Oh Yes! Quite a beautiful thing. A1 Audio used many per side of these RCA cabs for the Dubie Brothers and many other acts in the 70s and early 80s. Each bottom was stood upright and topped with two 2350 radial horns w/2440 drivers and I think 6 bullets. All powered by BGW. Each stack would/could hang by a single winch point. We used these in arenas across the western states and as ground stacks at Carnegie Hall for FAS tours in the early 80s. Those were the days. RIP and thank you Harry Olson. Also thanks to Al and Hank. I’ll be eternally grateful for the experience with these.

that s the problem with globalization , we just take the tip of the idea of the other cultures . But we have people like you Jonathan that will give us this inside . The respect , the atention to the other s art. The MAGIC moments that we get with good nusic and gear is beautifull , but to bring that to others in a dailly basis is fenomenal.

I always look forward to your videos, Jonathan. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Commercialism has been the death of individualism

Well veneer is not fake, it is a resourceful handling of natural material. Not saying that MDF is good or flakeboard. But multiplex birch or beech are fantastic materials mainly wood layered and crossed, with that process it is even more usable for speakers.

No, disagree. First off, full respect for John as a HiFi systems designer. However, his supremely confident monologues about music culture are not fully informed. Like John, I’ve visited many Kissa in Japan (>20). I’ve also visited 5 in Europe and over 15 in US,…more than anyone else I’ve met. I experienced different vibes in the Kissas of Japan. First, they are very much about alcohol. Second, the patrons are not silently listening. This is a Western, fetishized fantasy of how the Japanese operate. In almost all cases, I’ve found Kissa to be social spaces filled with groups of friends drinking, eating, visiting. Are the Japanese naturally more subdued and quiet than Americans,…of course. Plus the spaces are often treated acoustically and, of course, have very intentional crafted sound systems,…so the background noise is lower and more controlled, and these systems sound great. But the idea that the Japanese are always respectfully sitting in silence, focused intently on every note of the music being played is almost comical. Besides, what would be the point of these spaces if that’s how people acted? Why not just do that in a private listening room at home? Next, John’s disparaging take on American listing bars is uninformed and snippy. The comment about Supreme is a barely veiled, unnecessary jab at OJAS. His comments about the one listening space in Brooklyn he visited (sounds like Public Records) are fine, but that is a comically small sample from which to develop such sweeping generalizations about this emerging trend of listening spaces. Unfortunately, it is characteristic of what I’m hearing from many old-guard audiophiles. They are very quick to denigrate what is happening (perhaps because it is new and completely independent of the influence of the traditional audiophile industry and media?). A few points: It is wrong to assume that all of these new listening spaces are trying to emulate the Japanese Kissa tradition. Just because Kissas (so far) have been the most developed case, globally, where restaurant owners put acoustics and curated music at the center of the hospitality experience, that doesn’t mean the Japanese Kissa way is the only way. Frankly, I find it offputting when westerners try to re-create the Japanese Kissa too loyally. The Kissa makes sense in Japan. Let’s find a different interpretation that makes sense in America. Second, incredibly innovative and high-integrity things are happening with this trend, worldwide. There are many different and creative approaches to making bars and restaurants better listening spaces. Believe it or not, there’s a lot going on outside of Williamsburg. HiFi Bars (outside of Japan): maps.app.goo.gl/yRWPUaQ7BvSNrTfL8?g_st=i John clearly has a lot of wisdom and expertise. I wish he could muster a more open-minded and humble perspective towards this new movement and find a way to contribute to it in a positive way. He claims he is opening his new place soon. Great, maybe he can show us all how it’s done. In the meantime, would be nice to see some simple acknowledgment that acoustics and music have been sorely neglected in bars and restaurants forever. And anyone out there who’s working to improve that situation deserves a fair and honest evaluation, not to be dismissed with uninformed, sweeping generalizations.

I'm happy that you made this video. I have only been to two listening bars, Bar Continental in Nashville (no longer open), and Salon Badin in Montreal. While I was there, people were talking like they would in any other bar or restaurant. Our western society has become so addicted to instant gratification from our phones that most people cannot sit and listen to a single song without doing anything else. I've also noticed this trend at live events like concerts. People on their phones, trying to talk over the music, etc. With AI and other things on the way, I don't think this issue will get better. I hope to visit Japan soon to experience a true kissa.

Thanks for this. You’re Spot on. Unfortunately here in the USA the culture that is recognised and known about is POP culture. As a musician who’s been to Japan dozens of times on tour, made many recordings on Japanese label etc, what you say about the care, passion and love for our cultural gifts to the world is evident there. The tiny jazz clubs throughout the country also sometimes double as listening spaces with hand made tube gear , speakers tweaked from VOTT, JBL, Klipsch , horns of different varieties as well as commercial gear from Accuphase, McIntosh, Marantz etc. Wonderful recordings from Blue Note, Riverside, Prestige, Contemporary etc. The Kissa’s are just as you described. They’re not fancy or trendy. Very warm and homey. The “Master” that run them are very loyal to the tradition and the customers are as well. I really don’t think it could happen here. People here just really don’t care and they’re clueless. Unfortunately. Thank you for sharing this! I’ve always wanted to visit your shop in Dumbo as I live in the area. As a musician I am pretty busy in the city but I’m also an audiophile and your equipment is fascinating to me.

