As you are probably aware, Melburnians have a reputation for taking their music and film very seriously.
Just have a look around you and the evidence is right there for all to see. Whether it’s in the inordinately high concentration of live music venues and independent cinemas that dot the landscape, or in the ever increasing number of listening bars and specialty vinyl stores that seem to pop up on an almost weekly basis, it’s hard to argue the fact that as a whole, Melbournians possess a unique connection to the audio visual experience that many others do not.
Given the heightened role that the arts play in everyday life here in Melbourne, it should probably come as no surprise that the city is also something of an international Hi-Fi and Audiophile hotspot with a dedicated and passionate community of audio obsessives (not to mention, the exceptionally high standard of Hi-Fi and home entertainment outlets found in the general area), working in harmony to create a world class local scene.
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Amongst the familiar names that make up the rich tapestry of Hi-Fi showrooms strewn across Melbourne is relative newcomer, Audio Influence, the baby of industry veteran, Graham Kennedy.
Situated on bustling Nicholson St, in the trendy inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy North, it’s a space that oozes vibe and eclectic personal taste, from the exposed brick interior and warm lighting, through to the fully intact cabin of a Cessna Citation 6 private jet, there to greet you at the front counter on arrival. Because…why not?
Delving deeper into the premises is truly a feast for the eyes and ears, with multiple display rooms branching off from the shop’s tastefully lit hallway.
For the vinyl enthusiasts, Audio Influence offers an incredibly diverse and balanced range of belt driven and motorised options, from the ubiquitous Yamaha TT-S303 (RRP:$699) right through to the state of the art Vertere RG-1 Reference Groove Record Player (RRP:$52,995), catering to everyone from the everyday civilian to the seasoned audiophile.
Given Audio Influence’s location and the high number of record stores in the immediate vicinity, it’s only natural that turntables and vinyl culture would make up a big part of Graham’s vision and aesthetic for the store; something that is instantly apparent the minute you walk in.
“I travel a lot and definitely took a lot of influence from the cool little record stores and whisky bars that I would stumble upon when I was overseas,” explains Graham.
“I wanted to bring some of that feeling into the way the store looked and felt. Something relaxed and homely and not too stuffy.”
This unpretentiousness also extends to the acoustic fingerprint of Audio Influence’s numerous listening rooms, with Graham making a decided effort to present the equipment in as close to real world living situations as possible, eschewing a lot of the optimised room treatments found in many other Hi-Fi dealerships.
“I have always been of the mindset that the majority of our clientele will be taking their setup home and setting up in a less than ideal acoustic environment,” remarks Graham.
“Sonically speaking, our space has more in common with your lounge room than it does a perfectly optimised, acoustically treated showroom and each of our rooms have very different dimensions and floor and wall coverings.
“It’s all about simulating the real world listening experience and ensuring customer satisfaction at the other end.”
The one exception to this of course, is Audio Influence’s state of the art home theatre room, currently running a fully loaded 9.4.4 Dolby Atmos setup from JBL Synthesis.
Suffice to say, the sheer weight and clarity of the sub frequency information on a system of this calibre, combined with the immersive movement of objects across the soundstage, is a truly revelatory experience and will have you seriously consulting the floor plan of your house for potential home cinema sites.
For those with an interest in transducers and amplification, Audio Influence also boasts all the latest releases from such respected brands as JBL, Audiolab, Fyne, Audio Analogue, Wharfedale, NAD and of course the ever reliable and omnipresent Yamaha (including the brand’s R-N2000A Network Receiver as reviewed in this issue).
If you are looking to level up your current listening situation, need advice on your home audio system or want to experience the feeling of riding shotgun in a private jet, don’t hesitate to pop in and see Graham and Riz at Audio Influence or drop them a line on [email protected].
Where: 774-776 Nicholson St, Fitzroy North
Check them out here.
This article was made in partnership with Audio Influence.
