An Italian HiFi Manufacturer’s Tour with Fidelity Imports: Closing Thoughts

“Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.” ~Pythagoras

The road to a happier life, at least mine, has been paved by family, friends, and in many ways hifi. I consider myself fortunate in many ways and this trip, this journey, pushed that good fortune nearly over-the-top.

Our road tour crew, Brian “Woody” Stout Fidelity’s Social Media Manager, Carlo Lo Raso Editor-In-Chief Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, Tom Martin CEO The Absolute Sound, Jason The Audiophile Junkie, Derek Kolterman Fidelity’s Director of Finance & Operations, Jim Gendaszek Fidelity’s Sales Specialist, Randy Messman The Cheap Audio Man, Ken Micallef Contributing Editor at Stereophile, and our fearless leader Fidelity’s Co-Founder & Managing Director Steve Jain quickly became great companions and I like to think good friends.

Just watching these people work was a kind of education that highlighted the wonderfully personal approach we each take covering our shared passions.

Getting to know all of the fine people from Unison Research & Opera Loudspeakers, Gold Note, Audio Flight & Alare Labs at work in their natural habitat was also a treasure trove of information, a personal glimpse into the workings of companies whose pursuit is, ultimately, the pleasure we all find in the music we love. To my mind a noble pursuit if ever there was one and each of these fine companies represent relatively small, with some family run, affairs who take great pride in their work, much of it done by hand, with many parts sourced locally. I hope I’ve given you enough of a glimpse into each company to convey the fact that buying a product from any one of them is also buying into their rich histories and personal stories.

Listening to music is more than a simple pleasure, at least it is for me, and I take real comfort within and from the music that plays throughout my life. As is the case with any pursuit, with any passion, I believe our natural tendency is to focus on the quality of the experience which can lead to deeper connection. Add to that a personal connection with our gear maker of choice, and hifi can take on a deeper, human connection as well.

But our conversations were and are much wider than hifi filled with other interests, passions, and pursuits.

My road to a happier life is paved with a soundtrack played by family, friends, music and more and my life is that much richer for this mind-opening journey shared with new friends in a truly fantastical place filled with art, history, architecture, and a breathtaking landscape whose beauty is nearly too good to be true.

We spent our last day and night in Rome, Italy’s capital city, as tourists soaking in its moods, flavors, and abundant miracles. Walking up the centuries old Spanish Steps, our feet falling into the furrows of people-worn centuries old Travertine, I half expected to see Fellini’s helicoptered Christ fly by as a reminder of this sweet life.