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Notes to You

Updated: Feb 6

February 2026


Dear Friends,


I trust everyone had a nice holiday season and that your new year is off to a great start.

As most of you know, I rarely add or drop product lines. I’m very happy with the brands I carry and can offer products at virtually every budget level up to about $35,000, which is the upper limit I’ve established for the store. Sadly, however, I recently had to drop Cyrus. For the second time in about four years, they lost their U.S. distribution, and it’s unclear whether they will find another. This was a real shame, as I loved their products and was told that I sold more Cyrus than any dealer in the country.


So the question then became: what do I replace this with?

I’ve always been a fan of British audio. To my mind and ears, it is characterized by superb sonics, fine build quality, sensible size, and reasonable pricing. When I lived in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire many years ago, I became aware of the UK’s many fine audio brands—most of which are still with us today. Audiolab was one such brand I admired then, and I am delighted to welcome them to Hi Notes.


Audiolab was founded in 1983 by Philip Swift and Derek Scotland, who set out to deliver high-quality sound without unnecessary complexity or cost. The company quickly gained recognition with the Audiolab 8000A integrated amplifier, which became a landmark product in UK audio and established Audiolab’s reputation for clean, neutral sound and solid engineering. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the wider 8000 Series expanded into amplifiers, CD players, and tuners, making Audiolab a staple of serious yet affordable audiophile systems.


In 1998, Audiolab was acquired by TAG McLaren and briefly operated as TAG McLaren Audio before financial difficulties led to the brand’s dormancy in the early 2000s. Audiolab was revived in 2004 by the International Audio Group (IAG), which relaunched the brand with modernized designs while preserving its original ethos. Since then, Audiolab has produced successful ranges such as the 6000, 7000, and 9000 Series, earning numerous awards and maintaining its reputation for transparent, well-engineered sound at realistic prices.


To help me get off on the right foot with Audiolab, the importers have offered some very attractive pricing on their entry-level 6000 Series. For example, a bundle consisting of the 6000A integrated amplifier (including DAC and phono stage), the 6000CDT transport, and the 6000N streamer would normally retail for $2,600. I am able to offer this package to you for $1,999. I hope you’ll come by and have a listen.


In other news, for those who have been waiting to hear the Gradient 1.4 speakers, I have good news: my next demo pair will be arriving soon. Gradient recently changed cabinet manufacturers—still made in Finland—and it took the new contractor some time to achieve the level of quality Gradient requires. https://gradient.fi/en/


Way back in my undergraduate days at North Texas State, now the University of North Texas, everyone had to take four semesters of either higher math or a hard science regardless of major. I chose four semesters of acoustics, thinking it would assist me as a music major. The math got pretty challenging, but I made it through. I’ve actually used what I learned many times over the years and particularly remember one important fact: we all perceive sound differently.


Recently, a colleague pointed me to an “influencer” (what a godawful word!) called Cheap Audio Man, who made a video I thought you might enjoy. While his delivery and presentation were off-putting—at least to me—his points are basically valid and sound. He discusses why we perceive sound differently, along with other variables in the listening process, and does so as well as anyone I’ve heard outside of academia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vggC5VsV_TI


Lastly, as I finished up the store's accounts, I’m happy to report that we had our best year yet. This was only possible because of your continued support. Thank you, as always.


Kind regards,

Jim Schaeffer


PS. We archive the previous year's newsletters each January. If you would like to see any past years' editions of Notes to You, please let us know.. info@hinotesmusic.com

 
 
 
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