Sound TravelS
Tom Waters: Do you have a first memory, a first unforgettable musical experience that left an impression?
Steve P: I wouldn’t say it was ‘unforgettable’ musically, but I do have fond memories of listening to music with the family in the car during long road trips. My older sisters would sing along to their favourite songs on the radio (with mum poking fun at the music and lyrics) until the airwaves started to break up and we eventually lost the signal as we headed out of Sydney.
Then, out came my parent’s tapes. On the usual rotation we had Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Peter Allen, Kenny Rogers, Barry Manilow, The Bee Gees and a few others of this ‘calibre’ [ said with sarcasm]. Of course it was never cool to say you enjoyed listening to these artists or that you sang along with the family to their songs, so I never will, but in my defence, my siblings and I were brainwashed into liking them!
Apparently I used to get car sick on some of my earliest road trips but now I’m starting to think the nausea was probably brought on by Barbra.
TW: And did that start you on the hi-fi journey or did something else start you on the audio equipment quest?
SP: I do recall noticing the sound quality of the different stereos in the different cars my parents bought throughout the years with the Becker(?) system in the Mercedes sounding so much better than any of the others, so I guess that was the start.
The real journey began when I spent my first few apprentice chef’s pay cheques on a Pye all-in-one system from Norman Ross and lovin’ it. But within a year I was already looking at more expensive systems in Grace Bros when someone I knew as a regular diner (in the restaurant I was working in) approached me. It was Gordon Stephenson of Piramai Hi-Fi (in Burwood years ago) and he opened my eyes to the world of real hi-fi with separate components and brands
Steve P loves to chill-out to the comforting and relaxing sound of soothing music. He likes folk and soft blues and finds that escaping to some good music is a great way to unwind and clear the head. That said he still wants resolution, transparency, timbre and natural sound to go with the interesting music… and he loves the aesthetics of great design. Here he is interviewed by Tom Waters of the Sydney Audio Club…