Welcome to our home. Our mission is to provide personal, professional custom audio and video services for your home or business and provide customer service unrivaled by the “big box” stores. Please contact us with any questions you may have, and we encourage you to stop in and check out our store in downtown Eugene at 942 Olive Street. Thank you for visiting our website, poke around for a while, enjoy your stay and we hope to see you soon in person.
Getting the Best Digital Audio Quality
The convenience of using a computer or iPod as a music source is undeniable. It is why so many of us are compiling playlists for our music systems. Computers and iPods are now commonly used alongside conventional music sources such as CD’s, LP’s, and tuners. But what about sound quality? Computers and iPods used as music sources often sound compressed and lifeless – especially played through high quality systems. The road to impressive sound quality utilizing computers and iPods is a two-step process. First, make sure you are recording in a lossless format. If using iTunes, select Apple Lossless, AIFF or WAV in the “Import Settings” menu before recording (Edit -> Preferences -> Import Settings). The sound quality of recording from a CD to your computer will be dramatically superior to downloading music from iTunes. And secondly, select playback components that offer advanced digital to analog conversion (DAC). The following are examples of products that can significantly improve the sound quality coming out of your computer or iPod.
Audioquest’s DragonFly USB DAC
We call the Audioquest DragonFly USB DAC the “Mighty Mouse” of the audiophile’s arsenal. The DragonFly is about the size of a USB memory stick, but, wow, what a critical component this DAC will prove to be as an interface between your computer and sound system. It accomplishes this (as all our external DACs do) by bypassing the low-quality DAC in your computer and substituting itself as a higher performing alternative. This is a vitally important step in the chain of producing quality audio. And the DragonFly accomplishes this extremely well. We’ve got a lot more to say about this product in our blog post on it, so check it out: Mighty Mouse – The Audioquest DragonFly USB DAC. $249
Paradigm’s A2 Powered Speakers
The Paradigm A2 Powered Speaker is an exceptionally versatile product. There are many ways to utilize the A2. The built-in amplifiers allow direct connection to an iPhone, computer, preamplifier or television (analog only). Wireless streaming can be accomplished with an Airport Express or Squeezebox connected directly into the speaker. The self-powered A2 exhibits dynamic range and bass response you would normally experience only with much larger speakers. Read more about this speaker in our blog post: Paradigm A2 Powered Speaker. $279 (standard finish), $329 (premium finish) each
DacMagic Plus
The Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus Digital to Analog Converter will upgrade the sound quality of your CD player, computer, wireless digital music player, or iPod in conjunction with a digital iPod dock. The DacMagic Plus offers two coaxial or optical inputs and a USB port. $599
WADIA 170i
The WADIA 170i Transport/iPod Dock is the first ever component specifically designed to transform your iPod into a high-resolution audio/video media server. The iTransport combines the convenience of personal audio with the performance and connectivity of your home audio/video system, delivering a bit-perfect digital audio signal. It is the first iPod dock to output the digital audio signal from an iPod. $299
Zeppelin Air
The Zeppelin Air is the stereo speaker system your iPod has been waiting for. This new and improved iPod Dock/Player is made by Bowers & Wilkins and allows for wireless operation with the iPhone, iTouch, and iPad. The Zeppelin will fill a room with crisp, deep, lifelike stereo sound, and deliver a surprisingly greater level of musical detail from your iPod. $599
Peachtree iDecco
The Peachtree iDecco Amplifier offers a high-performance integrated amp, digital to analog converter, and pure digital iPod dock all in one package. It uses a vacuum tube (which it proudly displays behind a window on the front of the unit) preamplifier stage and has enough power to drive most high quality speakers. $999
How the Spark for Bradfords Was Ignited
Just a quick video post to give you a little background on our business. Enjoy …
The convenience of using a computer or iPod as a music source is undeniable. It is why so many of us are compiling playlists for our music systems. Computers and iPods are now commonly used alongside conventional music sources such as CD’s, LP’s, and tuners. But what about sound quality? Computers and iPods used as music sources often sound compressed and lifeless – especially played through high quality systems. The road to impressive sound quality utilizing computers and iPods is a two-step process. First, make sure you are recording in a lossless format. If using iTunes, select Apple Lossless, AIFF or WAV in the “Import Settings” menu before recording (Edit -> Preferences -> Import Settings). The sound quality of recording from a CD to your computer will be dramatically superior to downloading music from iTunes. And secondly, select playback components that offer advanced digital to analog conversion (DAC). The following are examples of products that can significantly improve the sound quality coming out of your computer or iPod.
