Notes to You

August 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you well.

It has been an exceptionally busy month at the shop, and I am also in the midst of putting together two productions for my NYC-based company, Marshall Opera. The first is a concert honoring the esteemed composer Adolphus Hailstork on the occasion of his 85th birthday. We have a stellar cast and ensemble lined up, and the concert will take place on October 13th at Merkin Hall near Lincoln Center. I hope some of you can make it.

The Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary Edition bookshelf speaker has just arrived at Hi Notes. I have been excited about this one, as I remember so well the original AE1 when it was introduced in 1987.

The original AE1 was designed to deliver the dynamics and output of a much larger studio monitor. Its small cabinet combined an anodised aluminium bass/mid driver, metal-dome tweeter, 200-watt power handling, and an unusually rigid, heavily damped enclosure. The result was remarkable speed, punch, and bass from a speaker barely larger than a shoebox.

The new AE1 40th Anniversary preserves the dimensions, twin front ports, and distinctive appearance of the 1987 original, but virtually everything has been redesigned. A new 29mm aluminium tweeter, larger 125mm aluminium mid/bass driver, improved crossover, modern composite cabinet, and redesigned ports deliver lower distortion, greater efficiency, and deeper bass.

My demo pair is barely broken in, but I can tell you that I really enjoy them! I normally use the Unison Research Unico integrated amp with them, as this seems to be a great match. They are well built, look great, and are reasonably priced as well at $2,000. Please let me know if you would like to schedule an audition.

Hail and Farewell

I am excited to welcome a number of new products to our shop, now approaching its sixth year. We are also saying goodbye to some lines, all of which I have really enjoyed representing.

As I have written before, Grandinote has gone to a direct distribution model. I love that company and wish them well. This also meant I needed a new reference amplifier, and after much consideration, I will be bringing in CanEVER products directly from Italy. I have one of their DACs on demo now, and an amplifier, the Olimpico, is en route to me as I write this.

Ferrum, the digital company from Poland, has always impressed me, but for whatever reason, they do not attract much attention here, so, reluctantly, they are gone. Audiolab, a company I have also liked very much, has a new distributor, Mobile Fidelity. MoFi engages in mass distribution, so there is no need for me to carry them anymore. You can now buy Audiolab anywhere.

I am also awaiting a Pear Audio turntable, which should arrive any day. You may not have heard of Pear, but their turntables are quite unique in a number of ways. Other new lines inbound to Hi Notes are Faber’s Cables and Soul Note electronics. I’ll write about all of these products as they arrive.

Thanks, as always, for your business and support. It is always a pleasure for me.

Kind regards,

Jim Schaeffer

July 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope you are enjoying our nice summer.

This month, instead of talking about gear, I thought I would speak about the ethics of audio reviewing, which seems to have gone from bad to worse. For almost twenty years, I taught Professional Ethics in the Department of Philosophy at North Carolina Wesleyan University, so this is a subject near and dear to my heart.

About ten years ago, I got into a very public discussion with the people from one of the print magazines concerning the ethics of the review process. My argument was that a Code of Ethics was established for journalists a long time ago and that any critic or journalist should adhere to this Code of Ethics:

https://www.spj.org/spj-code-of-ethics/

It has long been accepted that many critics can obtain gear at industry accommodation pricing, at least 50% off the list price, take free overseas junkets paid for by manufacturers and distributors, and enjoy many other perks. Old-timers may remember one reviewer receiving a long length of expensive cable, splitting it into four or five sections, and then selling the sections, pocketing the money.

There is so much more I could write about the legacy critics, but my focus today is on the new crop of audio critics, the so-called "influencers" who are easily found on YouTube and similar social media platforms. It would be easy to overlook these characters, but they have a wide audience. Some have over 50,000 subscribers, many of whom hang on every word.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is the wild,wild, west out there! In too many cases, manufacturers and distributors are paying reviewers for positive coverage. When those financial relationships sour, the reviews can suddenly sour as well. Products that were once praised become unreliable or disappointing overnight. Take a look at the recent Axxis Distribution federal suit if you want some entertaining reading. 

https://axissaudio.com/legal-notice

Often, a dealer has a product that generates no interest at all. It just sits in the shop, taking up space. There are a number of ways to deal with these items—Audiogon, The Music Room, and so on—but there is now a new way of getting rid of them. An influencer will review the product to the hilt, the product gets sold, and the influencer and dealer split the profit.

