A lifelong love of orchestral music has fuelled nonagenarian Richard Stickland’s passion for hi-fi.

As the proud owner of a stunning new Naim 200 Classic Series system running through ATC SCM40 speakers, all supplied and installed by Audio T Portsmouth, Richard was happy to share his hi-fi and musical journey with us.

Most hi-fi enthusiasts can point to defining moments in their lives when they were ‘bitten’ by the hi-fi ‘bug’ - the moment when they glimpsed the possibilities of high fidelity music reproduction. For Richard, 94, his enthusiasm for hi-fi is inextricably linked to his passion for classical, especially live orchestral music.

*London Philharmonic Orchestra Circa 1940s*

Where it all began…

He recounts seeing the London Philharmonic Orchestra in Folkestone as a schoolboy just after World War II. The orchestra had decamped from London during the war and was touring the country almost continuously doing its bit to maintain morale.

“My parents had a gramophone, a wind-up one, and at school I was a member of a society and we used to play gramophone records,” says Richard, who lives in Fareham, Hampshire.

“So I was used to hearing music. But it was the power and scale of hearing a full live orchestra that opened my ears,” says Richard.

As a boy he learned piano and used to play the organ for school services. He retains a particular love of organ music – he is a fan of Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No 3, a piece of music that will show up the sub-bass limitations of most hi-fi systems.

Richard maintained his interest in classical music throughout his time at New College, University of Oxford, where he studied physics. He played piano for the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. He also saw the great Sir Thomas Beecham’s first concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which he co-founded.

Richard’s first encounter with hi-fi was in the late 1950s when, in his late 20s, he heard Quad’s first Electrostatic Loudspeaker (ESL), which belonged to his mother’s cousin.

“I remember thinking it sounded much better than what I had been used to. But it was a bit weak in the bass,” notes Richard.

After university Richard moved into engineering and worked for many years on oxygen production systems for Britain’s nuclear submarines. He moved to the Portsmouth area at the start of the 1960s.

His passion for classical music and hi-fi continued to grow.

“I had a six element VHF aerial which ran up beside the chimney. I could rotate it so I could tune into the French classical music station, France Musique, which I enjoyed. I could then play this through my stereo,” says Richard.

“I’ve had many hi-fi separates over the years. I tended to buy separates from different manufacturers. I would read reviews in hi-fi magazines about a particular product and then buy it.”

The CD Revolution

“My wife was always very good about it all. She had the view that if it was making me happy, then she was happy.” Richard admitted however that the advent of CDs in the 1980s did make it easier to ‘smuggle’ new albums into the house compared to larger format vinyl.

He decided to upgrade to his previous system after seeing and hearing the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with his son.

“I came home and put on a CD of the same music we had heard at the concert. It didn’t do full justice to that live orchestral sound,” chuckles Richard.

The next step…

“I mentioned to my son that I was thinking of upgrading and he rather pooh-poohed the idea. After all I had a perfectly decent system.”

“But I arranged a demo of the Naim 200 Classic Series at Audio T Portsmouth. My son drove me and sat in on the demo and, do you know, he was very impressed,” says Richard with a smile.

“He is now considering taking over my old Cambridge Audio system so, yes, perhaps he will yet become a hi-fi enthusiast.”

Richard’s new Naim system, which was installed in August of this year, comprises of NSC 222, NAP 250 and NPX 300 plus a pair of ATC SCM40 speakers. He retained his existing Naim CDX.

“I am delighted with the new setup,” says Richard. “The new system delivers a much larger scale sound. Although, having said that, I am now considering whether to replace my current subwoofer with two new ones.”

“Audio T have been absolutely wonderful throughout. Luke, the new manager there, has been unbelievably superb and I appreciate all his help and knowledge.”

Richard, a long term customer of Audio T Portsmouth, and of Jeffries Hi-Fi before then, is proof positive of the power of hi-fi to deliver lifelong entertainment and enjoyment.

Happy listening Richard!

Thanks for reading.

Alan, Luke and Stephen - Audio T Portsmouth

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