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In Reply to: RE: Thoughts on Boulder from those who have heard it? posted by Mr Peabody on November 09, 2015 at 18:42:20
I used to frequent Audio Unlimited Denver before John Barnes passed away in 2011 [RIP]. John Barnes and Carl Jerritts ran an outstanding audio shop for decades out of John's large home with multiple listening rooms throughout including the fully finished basement and large converted garage that was completely insulated, carpeted, and had dedicated AC.For a while, their main setup consisted of a couple massive Boulder amps and high-end Boulder preamp/DAC, along with Accuphase DP-85 CDP... and a few turntables. This drove a pair of tall Focal speakers. I don't recall the speaker model but they were top of the line. These things looked very impressive, and taller than me. They had a lot of other brands as well including a few vacuum tube systems.
As impressive as the Focal speakers looked being driven by massive Boulder monoblocks, I never thought the setup sounded that great. To me, it was a little dry and lacking 'soul'. But of course, I tend to lean toward systems that are a tad bit warm, rich, and full-bodied. They also had Air Tight, CJ, Cary, BAT, MacIntosh, Electrocompaniet, and other brands.
The guys at Audio Unlimited Denver were great. They would always let me come in and play with all the high-end gear while they did their administrative work in the back office. Never any pressure to buy but always friendly and eager to talk shop.
Carl Jerritts opened Apex Audio Denver a number of years ago and he still carries Focal but I believe his 'high-end' electronics are now Solution.
Edits: 11/10/15Follow Ups:
Abe-
there are several great Audio shops in the Denver area.
You know, that's the way audio shops should be. That's how I got hooked :). I visited a local high end shop years ago, the guy who talked with me was friendly and willing to show me stuff with no pressure, or, are you going to buy. Well, one day my old CDP broke, I wondered back in the same store and the rest is history, LOL.
In contrast, I called a shop on the other side of the state, I forgot what brand I was considering, I tried to talk audio and find out some info, he just interrupted and said, "are you going to buy anything from me"? Like I was just wasting his time. I thought, if I was going to buy I certainly won't now. I didn't plan to take a trip without some basic into.
I had a similar bad experience at a 'high-end' brick and mortar store in Denver. They used to be located on Colorado Blvd, and then it appears that they moved to Steele Street, but I think they're out of business now.
About a decade or more ago I walked into the store to browse and see what they had. I saw Classe, ARC, and some others.
A young sales guy with wrinkled white dress shirt and an improperly tied tie walked up to me and the first thing he said was, "so, what are we buying today"? No introduction, no offer to let me audition something. And he made me feel like I was imposing on his precious time. I continued to browse for a few minutes then politely left the store and never ever came back.
They're probably out of business so I think I can safely say the place was called "Cherry Creek Audio" in Denver. I knew they carried ARC at that time but I went out of my way to audition and buy some ARC gear elsewhere as I refused to do business with my local authorized ARC dealer.
Fortunately, we have a number outstanding audio shops in the Denver area.
I resonate with what is being said. Your story about Cherry Creek Audio caught my attention.
I am not from Colorado but was visiting my sister in Centennial, 10 years ago. I was in the market for speakers, quite possibly under $1000, but nothing is engraved in stone. I really wanted something that could reproduce acoustic music and sound "real" (classical music, as I am a musician and retired from a 25 year career). While in Cherry Creek Audio, I took my time listening, then after awhile they ushered me out of the room because a doctor wanted to listen to the speakers. Actually, I would have been fine just standing there if they had said something polite like, we don't mind you listening, but we need to turn our attention to a client with an appointment. Anything polite would have worked. Of course I left.
In the end, I drove to Colorado Springs and visited Roy at Green Mountain Audio (unannounced) who gave me a factory tour (small factory) and an extensive, personal audition. He is a nice guy, physicist with an excellent ear--not a salesman. I bought a pair of Europas on the spot, and still have them. Actually, I believe Roy used a Boulder amp. Europas are a little on the warm side, I guess you could say, but are still very "real" sounding--good for playback of live, acoustic recordings in which I am intimately familiar hearing it live, as I have spent my life. Actually, Roy used to be an orchestra recording engineer.
The bigger point is that casual listening is the only way.
Obsession with profits is obscene. ... and if you are not spending thousands, you don't count, right?...
Another good one is Frank Van Alstine. He is certainly there to sell his product, but he is a real decent human being about it yet has made a good living (heard him say on youtube). He's been around probably 40 years or more.
Interesting.
I thought I saw Cherry Creek Audio at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest just a few years ago so if they did in fact go out of business, I believe it had to be fairly recent.
In any case, I'm glad we have many good audio shops in and around Denver. Cherry Creek Audio was not one of them.
If you don't mind. Since I am a relative newbie to the Denver area what are some of the shops you recommend?
Thanks.
I had plans to attend RMAF this year and looked forward to visiting Denver, unfortunately things just didn't work out, but I do hope to get there next year.
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