There are also influencers who are also dealers, although they do not emphasize this fact, and who spend their time trashing competitors' products.

Is everyone on the take? I sure hope not, but I do know the practice is rampant enough that you should be skeptical of everyone. That is a real shame.

I'm sure you know this phenomenon is not limited to high-end audio. In fact, I would imagine we are small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. You hear of struggling restaurants paying influencers thousands of dollars for a positive review. How many travel reviewers pay for their own tickets? Some do, but most do not.

I wish I had some great wisdom to impart to you about this, but I do not. What I can tell you is to take what you hear on YouTube with a grain of salt. Things are not always what they seem to be.

So what is the alternative? I honestly don't have a simple answer. Some of the most experienced people in this hobby are beyond reproach, while others are not. Experience by itself is no guarantee of integrity. In the end, all I can suggest is that you audition carefully, ask questions, seek out different viewpoints, and maintain a healthy skepticism. 

Finally, let me assure you that you are always welcome to speak with me about any product you may be interested in, especially those off the beaten path. I've spent hours helping customers select products even though they did not come from Hi Notes. I think most of you know that I do this because of my love of music and the gear that reproduces it—not because I need the money. (Don't get me wrong, I enjoy making a sale as much as the next person!) But it is a shame to see what our hobby has become.

Shifting gears, coming into Hi Notes are the CanEver Olimpico Class A amplifier from Venice and the Pear Audio turntables from Slovenia. I'll write about them next month.

Until then, happy listening.

Kind regards,

Jim Schaeffer

June 2026

Dear Friends,

Vienna High End 2026 is in the books, and I wanted to pass along some news. I was very happy to attend and made a little vacation of it by also visiting Prague and Bratislava prior to the show. While I have spent a great deal of time in Vienna, I had never visited those two cities and am very glad I did. I probably gained five pounds from all the heavy—but delicious—food!

In alphabetical order, here is what I saw:

Acoustic Energy had a static display where they showed their new AE Active bookshelf speaker, as well as their relatively new 40th Anniversary AE1, a homage to their original speaker. I will probably bring a pair into the shop in the not-too-distant future.

I saw a Bergmann table on display but never did see Johnnie Bergmann, so I do not know if he was there or not. As we have become friends over the years, I was looking forward to a visit.

Hi Notes is very pleased to be reintroducing the products of CanEver to the U.S. market. I have the Zero-Uno DAC on demo and will soon receive an Olimpico Class A amplifier, something I am really looking forward to. Mario introduced a new single-ended amp, the Triodo, using either 300B or 2A3 output tubes.

Cinnamon had a lovely demo featuring their new Galle Network Transport and Galle II DAC. It was a great pleasure to finally meet the two principals, Diogo and Ricardo Canelas, whom I found to be quite engaging. They also told me about their new amplifier using 300B tubes, coming later this year.

Diptyque introduced their new DP 170, which borrows elements from the Reference speaker. Diptyque always shows with another French company, Kora Acoustics, to excellent effect. Now that Fidelity Imports represents Kora, I will probably bring in one of their amplifiers to check out in the near future.

Ferrum was jammed full of people in the dedicated headphone area of the show. I did not get a chance to talk with them, but I understand that almost all of their products have firmware updates.

My friends from Grandinote were showing at the shadow show across from the main show, and it is always nice to see them. They showed their Solo integrated amp along with the Mach 8XL speakers. Even though I no longer have one of their amps on demo, I continue to represent them and can easily arrange an audition.

Moonriver introduced their new 606 integrated amplifier. The dual-mono design outputs three times the power of the 404 Reference Integrated. It also includes a headphone amplifier and a new MOSFET-based 120V preamp that delivers greater dynamic range than the 404. The circuit is extremely minimalistic, with only one MOSFET per channel.

Wolf von Langer made an impression with the introduction of his Organic single driver speaker. Housed in a tall, deep, but narrow cabinet. In his words: “ An energised fullrange transducer that achieves a level of detail in reproduction that is unattainable with conventional solutions, thanks to the deliberate use of lightweight construction for the diaphragm assembly and a virtually contact-free mounting. The carefully calculated acoustic labyrinth stabilizes the diaphragm movement, equalizes internal and external pressure conditions, and thus enables a particularly natural reproduction of the finest microdetails.”

