Audio Craft Co, Inc

Audio Craft (at least the Westlake store I used to frequent, before they closed) is/​was a living testament to a great, recently bygone era of full sized, full range ‘high end’ audiophile stereo systems back when dynamic range and superior sonics ruled the day! A day and age when recording and mastering was done with such care and perfection that the music sounded breathtaking and palpable! Today, so much music sounds overdriven, flat, and compressed (Google ‘the loudness wars’ to read on the subject). Such an utter shame, really. So many younger people now listen to their music via small, compromised PC speakers or cheap iPOD ear buds or headphones. They don’t know what they’re missing! I get a kick out of my nieces and nephews’ incredulous responses when I play an LP, SACD or HDCD on my McIntosh, Magnepan, or Legacy Audio full-​range floorstanding speakers (using tubed preamps and line buffers)! And I quote, «HOLY SHIT Uncle George… I had no idea music could sound this incredible!!!». Uh, yes, and the sad thing is that a whole generation from here on in is getting largely shortchanged…