Nordost is going to AXPONA 2016

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Nordost is happy to be taking part once again in Axpona, held at the Westin O’hare in Rosemont, just outside of Chicago, Friday, April 15—Sunday, April 17. This is a great opportunity for end users to experience live demonstrations and cable comparisons covering Nordost’s extensive range of products. Nordost will be featured in several rooms throughout the show including room 316, 450 and 646. While at the show, make sure to visit our sales booth in The Marketplace to take advantage of our special show offers on select Nordost products.

Nordost Playlist – March 2016

Nordost is lucky to have a wonderful team of representatives and product trainers who travel around the world educating and demonstrating the effects of Nordost’s products. As part of these demonstrations, it is our job to find an interesting and diverse selection of music to showcase our cables, power devices, sort system and accessories. Whether at shows, visiting our dealers and distributors or even in our own listening room in our headquarters in Holliston, we are constantly getting asked what music we are playing (or if our audience is not so bold to ask, we can see their Shazams working overtime). So we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to share our favorite songs of the moment. Some may be classics, some may be brand new, some may not even be to your taste, but one thing is for sure …it’s all great music.

Here are some of the songs that we will have on rotation this March.

playlist_march_16

  1. Hello—Erykah Badu—But You Caint Use My Phone
  2. Love The World You Find—The Flaming Lips—Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
  3. Oh No!—Camper Van Beethoven—Telephone Free Landslide Victory
  4. Keep The Bugs Off Your Glass And The Bears Off Your Ass—The Bad Plus—These Are The Vistas
  5. Adagio for Strings—Samuel Barber, New York Philharmonic—Barber’s Adagio and other and other Romantic Favorites for Strings [Expanded Edition]
  6. Just Don’t Talk About It—Rosanne Cash—10 Song Demo
  7. April Come She Will—Simon & Garfunkel—The Graduate
  8. Vanston Place (00 Am)—Ronny Jordan—Travelogue
  9. September in Montreal—Anne Bisson—Blue Mind (Deluxe Edition)
  10. Brother Hiroshi—Anthony Wonsey Trio, Richie Goods—Blues For Hiroshi

Dealer Spotlight: Filtronique

By Bruno de Lorimier

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1968 was the year when the Hi-Fi Boutique “Filtronique” was founded by Guy Charbonneau, whose North American reputation as a gifted and talented Sound Engineer was already well established.

Six years later, in 1974, the store was sold to André Riendeau, the owner and founder of the world renowned Pro Sound company “Solotech” (who’s most notorious artists begin with Celine Dion, the Backstreet Boys 🙂 and many, many more…).  With the addition of a new partner, a second location was also added in the east end of Montreal under the name “Sonor”; Daniel Jacques at its helm, better known today as the president and owner of the impressive High-End Audio distribution companies “Plurison Canada” and “Audio Plus Services USA”.

Many clients will remember waltzing between the two stores to discover unique and prestigious products from brand names that had never been offered in Canada until then.  After many years of coexistence, for financial and for logistical reasons, both stores were consolidated into the current Lajeunesse street location that customers revere and know today as “Filtronique”.

One thing has never changed at “Filtronique” throughout the years: their desire to seek out and offer the best audio products available regardless of price.  Their staff of six audio experts total 182 years of combined experience!

According to the “Filtronique” Team, the addition of Nordost’s Odin 2 range of products only further validates how the company’s constant quest to reach and offer audio nirvana is important to them.

In my opinion, there are very few specialized audio stores in North America who offer a broader and more diversified range of products and have such a professional and well informed and friendly staff as “Filtronique”.  The store offers five sound rooms specifically designed to give the listener an exceptional and memorable experience, which can be correlated to their own listening environment.

There couldn’t be a better opportunity for you to get to know the “Filtronique” team than this month as they’ll be hosting a special event featuring Nordost and many other products from internationally renowned prestigious brands. Each system is assembled to deliver exceptional performance, and all the nuance, emotion and musical texture intended by your favorite artists. The event will be held between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm on March 18th and 19th.  The invitation is open to everyone, so please join the fun!    

filtronique.com

9343, rue Lajeunesse, Montréal (QC) H2M 1S5

514 389-1377

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C’est en 1968 que la boutique « Filtronique » fut fondée par Guy Charbonneau, déjà à l’époque reconnu comme l’un des plus talentueux preneur de son en Amérique du Nord.

La vente du commerce à André Riendeau en 1974 , alors propriétaire et fondateur de « SOLOTECH » , engendrera la création de la seconde boutique « SONOR » avec son actionnaire au commande; Daniel Jacques, président de “Plurison Canada » et « Audio Plus USA ».

Nombreux clients se souviendrons avoir valsé entre les deux boutiques et d’y découvrir des produits uniques et prestigieux  jamais présenté alors au Canada.  Éventuellement, pour des raisons économiques et de bon sens, les deux boutiques se sont consolidées pour devenir la Boutique «Filtronique» de la rue Lajeunesse que nos connaissons aujourd’hui.

Le désir d’offrir les meilleurs produits audio, et ce dans toute les gammes de prix, est depuis l’adage de la boutique « FILTRONIQUE ».

