Stephen Mejias

The process behind yesterday's entry also led me to an old essay by Art Dudley. "Academy? What Academy?!" is special because it was AD's first piece published in Stereophile. Beyond that, and like all of Art's writing, it is special also because of the message it contains. While, on the surface, it's something of a deathblow to what was The Academy Advancing High Performance Audio and Video (what a crappy name!), there is a more important message, one that is just as relevant today as it was when the article was written, nearly ten years ago.

Art gives us his own recommendations for advancing high-end audio, without the tedious and fancy name. Art suggests we remind the uninitiated, the curious, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, of all the great music still available on LP. He suggests we speak of the recent, real improvements in the CD format. He (happily) suggests we make note of the resurgence of high-quality hi-fi in kit form. He suggests we point to the business of making and supplying tubes. And, finally—most importantly—he suggests we re-discover how amazing, how powerful, how rejuvenating good music can be, especially on a good hi-fi.

All great advice, I'd say, and all great advice you can still easily find in any of even the most recent installments of Art's beautifully written "Listening" (what a great name!) column.

Art then turns, for only a moment, to discuss the darker side of the audiophile psychoscape. He scolds the tendency of highlighting the most radically expensive turntables and loudspeakers, the stuff which no ordinary person can afford or is even likely to imagine. (My friends know that we recently reviewed a $25,000 turntable, but they'd think we were absurd—and they'd be right to think so—if I didn't let them know that we also recently reviewed a $350 turntable.) He then yanks the ear of the notion that an entry-level system must cost at least $10,000. (Entry-level?! I wouldn't want to get involved in any hobby that required a $10,000 entrance fee. What kind of bullshit is that? A more realistic starting point might be $1200. And, no worries, you could easily go much lower. Take your iPod, uncompressed files, and add some $99 earbuds.) Finally—most importantly—Art gives a flying dropkick upside the head to the pitiful fool who forgets to mention music.

Art gets mad:

I'm no longer surprised by the foolishness of the so-called High End. But I am outraged by the behavior of those make-believe music lovers who've grown very, very fat off this industry. And to hear the same Ferrari owners turn up the volume on their "woe-is-uh-me-bop" prognostications every year nauseates me.

But he always remains hopeful:

Hi-fi is changing. More and more each day, people are coming to see the old "high-end" paradigm as irrelevant and silly. And some dealers, manufacturers, and magazines are reaching out to people of average means who simply love music and would respond well to a field that's dedicated to helping them enjoy it.

It's with all this in mind that I direct your attention to the new, updated Aperion Audio website.

I first became aware of Aperion while wandering the halls of the 2005 Home Entertainment Show. I was introduced to Aperion's president, Lorraine Janeway, by—wouldn't you know it, and doesn't it just make perfect sense?—Art Dudley. I was immediately impressed. And, so far, I am just as impressed by Aperion, the company, comprised of zen gamers, microbrew aficionados, multi-instrumentalists, fierce racquetball players, and unapologetic audiophiles.

Aperion is a factory-direct manufacturer. All of their speakers are available for a 30-day audition with full money-back guarantee, including shipping both ways, and all of their speakers are warranted for 10 years. None of their speakers cost more than $1200. Bob Reina enjoys the Aperion Intimus 533-T ($750/pair) in our April issue, on sale now. Go for it. My experience in dealing with Aperion during the review period was excellent, which I think is generally (though not always) a sign of good customer service.

The people at Aperion seem clearly devoted to the advancement of the real audio art. They are reaching out to people of average means who simply love music and would respond well to a field that's dedicated to helping them enjoy it. Take, for instance, Aperion University, where you can earn a bachelor's degree in 2-Channel Speaker Placement, a master's in The Physics of Sound, or a PhD in Crossover Design & Theory. The University intends to grow. Aperion hopes to offer a new course each month. If you've got an idea for a course you'd like to see, feel free to let them know.

By the way, Aperion seems not only interested in doing the right thing for the hi-end audio hobby. They even seem to care about the world. Imagine that!

I'm sure Aperion is not the only company out there, playing a role in advancing our hobby. If you know of others, please let me know. In the meantime, I'd like to let you know that the Intimus 532 ($360/pair) will be flying in from Portland and visiting Jersey City very soon.