Author: Pete Apostolides
Pete Apostolides
Over the course of four decades as an audiophile, Pete developed a deep appreciation for music reproduction while simultaneously building a successful professional career. As his expertise grew, he became a head sound quality judge at several prominent local car audio competitions. Building on his audio-visual expertise, he started installing custom audio and video systems on for a wide client base. Pete has developed a comprehensive understanding of audio design, engineering, and the philosophies behind many of the industry's most respected manufacturers.
Portable speakers are a simple way of bringing quality audio into any room of your home. Installation is as easy as plugging them into a wall socket or outlet and connecting them to your wi-fi. Once the speaker appears on the network, you can control them from an app from your smartphone and in most cases, with voice control. You can add additional smart speakers throughout your home and synch them together and never miss a beat. Companies such as Bluesound, Sonos, WiiM, and others offer a wide variety of speakers so you can add a large speaker to a…
Properly installing a traditional wired surround sound system can be a major home-improvement project and often requires hiring a professional contractor. As an installer the top reason clients oppose a surround sound system is the labor cost, complexity, and the mess from cutting drywall. Every surround sound system I’ve installed included in-wall speakers requiring me to cut large holes in their family room. They don’t think the value is there like a kitchen renovation. Wireless surround sound systems are a much easier sell and install for me. A wireless system can be as simple as a soundbar placed on a TV stand and wireless…
There is a growing segment within the high-end audio market gaining the attention of respected professional reviewers and audiophiles around the world. I must admit I stuck my nose up with the thought of self-powered loudspeakers, but the market continues to produce very intriguing active speakers drawing me in. The value is clear and hard to ignore, as with all audio, they’re not for everyone. Pros Active speakers are great for those looking for a home hi-fi or music lovers seeking a small second system. Powered speakers have amplifiers built into the enclosure eliminating the need for an external amplifier…
Prior to around the year 2000, most of my friends and I were deep into car audio. It started with the cars that go boom during the mid-80s then branched off into audiophile competition car audio a few years later. Back then we didn’t have steering wheel controls or rear-view cameras, and it was much more straightforward to install a system in your car. Adding an aftermarket audio system into your car today requires hi-tech modules mounted behind the dashboard. The modules integrate aftermarket amplifiers and digital sound processors (DSP) into your factory head unit. A properly installed system allows you to…
Do I need better cables? Cables are a tricky topic because there isn’t clear evidence the sound will improve. The build quality and appearance are clearly better than the included cable, but they are out of visual sight so why bother. The marketing for aftermarket cables is incredibly persuasive and can easily create a fear of missing out. Many enthusiasts often wonder if they’re leaving performance on the table by sticking with the stock cable. The sheer number of cable manufacturers on the market also suggests that it is a highly profitable segment of the audio industry. That doesn’t necessarily…
Loudspeaker companies were developed from a visionary with passion for music and sound. Some swear by horn speakers while others prefer a flat ribbon panel speaker and those sticking to traditional woofer/dome tweeter options. Having different types of speakers enhances the audiophile community by manufacturing a speaker with clear advantages in one area at the expense of another. Some cover all aspects of the sound, and you can expect to spend five figures for those brands. For some, this is fun and an opportunity to learn and have chats with other audiophiles. Consider this topic as small talk if you want…
An increasing number of us are spending most of our day behind a desk, not just at work, but at home too, thanks to remote work. As I walk around the office, music lovers are either listening over headphones or have Spotify playing over their phone speaker. It makes me happy that there are a large amount of music fans, but I’d rather have no tunes to listen over my Android phone than listen to tunes on a low quality setup. Everybody has a little snob in them. Until about 10 years ago I had no music at my desk and suffered through…
Adding a record player to your system adds incremental joy to the hobby. You can head to the record store digging through crates or use it as a reason to stop at garage sales. Collecting records can be a nostalgic trip back to high school. I think it adds sophistication to listening to your system. You are kind of forced to listen to the entire album in the order the artist intended. Records don’t have to be expensive because the used market is just as big as new releases. A used album in good shape can cost as little as $8.00 versus…
Reviews have become a critical marketing tool for manufacturers, dealers, and distributors. Positives reviews can only help sell the product versus negative reviews that pile up will likely turn the consumer away. For the manufacturers receiving too many negative reviews, they have a long road to recovery from the negative perception. Once you understand the impact of reviews on the brand and how it can lift or destroy a new product launch, one can understand why a company will dedicate resources to protect themselves. We used to only have professional magazine reviews, word-of-mouth, or store demonstrations as tools to make…
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