La qualité du service et la convivialité reflètent très bien la maitrise du métier des 6 conseillers de l’entreprise totalisant plus de 182 ans d’expérience !!! 😉

La boutique « FILTRONIQUE » est reconnue comme l’une des meilleures destinations pour l’audio haut de gamme en Amérique du Nord

L’addition récente au catalogue« FILTRONIQUE » de la série ODIN II de NORDOST et de ses nombreuses déclinaisons font acte du sérieux de la quête du nirvana musical qui est véritablement la mission corporative de l’entreprise.

D’après moi, rares sont les boutiques spécialisées offrant un éventail de produits aussi vaste et diversifié que  «FILTRONIQUE», complimenté par une équipe aussi érudite et serviable. La boutique compte cinq salles d’écoute spécialement conçues pour vous offrir un environnement d’écoute hors pair et convivial.

L’occasion ne pourrait être plus à propos pour vous faire connaitre la boutique«FILTRONIQUE» car aura lieu le 18 et 19 mars prochain un  « ÉVÉNEMENT AUDIO DE PRESTIGE » mettant en vedette les câbles Nordost ainsi que plusieurs des meilleurs systèmes audio actuels en mesure de révéler de façon exceptionnelle, toutes les textures des instruments, ainsi que les émotions et les intentions de vos artistes préférés.  L’entrée est libre et ouvert à tous! Vous n’avez qu’à vous présenter à la boutique entre 10h et 22h.

filtronique.com

9343, rue Lajeunesse, Montréal (QC) H2M 1S5

514 389-1377

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An Audiophile’s Tool Kit

By Anthony Chiarella

It never ceases to amaze: enter the sound room of any passionate music lover and you’ll find a rack full of costly HiFi gear—a wealth of cherished recordings lining the walls—but search for a few basic tools to tune things up and you’re met with blank stares. Or worse, you find a broken-handled screwdriver that looks as if it had been used to chisel stone.

Fact is, audiophiles happily spend princely sums on hardware and software yet bristle at the prospect of shelling out $100 for a few basic tools. And that’s a shame, because fine stereo (and Home Theater) systems require a little TLC to perform at their best, and that means you’ll need some basic tools and simple techniques for using them. For less than the cost of a single out-of-print LP, you can acquire everything you need to keep your High End rig running right! Here’s everything you need to know:

Screwdrivers: At a minimum, you’ll need three Philips drivers (#0, #1 and #2) and an assortment of flat-blade drivers. A couple of fine-blade Jeweler’s screwdrivers are essential for turntable setup and maintenance. German-made Wiha are the best we’ve found but Snap-On and Klein—made right here in the USA—are also excellent. These are the items you’ll use the most, so don’t cheap-out! (Tip: always use the largest blade that will properly fit the fastener’s head, as this will minimize the risk of damage.)

 

Allen (Hex) and Torx Drivers: Simply put, you can’t adjust a tone arm or remove the top cover from most electronic components without a set of Allen wrenches, though Torx drivers have become commonplace in the past few years. Compared to traditional screwdrivers, Allen and Torx allow greater tightening force with less chance of stripping the fastener. Fortunately, even the best of these are dirt-cheap. Look for “Bondhus” brand.  (Tip: with Allen drivers, choose models with one “Ball-end,” as these work better in tight spaces. You’ll need both Metric and English sizes.)

 

Machinist’s Level: For leveling your equipment rack, Turntable, CD Player and speakers. Actually, you don’t need one: you need two, placed at right angles atop whatever surface you want leveled. (Tip: a longer level will always provide a more accurate measurement that a shorter level of equal quality, so use the longest level that will work on a given surface.)

 

Needle-Nose Pliers: essential for cartridge installation and useful for any sort of fine wire work, not to mention fishing small screws out of tight spaces. You’re best off with two: 1” and 2-3” jaw. Best brands are Snap-on, Channellock and Diamond.

 

Adjustable “Crescent” Wrench: An open-end wrench with adjustable jaws. In this case, smaller is better. A 4” or 6” wrench should master just about any task. (Snap-On and Channellock are top brands here.)

 

Utility knife:  (Box-cutters) These are among the most useful and versatile items you can own. Need proof? How did you open your equipment boxes, anyway? (Tip: a dull blade is much more dangerous than a sharp one. Blades are cheap, so change them often!)

 

Tape Measure: HiFi setup is all about geometry…try that without a Tape Measure! (Tip: choose a tape at least 20’ long, with a locking feature, that is highly legible.)

 

High quality flashlight and Magnifying glass: Over 40? These are self-explanatory. An LED Flashlight with multiple brightness settings is worth a king’s ransom.  These will come in handy when looking behind your system, adjusting phono cartridge alignment, and in infinite other instances.  

 

Protractor and Stylus Force Gauge: For Analog Lovers Only! Brinkmann makes a gorgeous and easy-to use Protractor based upon the old Dennesen Soundtractor. As for Stylus Force Gauges, high precision digital units are available on ebay for $10.

 

Toolbox: Cheap insurance and guaranteed organization! (Tip: a plastic box with internal compartments offers the best protection and keeps everything at the ready.)

Parting shot: When it comes to tightening screws, bolts and other fasteners, audiophiles seem to think that “If a little is good, more is better!” Avoid the temptation and DON’T Overtighten!!!