how it all began…
Hey…Justin here…as long as I can remember, music has been an integral part of my life.
During grammar school, my parents required me to take up an instrument. So, without much thought, I chose the clarinet. What a mistake. I was so inept, that I had to ask my fellow bandmates how to play a C when our band director lined us up prior to a concert. Little did anyone know that I faked the entire performance…twice. Around that same time, I began heavily investing myself into skateboarding. This proved to be a Colonel Buckshot level “another fine mess” if you have no idea what this reference is, you owe it to yourself to watch that Laurel & Hardy episode! Anyways, between breaking multiple bones trying to be the next Tony Hawk, and faking my way forward on the clarinet, I wisely gave up both the skating and squawking and instead took a chance with the guitar. I figured that I needed something else that would satisfy the request of my parents to play an instrument, as well as a new hobby to fill the void of time left open since my “retirement” from skating. Not long after starting guitar, I also began vocal lessons and learned how to sing. Those few decisions catapulted me full speed into songwriting, starting a band, playing live shows, leading the music at both my high school chapel and church youth group, and eventually working on staff for a local church as their music director for nearly 8 years!
In addition to playing music, my affinity for listening goes very far back as well. I can undoubtedly blame my amazing dad for passing on the audiophile hobby to me. we always had various pieces of high end stereo gear in the house growing up. From classic Dan D’Agostino era Krell amps, to several iterations of Bill Dudleston’s Legacy speakers, to twin Velodyne 18” subwoofers, and speaker cables made with silver, you could say that I got more than a taste of what was possible in high fidelity musical playback very early on! As I became increasingly aware of how good music actually could sound, it naturally created a desire for higher fidelity on all levels for my personal audio system. Unfortunately, my wallet at the time was lagging significantly behind what my taste in hifi called for! my very first stereo system was one of those classic 3 piece systems where the cD/Tuner/Cassette and amp were in the middle, flanked by two speakers with built in “subs”…I fondly recall blasting Creed’s Human Clay on repeat among some other classics from the late 90’s/early 2000’S! Then during college, I was finally able to build a proper stereo that also was utilized for a home theater setup: a 5.2 surround sound system built around Polk Monitor 70 Series II speakers, twin HSU VTF3 MK3 subwoofers, and a yamaha aventage AV receiver. building that system was a milestone moment for my audiophile journey and would eventually prove to be a sign of greater things to come!
Fast forward nearly 10 years to 2019 when I was about to build the audio system of my dreams. I had a budget in mind, along with a rather large list of components I was interested in hearing, however, I was unwilling to make such a sizable investment without an audition of whatever I was going to be spending my money on – I needed to experience it first. choosing anything based on spec sheets and/or third party opinions was never an option for me, as audio is so subjective. So, I was fortunate to be able to have both my dad and Uncle Dave along for the journey as I began the adventure of seeking out auditions of the components I was most interested in.
it did not take long to realize that this process taught me a lot more about the audio industry as a whole, rather than simply revealing what the “best speaker system for me” was, so to speak. The audition experiences I had, turned on several light bulbs in my mind in that they presented a clear view of the existence of multiple areas of opportunity and/or means of improvement that were present in the AV industry. This realization proved to be a turning point for me as I quickly decided that instead of simply pursuing the audio system for just myself, that seeking out a means by which I could attempt to create solutions to the problems I encountered for others that were in my position would be a much more worthy objective.
Audio Experience was birthed to seek a solution to the following encountered problems:
Lack of representation within a 200 mile radius of the new haven county CT area of many of the industry’s top brands and respective products that are Actually available in a showroom to personally audition.
Some speakers initially auditioned and quickly dismissed, proved to be incredibly improved due a synergistically correct pairing of the surrounding components the second time around.
Many showrooms were set up in a fashion completely unrepresentative of the actual end destination of where the products they contained would go: the residential home. This made it difficult for auditions to be reliable or relatable.
Many Companies failed to ask anything that communicated an interest in understanding the purpose of the visit.
Audio Experience exists to accomplish the following:
Bring representation of many Audio Video Companies previously unavailable in the CT area, providing AV enthusiasts a means of experiencing their top products by a local audition at our showroom.
Draw upon an extensive personal experience of auditioning hundreds of various audio products when advising clients in building their own audio systems with a Fundamental focus on synergistic matching.
Provide a showroom experience unlike any other via our private, appointment only, residential showroom where the audition experience will most accurately translate to our clients what can be created within the four walls of their home.
Express genuine care and interest in the unique goals and objectives of each and every client that we come into contact with, and to share a mutual excitement in the process of assembling the system of their dreams.
It would be my pleasure to serve you in the pursuit of your very own Audio Experience.