His real job is creating theatrical and cinema sound systems, but high-end audio is his passion.
He's standing in front of his $50,000/pair AEF-1812 loudspeakers. That's "18," as in 18" woofer, and "12," as in "1+2=3, which is an auspicious number.
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Since high-end audio isn't how Mr. Hou makes his living, he has his real factory elsewhere in the building. This is just his audio playground.
Mr. Hou's loft is stuffed with fun goodies, such as a drum set, keyboard rack—even a disco ball.
He hits a tom-tom and says, "When you hear a speaker reproduce this, you're really getting somewhere."
XLH's SL-INS preamplifier ($5000). No, I didn't get a chance to hear them—Mr. Hou is still building his second AEF-1812, having sold his previous sets.
Slate interviews The Wire's David Simon.
I had never watched The Wire before this season, but it has become my true don't-miss TV. It's the only TV show I can think of that truly is novelistic in scope—and yes, I include The Sopranos in that dismissal of the competition.