Fascinating video Johnathan, thanks.

Overall, a nice talk about style and it's etymology and how you can make listening to music a part of your lifestyle. However, the one thing I didn't like in this talk is pitting sound art (eg music) against visual art (eg paintings). While some might buy art to look cool to others, it's entirely possible that people might buy albums or listen to music because they think others think it's cool. In my view, visual art and sound art have similar value in that they portray a style and the intention of the artist. The only difference is the medium. I wouldn't dare say that one medium is better or more valuable than the other, but you can have a personal opinion about which you prefer - but that should be made clear, because if you make such statements, people who like art and music might take offence.

Great talk

Other listeners are influencing our own reception of music. Perhaps one of few steps to reconnect with other human beings after such a huge division made by politicians. Remove alcohol from the equation and we have a new positive movement.

❤❤❤❤

This TT system could expose tape flutter! Then all records could have some sort of problem. My record collection value is nil😊

I agree with what you are saying. For myself, I am envisioning a sound healing temple, like a Geoship (geodesic dome structure) and having people coming in taking mushrooms for the purpose of sound healing and going inwards. I’m saying this because on mushrooms, the listening for me becomes so enhanced and it feels really good to actively listen deeply with all of your attention and take notice of all the nuances in sound (which under mushrooms, creates visuals to accompany the music as a bonus, called synesthesia, when 2 senses become linked) In that state, I don’t want to eat, drink, converse, think…but just simply be steeped and fully immersed in the music (with hopefully the best speakers money can buy with the proper treatment of sound diffusion)…at least that’s my dream 😄 ... I’m going with your monarch speakers 🙌🏼✨

Japanese are very industrious, disciplined and serious people. After I got into vinyl listening during covid, I wanted to tell people how good was the sound. I thought about the same parallel lines. Whoever I met, I invited into my listening room. Out of many, only one guy comes regularly to listen. Rest of them just wanted a space to gossip n drink. One day, I had had enough. I told them I didn’t spend 30 grand to listen to their BS.

Although an all-in-one would never be for me (as a main system) this design with modularity and upgradeability/ serviceability in mind is superb and incredibly impressive. It ensures a level of longevity that is frankly missing in most separate HiFi components, let alone all-in-one systems of a similar ilk. Bravo OMA/ Fleetwood!

I appreciate the effort in explaining who we are and what is the goal is.

Great chat

I can’t believe I missed these videos. They been out for a year.

I can hear the pride they have in making awesome audiophile products out of Pennsylvania

More Kissa please

You are right with your explanations on how people Listen here.😊

Another insightful, educational and thought provoking dive into the culture of sound. I am a better person after listening to your conversation.

"Your'e not stuck in your head, your'e not lost in thinking" is not only Audio Lifestyle, it should also be a universal Lifestyle. A great audio system for sure will help immensly though. For me, my legendary LS3/5A BBC approved monitors, driven by the american 6L6GC tube in single ended fashion with tube phono and DHT preamps are my personal "holy audio grail". Nice one Jonathan. Fully agreed.

Great...I totally agree...thank you.

What you state here is absolutely true. Go to any audio showroom, HiFi show or organized audio enthusiast meeting and you will see people talking over the music being presented. It seems that in the West, we are more interested in hearing ourselves talk rather than listen to the message and emotion of the music. It is supposed to be about the music and sharing of the culture, however, more than not, it is about feeding some sort of ego and oneupmanship of the equipment. I almost never see the sharing of interesting music. I almost never see people asking about a piece of music or a particular artist's performance. The experience usually encompasses a very limited demonstration repertoire that is duplicated from room to room in a show or a likewise presentation at a get together. In short, it is a shallow experience with little taken away. As you had stated, our ability to invite people in to introduce and share the music is almost a lost art in the West. What is being substituted is an algorithm on a streaming platform to feed you with a narrow repetition of similar music which you are already listening to. It Is doing so in a vacuum of isolation void of any human sharing or giving. We are narrowing our view and closing off the exchange. Good luck with your effort to introduce a Kissa of sorts and let's hope that people will be quiet, respectful, take the time to notice the difference and learn to accept someone's gift of sharing.

I was in Japan recently and my main wish was to go to a Kissa. Unfortunately I failed mainly because after a day of normal tourist duties I was too knackered to be bothered to do more than hit the locality near the hotel at night, and my sig. other is not really into Jazz. Knowing something about the size of many Japanese bars, I suspect that the average Kissa does not hold many people. I think that trying to get people to shut-the-bleep-up would be the main problem in any venue of "commercial" size in the west.

