 2 lbs heavier. One of my reare really good decisions.
A new loaded VW back then was $990. My friends thought I was nuts. I had them until they gave out a couple of years back.
People who heard it just marvelled at the difference in the sound!
It was caused by the superior processing of the sound by the turntable stylus and the old tubes.
I tried a BO (Bang and Olufsen) system for a month, but the digital processing makes my records sound so flat. So, I got an old turntable from a radio station and had it refurbished. It’s an 18” platter and has an adjustablel speed control. I can’t even find a reliable tube type amp. They try on EBay every now and then, but I’m leary. I’m hoping to find an old McIntosh one day, though.
I’ve got several hundred albums, including the Beatle White Album, and “The Jimi Hendrix Experience”, the original release of Purple haze. I even have “Steam“‘s only album. Every football fan knows their hit: na-na NAAA-NA—hey-hey --goodbye...
My first stereo album (heck it was the FIRST stereo album sold at retail was by Bob and Ray. We used to listed as the fly buzzed from speaker to speaker until the jet airplane it morphed into screamed across the room! If I’d have charged $1 for everyone who came to my house to listen I’d have never had to go to work!
And...
And my oldest.. Jimmy reed: