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Customer Feedback
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My first
actual visit to Archive Audio had me a little nervous. I cannot
say how many retailers who work from their home are more like "mad
scientists" in their laboratory!
My first
impression was so overwhelmingly positive. I knew at the moment I
stepped into Bob Kirk's house that (finally!) there was a place I
could comfortably bring along "she who must be obeyed" as the
Brits fondly refer to the fairer sex. And, yes, she would have to
give at least tacit approval to any purchase I would make.
One could not
ask for a more real setting than sitting in his living room and
listening to music. (Not to mention the good taste of the
lovely appointed living room.) Yes, Bob Kirk has not lost sight of
the fact that we're all "doing this" because we love music. (It
also helped that he had a pair of gorgeous Joseph Audio RM33LE's
there that actually looked like they belonged there!) Their narrow
profile was "just what the doctor ordered" for my other half who
is extremely conscious of the aesthetics in the room. Plus, I have
heard them before but for some reason he made them sing.
Each room had
it's own dedicated system that integrated so well within the room
that everything just seemed so relaxed and natural. Plus, for
those "die hard" enthusiasts among us he actually does have a more
"traditional" listening room downstairs where he moves everything
around if necessary for a really critical listening environment.
My hat is off
to Bob at Archive Audio. He is a shining example of what occurs
when one really does care about their customers and knows how to
make the whole experience enjoyable. Remember: Professionals make
it all look easy.
Sincerely,
If I would have met you earlier in
my audio adventure, I certainly would save a lot of time, money and
energy in my pursuit of audio excellence. Finding an expert for
anything you personally don't know much about makes sense no matter
what the subject. It just took me awhile to understand and appreciate
just how many options you have when building a system. It was a
wonderful surprise to find someone of your experience right here in
town.
Though it seemed a bit
unorthodox at first coming to your home based business to audition
equipment, your laid back approach and love of what you do made it
very enjoyable and I'm really glad I did. Should any of your
potential customers ever want to speak to a reference, please don't
hesitate to pass on my name.
Thanks for taking time to work with
the equipment I had already purchased and bringing my system to an
entirely new level.
All the best,
Doug Rogers
buckr@aol.com
Hi Bob -
My wife had told me you called
several weeks ago to check up on me and see if I was happy with my
purchases. Sorry I didn't get back to you in a timely manner. I
listen to music much more than I used to with my old system
(specifically the Thiel's), and not just audiophile recordings. My
biggest upgrade was getting the Joseph Audio RM33LE speakers from
you. Is my system perfect? Probably not, but with my current
SimAudio Evolution equipment and how it sounds, I don't really worry
about it.
Hope you are well. We'll talk
conditioning and tweaks later this spring.
Best – Brian
parkerbmp1@yahoo.com
I spent
several months in early 2007 working with Bob to build a system that
satisfied these "hard to please" ears. I had never purchased a
hi-fidelity system and was somewhat overwhelmed at the thought of
having to make a choice among so many quality stereo components. What
struck me about Bob is that he simply engaged me in an informal
conversation. I felt no pressure to purchase; in fact, it seemed as
though Bob was willing to sit and talk with me and listen to tunes for
as long as I wanted! I made at least 3-4 visits to Bob's house to try
out an array of systems before I ultimately took the plunge. I ended
up purchasing a Cambridge 840A integrated amplifier, a Cambridge 840C
CD player, and a set of sugar-sweet Joseph Audio RM25 speakers. I
cannot begin to express how beautiful this setup sounds in my house!
Bob is a great person to work with and has amassed a wealth of
knowledge about hi-fi audio. I would highly recommend speaking to Bob
if you consider investing in a quality sound system.
Ryan
Sullivan
rpatrick@wideopenwest.com
Archive Audio-It's about the music.
Bob listened to what I wanted from a system and, after 8 hours of
auditioning, we put it together. I couldn't be happier!
I've been to several hi-fi retailers
over the years and gotten all kinds of experiences. Have you ever been
forced to listen to the technology behind the speaker before you listen
to it? Does that mean I have to explain that to everyone before they
can hear how good they sound?
How about the guy who reads over the
technical specification sheet and says that's all you need to know? You
don't even have to listen?
One retailer boasted how he had been
to the factories of the different speaker manufacturers and how his had
a superior manufacturing process?
I could go one, but if you're reading
this then I'm probably preaching to the choir. There were
several reasons that finalized my decision to purchase my equipment from
Bob:
First, he has complete confidence in
his equipment. Bob believes in the brands he chooses and feels that
they will stand up against any of the other retailers at that price
point. For me, there was nothing spontaneous about this decision, and I
needed time to compare and consider the differences between systems.
Second; there was no pressure. Bob
let me listen for as long as I wanted with the music that I
chose. As I was listening, he would check on things but he didn't
hover. He would actually just casually come and go.
Third; I could compare products
easily. If his systems weren't set in a way for me to compare, he would
get it ready before I came in again.
Fourth; Bob doesn't B.S. If he
doesn't know something, he will tell you. However, it was my finding
that he has an awful lot of knowledge and experience. I know this
because I asked a lot of questions not because he tried to
sell equipment by trying to impress me with that knowledge and
experience. With Bob, it's always a two way conversation.
Fifth; I
never received a technical explanation BEFORE I listened. Frankly, I
don't care how the equipment functions, as long as it sounds real to me
and it will last. I don't want to have to explain how advanced a
speaker is before someone can enjoy it. After all, it's about the
music.
K1157R@gmail.com
In my
own quest for musical satisfaction, I have purchased a myriad of
components from a myriad of dealers. I am dismayed by what I'm seeing
today in the world of musical reproduction. Many audio dealers have
migrated to home-theater and automated whole-house solutions. Whether
it be via compressed MP3 players or unobtrusive "lifestyle" solutions,
people nowadays seem to be listening to music more and enjoying it
less. When music is relegated to nothing but a background activity, a
soundtrack for other activities in our lives, its power to reach us,
to engage us, to move us, becomes diluted.
But Bob
remains focused on one thing – music as an art form. He has created a
musical oasis for his customers that he operates out of his house in
Bexley, and his listening rooms are not only imbued with a relaxed,
no-pressure, at-home feel that one simply cannot find in a traditional
bricks-and-mortar dealership, but they are normal from an acoustics
standpoint-living room, den, spare bedroom, basement. Nothing is
tricked out or obtrusive with wall treatment or mega-room
tuning, yet all of the systems he sets up just sound really good, from
modest systems all the way up to the CJs with the Pearls, or the MOON
Evolution gear. He's skilled at matching components to form system
packages that transcend the individual capabilities of the components
themselves. As I said above, I've been to many shops, but only Bob
Kirk of Archive Audio has consistently helped me get closer to that
elusive goal of musical nirvana.
Jon
Acton
John_Acton5@yahoo.com
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