In Style sp 17
by Mary Beth Schwartz
Music technology is constantly changing. Back in the early 70s, I remember listening to Johnny Cash 8-tracks with my Nana in her souped up Buick. In the 80s, I spun a lot of Van Halen on my turntable. In high school it was a major change to move my Heavy Metal faves from vinyl and cassettes to compact discs. In college, MP3s became all of the rage. Now a digital mom with two kids, I find myself delighted at the return of vinyl. Thankfully for us audiophiles that have amassed diverse music collections and need some help perfecting their listening experiences, there is The Art of Sound LLC.
Established in 2014, The Art of Sound LLC is owned by John Nirmaier and his wife Patricia Giro. According to Mandee K. Hammerstein, BFA, MA, Director of Media and Public Relations, Nirmaier has been working in sound technology for over 40 years. He has designed and distributed audio systems in a range of environments, starting with schools, churches, and hospitals, to national restaurant chains, hotels, and casinos. “Since his very first installation, John always dreamed of spending his retirement time by turning his love of music into the business he runs now. His private residential systems range in price from $1,000 to over $100,000. He holds two certifications, Microsoft MCSE and InfoComm CTS.” John’s wife Patricia is a mixed media artist with her own studio in Lambertville. The Bucks County couple pride themselves on the intimate customer service that they provide.
The Art of Sound LLC is based in a 3,900-square-foot state-of-the-art showroom in the basement of a historic 1800s Lambertville paper mill. Clients must make an appointment to experience the individual rooms complete with stone archways and timber framing. There is the Demo Gallery, where you can design and discover your listening style. In The Theater, your entertainment experience will include sight and sound, ambiance lighting, and luxurious textiles. You can escape from the everyday life in The Living Room. Last but not least is The Cave. Its original rock and stone make for some powerful acoustics. The showroom is a “19th century location with 21st century technology.”
Proprietor John Nirmaier specializes in custom audio-visual design, whole house audio, two-channel audio, and multi-channel home theater environments. The Art of Sound LLC is an exclusive dealer for Devialet products. Among their high-end product offerings are amplifiers, Hi-Fi headphones, surround sound systems, speakers, turntables, phono stages, CD players, Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs), digital streamers, cables & accessories, and Bluesound products.
Nirmaier is up on all of the current trends. His top picks include Bluesound players, headsets that emerge you into the listening experience with style and comfort, and the TIDAL streaming service. (TIDAL is the first music service with high fidelity sound quality, high definition music videos, and curated editorial, crafted by music journalists.) MQA technology also makes his list. “MQA can be played on any audio device, whether that’s inside your home, your car, from your phone, or anywhere else you might be—perfectly fitting into the way you listen to your music today. Without an MQA enabled product, the sound will be better than CD quality. To truly unlock the richness of MQA, you’ll need a device or software with an MQA decoder. On playback of MQA content, the player indicates you are hearing exactly what the artist recorded and approved in the studio,” Nirmaier says.
Last but not least, The Art of Sound LLC holds special listening events. “These events are a beautiful source for people who love music, whether learning technology on how to best experience your music, learning the latest trends, or even listening to their international collection with a variety of styles and genres,” Mandee K. Hammerstein says. These exclusive events are limited to intimate audiences. Light refreshments are served and often limited edition showcased albums are available for purchase. On March 16 will be The Lost Recordings of Sarah Vaughan. On March 23 will be a special Oscar Hammerstein II event. The Art of Sound LLC will cohost the evening with his grandson, William Hammerstein, ESQ. “This special evening will include a meet and greet with William, a documentary screening of JoAnn Young’s documentary Out of My Dreams, and the latest developments of the Hammerstein Center project in Doylestown,” Hammerstein says. “Guests are sure to enjoy listening to the original works of Hammerstein brought back to life on our state-of-the-art equipment. Not many people know Oscar’s global and impactful work was created essentially down the street. We are proud to offer a front row experience to the night within our intimate setting, while also learning more about the empowering efforts happening in preserving Will’s grandfather’s farm and turning it into a museum, a project that will be tremendously meaningful to our area’s incredible, artistic history,” Nirmaier adds. May 11 brings an exclusive AudioQuest product line event in the showroom.
Music lovers can check the company’s website, www.theartofsoundllc.com, for the latest calendar of events. The Lambertville showroom is located at 201 South Main Street, Suite 2 Lower Mill. Monday through Friday hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Appointments are available for Saturdays and Sundays. You also can visit The Art of Sound LLC on Facebook. For more information, call 609-483-5000.
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Mary Beth Schwartz is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to regional publications.