My very first piece of stereo equipment was a Pioneer SX-550 receiver rated at 20 watts/channel. I saved my pennies and bought it from Highland Appliance, a now defunct discount appliance chain, in the spring of 1977. I used it with a cheap pair of headphones and a long cord.
For graduation in June of 1977, my mom surprised with a BIC 940 belt-drive turntable. It could function manually or as a fully automatic single play turntable, and also as an automatic changer with up to six records.
I used some of my money from graduation to buy a pair of Marantz HD55 speakers, also purchased from Highland Appliance.
Photos are scans from my original sales brochures.
