Author Archives: Jim Lee

I heard the Sopra 3’s and I was blown away!

“Over the years I’ve listened to a number of high-end speakers. Although I heard a few that I thought were just as good, I never found speakers that were dramatically better. Then, on a visit to Nuts About Hi Fi, I heard the Sopra 3’s and I was blown away! They are significantly better than my beloved KEFs! They have an amazing presence, clarity and naturalness, combined with a precise soundstage that allows you to hear the interactions between the dozens of different instruments in a symphony orchestra in impressive detail! They also do a wonderful job with jazz, folk, rock, world music and the other genres that I’ve sampled. After auditioning the Sopras, I had to have them even though they were over the budget I had set. I’m quite happy that I did because the SOPRAs have taken me a major step closer to the elusive goal of faithfully reproducing the experience of a live performances at home. Although I doubt that recorded music will ever totally capture the experience of attending concerts in person, with these speakers, high quality electronics, 4K video and DTS-HD audio I am finding that it’s possible to come pretty damn close!”

D. S.

OVER THE MOON – Aesthetix Mimas Integrated Hybrid Amplifier

The new issue of The Absolute Sound magazine includes an article and review of one of our favorite components, the Mimas Integrated Hybrid Amplifier from Aesthetix.

Reviewer Neil Gader writes:

“For me, the Aesthetix Mimas is the very definition of what I am seeking today in an integrated amplifier—unalloyed transparency and musicality served up with rich reserves of power.”

Download and read this excellent and in-depth article about the Aesthetic Mimas:
OVER THE MOON – Aesthetix Mimas Integrated Hybrid Amplifier (PDF – 1.6mb)

Incredible Remodel

We recently wrapped up an extensive audio/video system for one of our best customer’s newly remodeled home. Making all of the equipment hidden was an important requirement for this house. This is achieved by hiding all of electronics in the downstairs Media Room cabinets. Including the Marantz receivers, Kaleidescape Movie Server, Roku Ultras, Sooloos, and Pakedge networking. All of the speakers are in-wall mounted, including the JL Audio subwoofer in the living room.

The video for the living room and master bedroom are done with Samsung’s The Frame TVs with custom dark wood matching bezels, allowing the TVs to look like art pieces when not in use.

URC’s Total Control keypads and remotes are installed throughout, but you can always control the system with your phone or tablet.

Focal 300 Series in-wall speakers are throughout the whole house adding to the fun factor.

For the Media Room, a pairing of JVC and Screen Innovations bring the movie off the wall. The full Dolby Atmos system is running through a Marantz AV8805, AnthemAV A Series amplifiers, Focal IW1002BE speakers, and two JL Audio Fathom F113 subwoofers. Let’s just say, this room rocks! We are really happy with how this house came together, hope you are too.

Outdoor Media Center

This has definitely been one of my all time favorite projects. Good friends and clients decided to add to their beautiful home some outdoor entertainment. It was a bit of a challenge as we didn’t want the screen and speaker system to distract from their beautiful view or their custom built fireplace.

So we brainstormed and came up with the idea to install a motorized swing hinge for a 65″ Samsung flat screen TV. We also installed 5 of the new Focal in-ceiling 300ICW8 speakers. For the Bass, we used an Episode outdoor subwoofer which was hidden inside the firebox.

All the other electronics are housed in the adjacent living room entertainment cabinet. The new Marantz’s New SR 7013 was used along with Kaleidescape’s Strato ULTRA HD movie and concert digital library system. To automate the system we installed URC’s new MX-990 universal remote.

This system sounds so good and certainly has that “James Bond” affect when you see the TV magically come out of the ceiling.

Thanks to you two again for allowing us to work with you all these years. It just keeps getting better.

Jim Lee

Seattle’s brightest new original music star – Whitney Mongé

Whitney Mongé just released this beautiful recording, “Carry On”. Everyone we have shared this with feels it is possibly her best work to date. The intelligent heart felt lyrics and overall feel of this album is one you most likely play over and over again.

If you don’t know who Whitney is, The Seattle Times recently said this about her.. “Seattle artist Whitney Mongé might just be our city’s next big star”.

This was an unusually special “all analog” project recorded at Robert Lang Studios along with Studio Litho. It has a rich natural musicality that
showcases Whitney’s beautiful voice but also allows the the instruments to
seem suspended in their own space and time.

This is truly one of my favorite albums of all time.

Please stop in our showroom for a demo. Donate to her future as an artist and receive a free copy.

Jim Lee

And here is one of her previous video productions: