Hello everyone,
[please excuse my bad English]
While a student, I used to write hifi reviews for Crescendo, a Belgian classical music magazine.
And each time I went out to clubs, I obsessively protected my ears with earplugs.
A few years later, I started working in the hifi sector and became the #1 Bouwers&Wilkins retailer in Belgium.
My career then underwent a complete shift, towards IT (I graduated as software developer, Bachelor’s degree, nearly at mid-life). At present, I work as an IT analyst in a hospital (fine, but lots of stress, low salaries, war against COVID; you get the picture…). I am not related to the hifi industry anymore.
Nevertheless, I kept being very active on forums, as audio and music remain my core passions.
I regularly attend classical concerts, so live music is my only reference.
As I initially studied philosophy (well before IT), I developed thoughtful views -in French- about what audio arts and sound reproduction are all about, the way they can enhance emotional life, and make some moments in life a vivid experience.
Personally, I do think that *materialized* supports (vinyls & CDs, not files or streaming, all controlled from tablets and apps) are an antidote to zapping and distraction, and favor a more involving listening experience, emotionally speaking.
I am convinced that sooner or later, CDs will have their revival too…
GEAR
I am, nevertheless, a vinyl and tube beginner: my Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon is my very first turntable. The Pre-Audio 1800G is my 2nd one. And my Aries Cerat preamplifier is my first tube gear (coupled with a YBA Signature Classic amplifier + Analysis Epsilon ribbon panels - main system).
In a 2nd system (countryside < lockdowns following COVID, but I live there now ;-), I use a pair of 2nd hand Harbeth M30.2 Anniversary, powered by a very nice NuPrime combo: AMG-PRA class A preamp & AMG-STA class A+D power amp and CEC TL51xz CD player:
orfeo_monteverdi
