Recently, I became overloaded with gear and reviewing. Frustration was setting in as my already-written reviews weren’t being published on time and I was also finding it hard to say “no” to manufacturers asking me to review even more gear. I wondered if I really wanted to keep putting myself through this cycle anymore.
Through a chance discussion with my good friend (and well respected co-founder of The High Fidelity Report), Chris Sommovigo, an idea germinated, and he asked me if I would be interested in working with both Joey Weiss and himself to create a new community-based website. The focus would be on our shared enthusiasm for personal audio and headphones.
It was as if a new energizer battery had been installed in my soul. My enthusiasm grew fast, like a Ferrari on steroids. Suffice to say, the opportunity to be intimately involved with a new website surrounding my newfound passion intrigued me greatly.
You see, the personal audio community has become an integral and important part of my life. New friends and brotherhood have emerged, the likes that never seemed to develop in my 37-year experience in the two-channel audiophile world. The relationships that have been made and the friendships that have developed in the headphone community have been a true blessing as well as a major influence on my overall lifestyle.
When I began my journey in the portable market (around 2006), the headphone industry was predominately big-name brands: Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Grado. Stax, AKG, and the like. The real excitement began when smaller entrepreneurs, who began designing and offering unique and exceptional products for the headphone community, began to emerge and the headphone and portable market exploded with new life.
The community-based aspect of our hobby is crucial to the industry as a whole. Companies seeking to attract our community are starting to rely on the advice and input from enthusiasts like us to understand what we, as a group, are interested in. We are being courted and cultivated because we do make a difference.
Personal audio – as many people will tell you – is not only personal because of the gear, but is comprised of a very special group of interconnected people. The friends I have met during this adventure have been nothing short of remarkable. Head-Fi meets are always exciting and informative. I love meeting all ages of music lovers, who not only care about the gear, but about developing relationships that truly make a difference.
The vision that we have at Headphone.Guru is one of community. We’re dedicated to not only covering new and exciting products that are emerging in this arena, but about the music and the community at large. At Headphone.Guru we are committed to providing an informative, educational and entertaining experience, with high-value information that help further the enthusiasms.
The future of audio as a whole needs the personal audio market in order to succeed, and the industry has taken notice. Look at all the new headphones, portable amplifiers, and digital players currently available. Many companies are building entry-level products that anyone can afford, while state-of-the-art digital products seem to be coming out daily. Vinyl has made a resurrection and the younger generation is now embracing what the older generation grew up on! And we will be covering it all.
The common bond we all have is the music. We all love music deeply and most of us not only need to listen to music, but seek to get the most out of the recordings themselves – to get closer to the truth. We get it. We also know that we need community support and involvement, so this is an open invitation:
Please let us know how we can improve and send along your suggestions. Communities are built with the contributions of the people who reside in them. We promise to always take the advice of this community to heart.
We welcome you with this new launch and extend an invitation for you to join us on social media and subscribe to our Guru Newsletters. We look forward to serving the community and ask you to join us on our quest towards better sound.
On another note: Any aspiring writers, whether you are interested in covering gear, shows, meets, or music, please feel free to drop us an email at: frank@headphone.guru.
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