I grew up in the 1960s and had a Radio Shack in our neighborhood. In the early 1970s I got my first real decent stereo from there. In looking for what I had back then, I stumbled across an amazing website for Radio Shack catalogs:
https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/

It’s quite a trip to look at these old catalogs that have literally thousands and thousands of products. The 1972 catalog has over 460 pages. The turntable section must have had over 100 models.

Radio Shack was really the main outlet in the US for stereo equipment. Of course, boutique stereo stores thrived, but most people got exposed to quality products there, and graduated, like I did, to products like Magnepan, Carver, Teac, and Thorens.

But for a young kid just discovering hi-fi, the Radio Shack catalogs kept me busy for hours going over specs, fantasizing what it would sound like in my room, and imagine what it would look like all set up.

I worked the summer of 1970 cutting grass and watering lawns for vacationing neighbors. And working in my dad’s business.

I don’t remember exactly what I got or how much it cost, but it was an all-in-one unit with turntable, cassette deck, amp and tuner. Had a pair of Optimus speakers. I went through the catalogs but still not sure exactly what I got.

Those early days were exciting for an electronics nerd. I can’t say what I buy now is quite as exciting as those first acquisitions no matter how great it is.