Rekkord, one of the greatest bargains in analog, had a static display where all of their tables were on display. These are 100% made in Germany, and if you have ever wanted to try analog, this would be a great place to start.

Reinhard Thoress was there with a static display and it was always nice to see him. There was nothing new but he was showing his preamp and phono equalizer. I am so glad Fidelity Imports picked his company up so now, they finally will get the recognition they deserve.

And that’s a wrap! As a reminder, you are always welcome at Hi Notes. For those living more than 150 miles away, we will host you in the nearest town, the Roxboro Hampton Inn, for one night whether you buy something or not. Email works best for me. 

Thank you, as always, for your support.

Happy Listening,

Jim Schaeffer

May 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you all well!

It has been some time since I wrote about the products from Unison Research, and with their introduction of several new products, I thought it would be a good time to do so.

Unison was founded in 1987 and remains family-owned. Located in Treviso near Venice, they have grown to become one of the largest and most highly respected audio manufacturers in the world. They have worldwide distribution and, in the US, are represented by Fidelity Imports. They were first known for their tube amps but now make a well-regarded line of hybrid products. Unison also makes horn speakers under their own name and more traditional speakers under the Opera trade name.

They just introduced several new products. The Unico PRE v2 ($7499) is their new flagship preamplifier. It retains the classic Unison look, only more modern and elegant. It is a three-stage hybrid; the first stage uses 12AX7 tubes followed by two solid-state stages. It also has a phono stage and DAC, which uses the popular Sabre ES9018K2M chip.

The Unico DM v2 ($10,999) is the matching amplifier. Like the PRE, it is also hybrid and uses no global feedback. It’s a real powerhouse, rated at 220 watts into 8 ohms. It is a dual mono design, heavily biased into Class A before transitioning into AB for demanding passages. Like the PRE, it is available in both black and gold finishes.

I have yet to see or hear these amps, but that will be fixed in a few weeks when I visit the Vienna High End Show. I’ll let you know what I think, but I will say the reviews in the overseas press have been excellent.

Presently on display at Hi Notes are some more modest products from Unison: the CD Uno at $3699, the hybrid Unico at $3299, and the sleeper of the entire line, the Triode 25 at $4999.

I was speaking with the sales manager of Fidelity Imports the other day, and he was telling me that they sold over 100 units of the Unico amp last year. This is pretty remarkable, but it is easy to see why. The amp is rated at 95 watts and will drive just about anything you can imagine. When I had the great Diptyque speakers in stock, the Unico sounded great with them. This past week, I paired it with my Wolf von Langers ($37,000) for the first time, and the combination sounded great.

The Triode 25 is the only pure tube amp on display in the shop. It is pretty unique, and you can tailor the sound to your taste and requirements. It will play in triode mode at 25 watts, while in pentode mode, you get 40 watts. It uses the famous EL34 tube and is the only push-pull tube amp that Unison makes. I should add that it is a breeze to bias; just a matter of seconds. If you have ever struggled biasing a tube amp with a voltmeter, you know what a blessing this can be.

Not everyone wants a lot of boxes and cables around their house, and if this is the case with you, the CD Uno may be of interest. This CD player has given me great pleasure for the approximately two years I have had it on display. It is also a hybrid and based on the ESS ES9018K2M. There are four filters, and you can also bypass the tube circuitry if you elect to. Please do not tell anyone, but I have also been known to use its built-in Bluetooth streamer on occasion. With no internet at the lake and no streamer, I sometimes like to take advantage of the wide range of music on Tidal and Idagio.

In all my experience with Unison, I have never had any trouble with any of the products. They have a touch and feel to them that only the Italians can duplicate. Please let me know if any of this is of interest.

As far as what’s new at the shop, we took delivery of a Zero Pure DAC ($5400) from another Italian company, Canever. Like all their products, this has some of the most out-of-the-box thinking you’ll ever see in audio. I’ll not write about this now, as I expect delivery of one of their Olimpico ($18,000) amplifiers in June and will write about both at the same time. I will say initial listening sessions have been very favorable.

