Building your Hi-Fi system: interview with Philippe, a loyal customer of maPlatine.com
Philippe is one of maPlatine.com’s most loyal customers. He is a long-standing fan of music and High-Fidelity. He agreed to tells us about his Hi-Fi system and vinyl record collection. 
– Where does your passion for Hi-Fi come from?
It dates back to 1980 when I was in Paris and I went to CTA. I had the opportunity to listen to a system with 3A Master Control speakers and a vinyl record from Nicole Rieu, ‘La goutte d’eau’, released the year before. And that’s where it all began: a new-found passion and the building of a High-Fidelity system.
– And how did you upgrade it?
I started off by simply walking into a specialist shop. The first item I bought was an Obelisk 2 amplifier, with two Cantilène loudspeakers from Confluence, and finally a Micromega Solo CD player. The vinyl turntable was a mediocre Audio Technica…
– Based on which criteria do your choose your equipment?
I always follow the advice of a specialist. And naturally, when I’m at home, it’s all a matter of listening to the system.
– Please tell us about your sound, what you like best?
I like the sound to be as natural as possible, even a ‘live’ reproduction! I favour timbre quality and absolute transparency.
– Do you plan to upgrade your system? If so, how?
Yes, always! Very soon, actually, since I plan to replace the interconnect cables, including the one between the CD player and the preamp, a Naim Audio Lumina. And I would also like to upgrade the phono preamplifier…
– What is your favourite musical style?
I love Music, so I have a varied musical taste… It spans from Led Zeppelin to the Beatles, Jazz music, more specifically from the 1955 to 1965 period. For classical music, I prefer chamber music, namely Schubert, Haydn, etc. As lyrics matter to me, I listen to a lot of French artists like Serge Reggiani, Charles Aznavour, Juliette Gréco, Yves Montand, etc.
– How many records do you think you have in your collection?
Currently, my vinyl record collection includes over 5,000 LPs… And I’m seriously beginning to run out of space!
– When did you buy your first record? Which one was it?
I remember it very clearly. It was in 1976 and it was Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge over troubled water’, released in 1970.
– If you were to name your absolute favourite record, which one would it be? Why?
I would say the album ‘Soular Energy’ by the American Jazz bassist Ray Brown, released in 1984. This album is everything! It’s just so beautiful…
– Is there a record in particular you would like to have but have not found yet?
I wish there was only one… I’m after several! I actually have a list =) But there are some I would really like to find. The first one is ‘Bags and Trane’, an album released by Jazz musicians Milt Jackson and John Coltrane. And the second one would be the record ‘Sings the Cole Porter Songbook’ by Ella Fitzgerald.
– You probably know our section ‘Records of the month’. Which two records are your top picks for this month?
The first would have to be ‘Woman to Woman’ by Shirley Brown, released in 1974. The second one would be ‘Study in Brown’ by trumpet player Clifford Brown from 1955.
– Finally, what is in your audio system?
I currently own a VPI Classic 2 vinyl turntable, which has a Transfiguration’s Proteus MC cartridge. I also have a VPI SDS speed controller and a phono preamplifier from Sutherland, the 20/20. For the rest of my Hi-Fi system, I chose to trust the brand Naim Audio. I play my CDs on a Naim Audio CDS3 CD player. I also have a Naim Audio NAC282 preamplifier, powered by a Naim Audio HiCap. My amplifier is a Naim Audio NAP300. Finally, my speakers are Sonus Faber Olympica III tower speakers. 