I have to think that being a HiFi dealer is challenging even in ‘normal’ times. These days, with travel restrictions, mask mandates, supply chain nightmares, and a general air of grumpiness, presenting a happy face for customers must take either real skill or real nice people.
The people behind Harrisburg, PA-based Now Listen Here, Aaron and Jessica Sharrick, easily fall into the latter category, as they are simply real nice people. Add in real HiFi knowledge and a real passion for our hobby, and you’ve got a winning combination.
Now Listen Hear, a Tenacious Sound Store, sponsored three rooms at CAF. Pictured directly above is a nice simple system that was very easy to like comprised of the recently reviewed Bel Canto E1X Integrated Amplifier ($8000), VPI Prime 21 Turntable ($5000), Joseph Audio Pulsar2 Graphene Speakers ($8999), all wired with Transparent cable.
Stepping up in price and complexity, a pair of Fyne Audio F1-10 Speakers ($31,995) were driven by amplification from Chord including their Ultima 5 Amplifier ($13,195), Ultima Pre 2 ($17,995), with Chord’s DAVE DAC ($12,595) receiving its bits from a Innous ZENmini Server w/LPSU ($2298), while a Symphonic Phono Preamplifier ($8250) handled the output from a VPI Prime Signature 21 Turntable ($8250). Transparent took care of power conditioning and cables.
Even though this system physically filled this somewhat small room from side to side, the sound was nimble, quick, and inviting.