Time Out New York
Author: Tom Samiljan
Date/Issue: February 18-26 1999, Issue No. 178
Section: Check Out - Stereo Lab
"Stereo Lab - Take a tour of the city's high-end audio shops and find the system of your dreams."
The following high-end shops are distinguished by the brands they carry--you won't find Aiwa or Panasonic on their shelves. On the low end of the price range, this means entry-level components--known as "mid-fi" in the stereo industry--by manufacturers such as NAD, Nakamichi, B&W and Marantz. On the high end, these dealers often serve as exclusive retailers for components such as chrome-plated amps by Burmester, cherry- wood speakers by Thiel and spaceshiplike CD players by Oracle. Salespeople at upscale audio stores can sometimes be snooty. But few of them will sell you something you don't want. All of the following stores carry stereos in the $1,000 range.
INNOVATIVE AUDIO
*150 E 58th St between Lexington and Third Aves
(634-4444). Subway: N, R to Lexington Ave; 4, 5, 6 to 59th
St. Mon-Wed, Fri 10:30am-7pm; Thu 10:30am-9pm; Sat
10:30am-6pm; Sun noon-5pm.
IA owner Elliott Fishkin's philosophy of audio equipment is that if you're listening to Barbra Streisand, she should sound as if she's singing in your own home. IA's staff is likely to show you the best system first, then backtrack until you find the sound you like at a price you can afford. Best of all, salespeople are friendly. Fishkin's Innovative Audio emphasizes music, even when selling home-theater systems. (The $250,000 Sony/Faroudja/Roland/Wilson/Proceed/Pioneer home-theater system at the Manhattan store makes movie music sound like a live orchestra.) Fishkin talked endlessly about Scotland-based Linn's Classik Compact Music System--an integrated CD and amp with three bookshelf speakers ($1,295). And don't feel rushed into buying. Customers typically come back two or three times before purchasing high-end components.
Fantasy: Wilson Watt 5.1 speakers, Spectral Reference SDR 3000 CD transport, SDR 2000 digital-to-analog converter, DMC 20 preamp and DMA 180 amp, MIT Duo-Iso digital filter/power supply, MIT 350R1 meter interconnects, Spectral 770ULii speaker interfaces, MIT Z cord II powercords ($56,730)
Reality: Rotel RCD 930 CD and RA 931 integrated amp with B&W 302 bookshelf speakers ($1,000)
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