Meet Your Editor of Starting Out by HiFi PiG
So your probably wondering who I am and why on earth Stu chose me, a 16 year old, as the editor for Starting Out by HiFi PiG, more importantly what gives me the right to give you advice on what gear you pick up?
Well, I couldn’t tell you; that’s the short answer. It sort of just happened one day, and that’s about it.
I’ve been into HiFi from a young age, hardly like I had a choice in the matter given my Dad’s love of music and HiFi, but I always lacked the money to get my own system. I’ve been through the motions most teens go through with their music: buying Bluetooth speakers, headphones, earbuds, the works, but never anything actually worth a damn (because I couldn’t afford it).
Okay, we get it, how did you get where you are? I hear you ask.
Well, when things really got moving was at the North West Audio Show on June 28th 2026 where I met Stu, aka Mr HiFi Pig. After I butted into the conversation he was having about getting young people into HiFi (sidenote: I was completely oblivious to who Stu was at the time), it all kind of snowballed from there.
We started discussing what it was like for young people and how hard it was for them to afford HiFi but, most importantly, understand what makes a good product and know if it’s suitable for them. We exchanged numbers as one does when you get on with someone and went our separate ways.
Soon enough, I found myself being asked to write a test article on a cable I had bought for my headphones. I distinctly remember telling Stu I was no expert on the matter, and my language would be very teen-like, and in response to that he said, “Perfect,” as if he had a plan for me all along.
He did, in fact, have a plan all along.
A couple of days later, I found a message on my phone from Stu asking me if I had any records and would be open to reviewing a turntable. Of course I said yes; what music-mad teen wouldn’t!
With that, Starting Out was born, with me as the editor.
That pretty much sums me up in a nutshell.
Alban Skipworth
