Thanks for sharing your beautiful story that reflects human side of this hobby and goes beyond buying a pair of speakers. The process you describe, the long conversations, the shared passion, the craftsmanship, and the friendship that grew out of it is exactly what makes high-end audio so special.
For many of us It’s not merely about gear; it’s about people, discovery and the joy.
I can completely understand the shift you made later toward the pro-cinema, function-first approach. There’s a certain purity in where design serves performance and the aesthetic is born out of engineering necessity.
I believe, our journey and the pursuit is a reminder that audio is as much about evolution and curiosity as it is about fidelity.