As I mentioned, I’ll be going to the Vienna High End Show in a few weeks. I’m departing JFK on the 26th and will first travel to Prague for a few days, a country I have always wanted to visit. From there, it will be a short train ride to Vienna for the show. Obviously, I’ll not be available for any demos from the 25th to June 6th, and my responses to your calls and emails may be delayed as well. I will try to post photos as I go on our Facebook and Instagram accounts and invite you to follow my adventures there!

As always, thank you for your support.

Happy listening,

Jim Schaeffer

April 2026

Dear Friends,

April 15 sure sneaks up on me! As I prepared Hi Notes’ accounts to hand over to our CPA, I found myself reflecting with pleasure on each transaction we made this year. I hope the components we supplied continue to bring you enjoyment. Without exception, we have been fortunate to have wonderful customers, with none of the games so often played by dealers and customers alike. Thank you.

One thing that struck me while reviewing the accounts is that, after five years in business, our sweet spot appears to be in the $3,000 to $10,000 range. I’ve sold a few components under $3,000 and only a handful above $10,000. Don’t get me wrong—I would love to sell a $50,000 amplifier—but at this point, I don’t think that’s likely. More importantly, as I’ve often said, you don’t need to purchase expensive components to achieve true musical pleasure.

I will continue to proudly represent my reference components: Bergmann turntables and arms, Cinnamon DACs, CanEVER and Thöress amplification, and Wolf von Langa speakers. I truly love all of these products. That said, I will be refocusing my demo inventory toward products in the $3,000 to $10,000 range.

In that regard, we have been doing quite well with the excellent speakers from Acoustic Energy in the U.K. Founded in 1987 by Phil Jones, a recording engineer, the company set out to create a small monitor with real dynamics—something quite different from the more subdued monitors of the time, such as the BBC LS5/3A. The result was the now-famous AE1, which sold in the thousands.

Acoustic Energy organizes its speaker lineup into tiers reflecting increasing levels of performance, materials, and design sophistication. The 100 Series sits at the entry level, focusing on affordability and compact form factors. These speakers use simpler cabinet construction and more basic drivers, yet are still tuned for a clean, balanced sound—ideal for smaller rooms, desktop setups, or casual listening.

The 300 Series represents a clear step up, with improved engineering throughout: better cabinet bracing, upgraded drivers (often aluminum), and more refined crossovers. This results in tighter bass, a clearer midrange, and more precise imaging.

At the top, the 500 Series is designed for critical listening, featuring premium materials such as constrained-layer damped cabinets and advanced driver technologies like carbon fiber cones. These speakers deliver greater detail, deeper bass, and a wider, more immersive soundstage, aimed squarely at audiophiles seeking top-tier performance.

Beyond these three series, Acoustic Energy also offers a 40th Anniversary edition of the AE1, as well as the Corinium Project. The Corinium represents the brand at its absolute pinnacle—a no-compromise, flagship design created to push Acoustic Energy into the high-end audiophile space. Developed over several years as a “clean-sheet” project, it introduces entirely new driver technology, advanced crossover design, and highly engineered cabinets to maximize rigidity and minimize resonance.

In terms of sound, the Corinium is built for scale, precision, and realism. It combines deep, tightly controlled bass with highly detailed and refined highs, along with a wide, immersive soundstage. In essence, it blends the clarity and imaging of smaller speakers with the power and extension of large floorstanders, delivering a dynamic, lifelike, and emotionally engaging listening experience.

As today is Record Store Day, I’d like to encourage vinyl enthusiasts to support their local record stores. This is a tough business with low margins, and I’m sure they would appreciate your support. While CDs remain my primary listening source, there are few things I enjoy more than pouring a nice cognac on a Saturday night and spinning a favorite record.

Here in Durham, we’re fortunate to have Carolina Soul Records, Hunky Dory Records, The Fuzzy Needle, and Bull City Records. I hope you’ll give them your support.

While on the subject of vinyl, I’m excited to share that a new turntable line will soon be coming to Hi Notes: Pear Audio from Slovenia. These tables are based on the innovative designs of the late Tom Fletcher of Nottingham Analogue. I’ll share more once my demo table arrives.

As always, thank you for your support. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Happy listening,

Jim Schaeffer

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.

https://www.audiolab.co.uk/

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

www.hinotesmusic.com

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