Your favorite small, under the radar, boutique audio company?

sharpsuxx · « **Reply #40 on:** 22 May 2013, 05:54 pm »

They both have circles here but:
Vapor Audio - the Joule is the best speakers I have ever heard and the Cirrus is the best I will ever own.
Empirical Audio - The overdrive is the Best DAC I have ever heard still trying to save up the money to buy one but it is on my radar.
GR research - Danny is the man, I think he is everyones first nip at the ankles of high end audio. His stuff can really sing. I am glad I talked to him after the AV123 fiasco but even so the X-SLSs are a phenomenal speaker for the money.

Outside of that -
Pure audio, In Columbia Missouri is a great little audio shop great people great sound.
Arte Forma - Based on a suggestion from Ryan at Vapor I tried the Elyssa a 50w kt88 base tube amp, what a value.
The Sound of Music, in St. Louis Missouri, The best selection of audio gear I want at any store within 300 miles. ClearAudio, DynaAudio, Rega, Sonus Faber and all kind of other awesome stuff. They seem like good guys too.

Cheeseboy · « **Reply #41 on:** 22 May 2013, 05:56 pm »

I have three Audiophile super heros.

Angel City Audio-Melody Valve HiFi:
Hugh goes out of his way to make quality demonstrations to expose premium performance and will always delight his future and current customers.

Dodd Audio
Gary is there for me when things get hairy and I need help. He builds the greatest sounding valve stuff for the money IMHO.

Upscale Audio
I just went through a customer service opportunity that any other company would have burned me. I will buy my tubes there for life. When it is time to buy something for the system I will alway give them a crack at the deal.

I have one "Honorable Mention":

GR Research
I have learned so much from Danny lurking on the GR Circle. I own his speakers and would highly recommend them to others.

Steve

tomytoons · « **Reply #42 on:** 22 May 2013, 07:06 pm »

Boris from Vista Audio
Decware
Alex from WyWires

jparkhur · « **Reply #43 on:** 22 May 2013, 10:29 pm »

Dodd Audio

Pi Audio

GR Research

HOllis Audio

All very concerned about customer enjoyment

TONEPUB · « **Reply #44 on:** 23 May 2013, 12:33 am »

Music First Audio. Really loving their passive preamps.

jtwrace · « **Reply #45 on:** 23 May 2013, 12:45 am »

Bent Audio-John is amazing to deal with. Probably the best by far that I've ever dealt with.

poseidonsvoice · « **Reply #46 on:** 23 May 2013, 12:45 am »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 23 May 2013, 12:33 am

Music First Audio. Really loving their passive preamps.

Touché! Then mine would be Bent Audio.

Best,
Anand.

dflee · « **Reply #47 on:** 23 May 2013, 01:04 am »

From what is being said and from my contact with Super Dave, I think P.I. Audio
belongs in this list. He is someone I hope to shake hands with someday.

Spirit · « **Reply #48 on:** 23 May 2013, 01:12 am »

No doubt: Roger Sanders - Sanders Sound Systems

esprits4s · « **Reply #49 on:** 24 May 2013, 04:14 am »

My vote goes to Ty and Tyler Acoustics. Fantastic speakers and one of the nicest, most genuine, and most enthusiastic vendors that I've met in this hobby.

DaveC113 · « **Reply #50 on:** 24 May 2013, 05:21 am »

I'd say Merlin and dc10 audio too, great speakers...

Freo-1 · « **Reply #51 on:** 24 May 2013, 08:55 pm »

Let me give a shout out to crew at Flat Earth Audio, who distribute ATC speakers in the US. They are great to work with, very knowledgeable, and support possibly the best speakers made today. My two channel system never sounded better.

A shout out also to Ty of Tyler Acoustics. Ty makes great speakers, provides outstanding service, and is a all around great guy. Thanks to him, I have a great multi channel audio setup.

golfugh · « **Reply #52 on:** 24 May 2013, 11:47 pm »

Have to add Klaus at Odyssey

sturgus · « **Reply #53 on:** 25 May 2013, 01:50 am »

I will first go local.

1: Musical Design/Musical Concepts /John Hillig
2: Vapor Audio / Ryan
3: Dynavector /Mike Pranka
4: Herron Audio /Kieth Herron
5: Clayton Audio
6: Disc Doctor

Next up

GR Research.
GIK
Audiomods
Soundsmith

There are more but the point is we as a group are quite lucky. There is no shortage of good guys helping us to enjoy this hobby.

pansixt · « **Reply #54 on:** 25 May 2013, 04:25 am »

DejaVu Audio
Mclean VA

Gallery: http://www.dejavuaudio.com/gallery.html

jb26 · « **Reply #55 on:** 25 May 2013, 08:59 am »

I've bought of Virtue Audio, Ascend Acoustics and Herbie's Audio. I'm really happy with all the products, and customer service is excellent.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #56 on:** 25 May 2013, 09:08 am »

Lou Hinkley at Daedalus Audio -- outstanding speakers that are also gorgeous. Great guy, great service
Dan Wright at ModWright -- excellent amps, pre amps, and mods. Great guy, great service
David Gill at Gill Audio Design-- makes one of best, musical tube preamps, especially for the money
George & Carolyn Counnas at Zesto audio, their Andros tube phono stage is terrific and the are great people

rollo · « **Reply #57 on:** 25 May 2013, 01:40 pm »

Mine are S&G Custom Sound. Miracle Audio, GTAudio Works, John Weisner Audio and Vista.

charles

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #58 on:** 25 May 2013, 02:10 pm »

Quote from: sturgus on 25 May 2013, 01:50 am

,,,, we as a group are quite lucky. There is no shortage of good guys helping us to enjoy this hobby.

.........

jackman · « **Reply #59 on:** 25 May 2013, 02:37 pm »

If got to give a shout out to:

Phil Bamberg - Bambergaudio.com - Phil is an excellent speaker designer and an honest, trustworthy guy.

Steve Sammmet- SAS Audio Labs - sasaudiolabs.com - Steve's designs completely changed my opinion of tube amps and preamps. He is a no-nonsense designer who will not compromise his designs or sell the snake oil that is all too common in audio land. His push-pull tube amps outclassed my NCore amp in every way. I wish more people could experience these beautiful sounding amps.