34 years ago I started working at a Radio Shack franchised store in Carmel, NY. Being a franchise allowed us to sell more than just Radio Shack products. Pioneer electronics (remember Quadrophonic?), Dual turntables, Shure Cartridges, KLH speakers etc. I became aware of the differences in sound quality between one product and another.
Eventually becoming a manager for a new store in Baldwin Place I got to play around with how things hooked up, best positions for speakers and how room acoustics made a difference in the overall performance of a system. I found that putting fabric on the walls didn’t just look nicer than peg board, it actually made voices smoother, the bass tighter. 30 + years ago!!
I also learned a valuable trait- how to listen to what the customer was saying! Something that I am afraid is quite lacking in most businesses of any type these days! I take great pride in not only having the knowledge to help you but also how to relate that knowledge to YOUR needs, even if you aren’t sure what they are. That’s why I’m here!
After 5 years at Radio Shack I parleyed my experience into a position at a "High End" audio shop in Mt. Kisco, NY—The Sound Mill.
WOW!! McIntosh, Klipsch, Nakamichi, QUAD from England, Tandberg, Yamaha, KEF and more REAL products than I had ever hoped for! I was a rookie in this league at this point, but I learned quickly and during my 17 year career there accomplished a lot. Becoming even more high end with products like-
Audio Research, Acoustat, Boulder, Conrad Johnson, JM Labs, Ensemble of Switzerland, Fosgate, Lexicon, New York Audio Labs, Rogers, Rowland, Sound Labs, Theta Digital, VAC, Audioquest, Audio Access, JA Michell, Benz, Koetsu, Grado Labs, SME, SOTA, Sumiko and many more. The ears got better and better!
I also, somewhere in the middle, spent 4 years at The Listening Room in Scarsdale, NY. Honing my listening skills with even more products such as Krell, Wilson Audio, Oracle, VPI, Transparent Audio, Theil, Jadis, Apogee, Graham Engineering to name just some of the wonderful products I had at my "ear-tips."
And then it happened—Custom Home Audio. People now wired up their new home for all the rooms to have music, but little time for listening except for parties, etc. Too tired to sit and listen for an hour or so to some favorite piece of music like the good old days, and little thought of the quality of the products. Cheap Home Theatre surround systems to keep you home and keep all your hard earned money going into the low end consumer electronics industry.
Unfortunately, most of the products and most of the companies offering this new "feature" had little or no experience with anything much more than what I started out with in the beginning—entry-level audio to say the least. I often relate most of the products and purveyors out there to a couple of the fast food chains! Get them in, get them out!
Fortunately, I then took a position with Sound Ideas in Armonk. A young, small company- but one that had a clue and the experience behind it to take it a little further than most. Now the realm of Crestron home control, Escient and Request music servers, Kaleidescape DVD servers, DSS, XM, Sirius digital radio, Cinematech Acoustical Room systems and Theatre seating. I had the quality products available to offer no matter what the situation. For 9 years.
I am now realizing my dream from some 30-odd years ago: my own company, offering my knowledge and experience, in all phases of audio and video for the home. Listening to what the customer is requesting, as always!
And while MP# players are the rage and it is truly great that people are listening to music on a more personal note, I truly believe that people will eventually get back to really sitting and listening. When one experiences the subtleties, the emotions, the intricacies of a musical performance, no matter what the style, that a "Real" system has to offer—there is no substitute! And please don’t throw out your LP’s—they can sound just as good if not better than a CD. It can be a revelation worth experiencing!
The same goes for a Home Theatre—there are differences and there are few "Real" products that get you involved the way that these can.
There are ways to economically improve the system you have.
There are ways to dramatically improve the system you have.
And then it’s just time for a new system!!
I invite you to call me for a free consultation.
Oh, by the way, even though I am "local" in my normal business efforts I have traveled to install my systems from Florida to Maine. So if you have an extra home or two, or three, etc, I can be persuaded to help you out there as well!!