Gig Harbor Audio Philosophy

The HiFi we set up in our shop is what we listen to in our own homes. If other people like these systems as well it’s a pleasant bonus. We focus on the neutral reproduction of the human voice. Once that is done correctly everything else falls into place like deep bass, correct piano, and engaging violin.

The type of systems we enjoy are built around high efficiency speakers that are more like thin-walled cellos than heavy resonance-cancelling cabinets. The amplifiers we prefer are tube with simple, low watt per channel power. The sources we prefer are 1. a turntable with a good but not necessarily expensive moving magnet or moving coil cartridge and a tube phono preamplifier; 2. a digital streamer with a DAC (digital to analog converter); and 3. a reel to reel tape deck using ATR Magnetics 1/4 inch tape stock. Efficient speakers allow for lower power, and lower power presents less distortion. We feel that cables among components and speakers should be appropriate to the system itself. The cables we prefer tend to be neutral with the goal of sounding open.

One of the most important components in an audio system is the vinyl record itself. This does not mean to run out and buy a 200 gram three hundred dollar new pressing of Santana or Michael Jackson because you might get truer analog sound from a 25 cent pressing of Martin Denny’s Exotica at a local thrift shop. Getting original records that did not spend time being digitally processed or getting short run fully analog pressings from small companies who take their time producing a clean LP goes a lot further than many other HiFi tweaks like overly expensive cables, isolators, and power conditioners. Vinyl producing companies that we love are ERC (London), Intervention Records (Gig Harbor!), SubPop (Seattle), Light in the Attic (Seattle), Gearbox Records (London), Command pressings by Enoch Light, and Third Man (Nashville) to name just a few…

We do not carry brands that require anything of us especially sales quotas (we don’t sell Avon, Amway or Tupperware either…). The products in our shop are innovative and extremely well made; we like the people who design and build what we carry. A great product like a hand built tube amplifier will sell itself and does not need to be pushed by anyone or onto anyone. We encourage friends and customers to make themselves at home in our shop and listen for as many hours as desired. We will answer any questions, but will do our best to stay out of the way.

We do respect a well written audio review, however rare that has become.  It is hard to compare to the sincere, self-deprecating, and informative pieces written by the late Art Dudley.  “Vintage” copies of Listener magazine, of which line 2 shelves at Gig Harbor Audio, do spotlight older HiFi equipment, but Art’s process of sharing his understanding and enjoyment of Hifi is still relevant.   He did not rely on test equipment or distortion graphs.  He sat down to listen and qualified his opinions showing as much respect for language as he showed for music.   After his death in 2020 GHA was lucky enough to purchase from Art’s wife Janet his Devore O/93 and Altec Flamenco speakers, but more importantly we got to purchase many of his vinyl LPs: The Doors, Dexter Gordon, Oasis, XTC, Jonathon Richmond, Mozart, bluegrass, jazz, many of which are ERC or rare pressings…  Jim Austin from Stereophile cites Art:  "Music is easy to miss for the listener who thinks his job is to concentrate on the sound."