In this month’s Dealer Spotlight, we sit down with the passionate new owner of Executive Stereo, Blair Babineau. From tearing apart computer speakers at the age of 12 and exploring their inner workings, to now running a store that represents decades of hi-fi legacy, his journey into audio has been one driven by curiosity, craftsmanship, and a deep love for music. With a background in music performance and a vision for preserving the Executive Stereo brand while evolving with the times, he shares how he’s bringing a fresh energy to the showroom while staying true to the store’s roots!
Nordost: How did you get started in/become interested in hifi?
Blair: I got into hifi/audio systems when I was around the age of 12. That’s when my dad got me my first pair of speakers to use with my computer. I developed an interest in taking things apart and figuring out how they worked. I ended up tearing that pair of basic computer speakers apart to see the circuitry and components inside. I think that’s what really sparked my interest.
Nordost: What is your mission or philosophy for Executive Stereo?
Blair: My mission for Executive Stereo is to keep its legacy as one of the longest standing Hifi stores in the Toronto area, and to continue to provide our customers with the same level of attention and care that Ed has shown them for years. I also want to keep a selection of high-quality components for our customers to choose from while adding a few new product lines, without deviating too far from what the store is known for: high-end, high-quality products with great customer service.
Nordost: What was important to you while designing your new showroom(s)?
Blair: We have a new location, so we really had a lot of leeway. The most important thing for me was to create a welcoming environment for customers, especially on the main floor, where they walk in. The space is well lit, with warm lighting, and an overall fresh perspective. In the upstairs area, which contains our dedicated sound rooms, acoustics was the primary focus. I designed the system layouts and acoustic treatments primarily focusing on sound quality, but also ensuring that the rooms aren’t overly treated, in order to mimic a situation that someone may have in their own home. This ensures that my customers can hear the systems at their best, but also in a similar way they would hear them at home, without the need of excessive treatment.
Nordost: What is your favorite track/artist right now?
Blair: This one is tough, I find that it changes quite often. But right now, my favourite track and artist is probably Hat and Coat by Patrick Leonard. People will know him from his collaborations with Pink Floyd, Madonna, Elton John, and many other big names.
Nordost: What kind of music do you prefer to use for personal listening and demonstrations?
Blair: For personal listening, I tend to listen to any genre, be it rock, jazz, pop, or r&b. But I am quite specific with which songs/artists I listen to. For demonstrations, I mostly use more “well-known” songs just for consistency’s sake. I still like to mix it up once in a while, though. This past week, I have been using a song called “Mumbo Jumbo” by Brent Lewis, which is a percussion-based track that’s very well recorded, and has a very large sense of scale and width when played on a good system.
Nordost: What’s your favorite part of working in high-end audio?
Blair: I think my favorite part of working in this business, for the short period of time that it’s been, is probably to be able to experiment with different combinations of components, cables, and speakers. I like to see how each of them sounds individually and how they affect each other. This also helps me better understand the products that I am selling, and improves my ability to give well thought-out system recommendations to customers. I also come from a music background, I’ve played piano since I was 4 along with a few other instruments as well, so music is a big part of it for me. Plus it’s also been quite interesting to meet different customers who have their own musical background!
Nordost: How do you see the hifi industry evolving in the future?
Blair: I think a new group of younger buyers, like myself, who have rediscovered physical media formats such as vinyl, will eventually get the bug to upgrade our stuff. As younger buyers grow their careers and their interests develop, I think making sure they get to experience and see what good sound is like is very important. That’s why I try to give everyone that visits my store the same experience, no matter their age, because that initial impression of “wow that’s what I could have” is very important. You never know, they may come back to you down the road for exactly that.
Nordost: What do you think the next big innovation in hifi audio will be?
Blair: I think the next big innovation in hifi is probably going to be the integration of AI into DSP systems and room correction. We have seen what AI is capable of in different industries, and I think in high end audio, the ability to dynamically adjust your system’s response to the exact song you’re listening to (and not only just the room) would be quite transcending.
Nordost: What components would make up your dream audio system?
Blair: This is another tough one. But from what I’ve experienced so far, and based on my sonic preferences, my dream system would consist of: KEF Blade 1 Meta speakers, Transrotor Dark Star reference turntable with the TRA 9 tonearm and a Benz micro LP cartridge, MOON 891 streamer/preamp, dual MOON 861 power amplifiers bridged into mono, dual REL Carbon Special subwoofers, and Nordost TYR 2 cabling.
| Address: | 1804 Avenue Rd. Toronto, ON M5M 3Z1 |
| Phone: | (416) 927-1400 |
| Email: | info@executivestereo.ca |
| Web: | www.executivestereo.com |