Fascinating ❤

Thank you Jonathan! I was in Japan about 10 years ago and visited Susumu Sakuma, the famous amplifier Builder after following his schematics in MJ magazine for many years. He owned a little club called the condor he about 100 different amplifiers all hooked up to the turntable, and he could switch between them at Will. I didn't know there was a name for the little clubs where we sat and listen to music and talked about vacuum tube amplifiers with the designer, but now I know I was in kissa!

Thank you Jonathan, your remarks resound as a fresh breath of mountain air, as would have said Frederick Nietzsche. You seem to be on a very meaningful track, I would be careful not to let your exquisite aestheticism overshadow your deep spirit that might have even further reach.

As far as I can tell you did this as one continuous shot (other than the B roll). Your ability to convey your thoughts so clearly is amazing. I was hanging on every word!

I completely hear you and in full resonance with what you are sharing.. it is a shame we are culturally where we are , but I imagine enough of us in the world with heightened senses and appreciation for our analogue nature will eventually turn this ship towards a brighter future. There will always be noise.. today we call that noise digital.

Dear Jonathan, how great of an assessment of the Japanese culture and way of thinking about music and living this is! Congratulation! The only problem is that with all of your amazing knowledge and experience about music reproduction devices, you've decided to target the 99% of the richest people in the world who can afford your gear! This makes no sense and is in total contradiction with the Japanese way of thinking about music and how to make it accessible to "ordinary" people! I admire your work, but not so much your philosophy about money making....

I've thought of how cool it would be to have a Kissa here near me in Seattle. Apparently there's something like it but I've never been. Like watching football, my sofa is the best seat in the house. I liked your take on giving... the Japanese are better at America than we are... skiing, trout and bass fishing, baseball, jazz, Ametora... the list goes on.

I've been following various Kissa bars in Japan over the last year. They love jazz and they love Accuphase amplification. That's how I also discovered Kenrick Sound in Japan, who meticulously rebuild older JBL professional speakers. Visiting one of those bars is on my bucket list. What an honor Jonathan. Congratulation on building a bridge with a respected company across the pond.

Bello/Magnifico.🙏✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️👑

Been a big fan of AT for years.

I would absolutely LOVE if you create something like this here. I’d drive up from DC at least two a month. 🙌🏾🤘🏾👏🏾

You are so RIGHT !! I've been to Jazz clubs and performances all over the US and the majority of the time people are so self absorbed with their own nonsensical BS and pointless chit-chat that the performance is either badly degraded or ruined. Still, I go when I can to at least "HOPE" to enjoy the efforts of these extraordinary musicians. I'd be amazingly delighted to have enjoyed just a small percentage of the many performances I've attended over the years. There is a time for talking and having a good time, however, there are times when one should keep his/her BIG FAT, loudmouth pie-hole SHUT !! Thanks for starting a way overdo dialog regarding public rudeness/inconsideration; maybe some will listen !!

The Japanese would have all my respect if they did not believe the sun shines out of their asses

Breakthrough video

I was in Japan last year, I couldn’t get into a record bar as they were full or you needed to make a booking. I found some great record stores like Disc Union in Tokyo that had three stores in Shibuya with a fantastic selection of new and used records that were well organised and all used records graded in condition which pretty much were in pristine condition. This is reflected by the people which were clean, respectful and honest. The Japanese people are amazing. They are also very passionate about hifi, music and the gear they use.

Well said

I noticed that too! In a lot of the audio show KZbin videos the turntable is just sitting there.

Tokyo and Japan in general is absolutely next level. Culturally, Japan is unfathomably deep. Every time that I go there and return to the United States I see and feel the chasm. I love Japan so much. Even more so now.

I really enjoyed this video. What I like about the Japanese is their sense of tradition and how disciplined they are. I do admire their philosophy on life and doing the very best they can do. I love jazz and in my opinion they produce some of the best quality pressings. Thanks for this education. I really do appreciate it.

I share your ire at the cultural paucity in the west, in the manner you describe. I have also noticed that with the absolute tsunami of coffee shops in my country, England, I still have to search for a cafe that actually cares enough about what they are selling to make a cup of coffee worth drinking. They have all the kit, the image the style, but few seem bothered about what they put in the cup. And what's worse is that most people don't seem to care either, so long as they can buy into the image of cafe culture. I'm actually excited at the prospect of finding a new way, through music, to listen, as a shared activity. Of course we have live concerts/gigs, but it's only really the classical ones where people shut up to appreciate it. I hope we can extend this behaviour and the benefits it has, to allow our own kind of Kissa culture to evolve.

Vi går al' på da' lokum å skier så et' braver, oss' dig der do'

And thank you for your observations and thoughts. I really share them.