Dealer Profile

Sebastien Collin

How did HiFi Nantes get its start?
Despite being in the industry for so long, I have had the opportunity to work with HARMAN Luxury Group speaker brands for three years, since opening this brand new store, HIFI Nantes. I have worked for a number of years with ARCAM, but only recently with JBL, Mark Levinson and Revel and we literally fell in love with them. Although JBL and Mark Levinson were known brands, Revel was a real discovery and we quickly tried to cover as much of the brand as possible since it really mirrored our view of HiFi so much.

How many people are on your team?
There are currently two of us; besides myself, there is Romain who is both in-store and on the road for custom install projects.

Thoughts on the importance of training?
Training is paramount. First of all, to understand where the brand(s) come from, and to really get the DNA and what drives the brand. It usually helps having a deeper understanding of why a product uses such materials, the design, and the best way to demo for customers

What do you like most about HARMAN Luxury Audio products and which lines do you feature?
We really love how HARMAN Luxury brands complete each other. When we listen to JBL or Mark Levinson products, we really understand what a true background means in electronics/audio design. The L82 is really “une bombe” as we say in French, as for Mark Levinson the N°585.5 is one of, if not the best integrated amplifier we have heard so far.

How do you think the luxury audio industry is currently doing?
Luxury audio has always had its public, but I think it also benefited from the last few years, lockdowns and the democratisation – in France anyway – of work from home on several levels. The fact that people are spending more time at home has promoted the need for a quality entertainment system. Customers have also spent more time on product websites. This is where brands like Mark Levinson for instance make a big difference.

What is HiFi Nante’s mission?
Our mission is to bring quality audio to as many enthusiasts as possible. Our portfolio is a selection of brands that we trust from experience, and others that we have crossed paths with and that had us stop for a listen. We pride ourselves with being “curators” for our customers, selecting brands from our experience and pleasant surprises over the years. We simply are advisers for customers to select correctly according to their lifestyle and needs.

You have the floor. Anything else you want to share with us about HIFI Nantes that you would like the world to know?
We would love if the general public was more aware of the JBL brand as more than lifestyle, and much more than entry-level Bluetooth speakers and soundbars. The brand originates from traditional speakers, and it gives you an experience like few others. But the newer generation is mostly unaware of this. We all have our battles, this is one of ours, which is why you will find all the JBL ranges at HIFI Nantes up to the S4700, which are a delight. We really looking forward to what HARMAN has in store for us in the near future!