Does anyone need expensive high-performance audio equipment? It would likely fit – if at all –  into Maslow’s hierarchy of needs at the highest level, self-actualization. Translating Maslow’s top motivation to audio, It’s the desire to get the best audio quality you can possibly have or afford. For enthusiasts, high-performance audio is a hobby where getting to the next level makes them happy, just like golf and other endeavors sometimes become borderline yet satisfying obsessions. 

What makes an audio enthusiast excited? A new piece of gear that will add that je ne sais quoi improvement factor to his system. Let’s look at three reasons the Atlanta audio aficionado might want to upgrade a part or all of their system. 

If you know something about Focal, you know it is a different type of audio company. The company “rolls its own” in many ways, from its proprietary acoustic research to custom drivers and hand-built furniture-grade cabinetry. But did you know that Focal does architectural speakers too?

Despite the undeniable design and quality appearance of the company's freestanding speakers, Focal also understands some like the discrete nature of speakers that disappear into walls and ceilings. So what do you miss with Focal speakers that you don't see? The beautiful finishes, to be sure, but you'll never miss the exceptional sound. Keep reading below to learn more about the Focal 1000 Series, an elevated listening experience for both two-channel and surround sound systems in your Marietta, GA, home. 

Focal is a French speaker company that does things differently, much like other things French. If you’ve ever driven a Citroen, you might understand what we mean. Electronics today are built around supply chains, and a company can assemble a product from start to finish with off-the-shelf parts, contract design and manufacturing, and slap a brand name on it. Focal, however, eschews that approach.

There’s no shortage of high-end speaker companies in today’s audio market. Some have remained independent and true to their origins, while others have branched out into more lifestyle-oriented audio products. Focal has also expanded into areas like personal and automotive audio, but they have managed to stay true to their heritage and their way of building products. Keep reading below for four ways Focal speakers are different and what they bring to your Atlanta, GA, listening experience. 

Focal is an audio company that marches to its own tune (pun intended). The 40-year-old Saint Étienne, France-based company carries an influence in the audio world that goes far beyond the company’s size. First, most of their products are built in France in an era where audio equipment is usually designed in one country but manufactured in the far east. They also develop their own machines for manufacturing and handbuild 80% of the cones for their speakers. 

Ten years ago, Focal joined forces with Naim, a British boutique audio brand known for its excellence in audio engineering. To celebrate this “tin” anniversary, they’ve put together a Focal home speaker system powered by Naim components featuring a unique style. Read more about it below, and see how this new system could be the visual and aural centerpiece of your Marietta, GA, listening room. 

Naim may not be an audio name everyone knows, but it’s certainly familiar to hi-fi enthusiasts. Naim has never been a company to just follow the trend and make the same products as everyone else, nor do they sell products that need upgrades or replacement in a few years. Naim is a classic British hi-fi company that’s all about the sound.

GHT Group is proud to be one of the select Naim retailers in the Atlanta area. Keep reading below to learn about the Naim Uniti line, a streamlined solution for music streaming and playback that makes hi-fi audio simple. 

Is it absolutely necessary to spend a fortune to enjoy high-fidelity audio quality at home? We think not, but many will differ in their opinions on what constitutes high-fidelity audio – and how much one needs to spend. But what happens when a real hi-fi company decides to make a truly excellent speaker that delivers hi-fi level performance without the nosebleed prices? We say audio lovers everywhere should rejoice and take notice.

Focal is that company, one that sells speakers as expensive as Porsche 911s. With the Chora range, they decided to make an affordable speaker line that delivers true hi-fi sound that leverages their 40-year history in acoustic research and innovation. Learn more about the Chora range below, and we welcome you to experience Focal home speakers for yourself at our Marietta showroom.

Focal is another audio company that sometimes flies under the radar. It’s not because they don’t have a broad product line or aren’t known by high-fidelity audio enthusiasts. Perhaps they don’t advertise as much as other large audio and speaker companies. Don’t let that keep you from considering this company when shopping for high-end speakers for your Buckhead, GA listening room.

Focal is based in France, a country not as high on the list as the UK when it comes to hi-fi audio. Nevertheless, the French heritage shows in the expressive style of their speakers, and design and engineering are second to none. Focal home speakers are a bit different. If you look for products that go a bit against the grain, unafraid to be different, then these speakers might just be for you. Let’s explore four ways Focal speakers separate themselves from the rest.

Monitor Audio is a classic British speaker company founded in the 1970s. Flying a bit under the radar compared to other British audio brands, they nevertheless have never lost their guiding principle – great audio brings out the emotion of sound.

Monitor Audio states their mission is to “make audio human.” It’s about making the connection between the music (or the soundtrack) to the listener. While they are also all about using advanced design techniques to build a superior product, it’s never about the technology – it’s about what the technology brings to life. And they aim to bring great sound to life to as many people as possible.

When talking about making hi-fi accessible to many, the line of Monitor Audio speakers that does that best in the Bronze Series. Accessible, affordable, and complete, the Bronze Series is the perfect entry point into hi-fi sound for music, movies, shows, and anything else you love to listen to. Discover more about the Monitor Bronze Series below.

GHT Group is big on high-performance audio, as evidenced by some of the brands we carry – McIntosh, Klipsch Heritage, and Monitor Audio, to name a few. We're always on the lookout to offer more for our audio enthusiast clients, and we're proud to introduce our latest brand partner – Focal.

For some well-versed in high-fidelity audio, Focal needs no introduction. But others may not think of Focal when thinking about high-end audio. Focal has been making unique speakers and audio equipment since 1979, adding their distinctive design principles to home, pro, and automobile audio. The company is proud of its French heritage that shows in the stylish appearance of its products. In a world where many audio products are designed in the origin country but manufactured overseas, Focal still assembles their high-end audio products in France.

Keep reading below to learn more about Focal home speakers for your Atlanta, GA listening or media room.

The audio industry has no shortage of buzzwords, and “high fidelity” is one you may often hear. Perhaps you already know that high fidelity refers to the high-quality reproduction of sound with very minimal distortion. In other words, high-fidelity audio systems reproduce music as close to the original recording as possible so that listeners can enjoy music the way the artists heard it in the studio.

Any music fan deserves a high-quality listening experience when playing their favorite tunes at home. Unfortunately, some homeowners in Vinings, GA may be missing out on such an experience due to persisting misconceptions about high-fidelity speakers. Let’s dispel these myths so that you can truly take advantage of high-performance sound at home.

Nothing spurs holiday spirit quite like music. While it may be convenient to select one of the thousands of seasonal playlists from popular streaming services like Spotify or Tidal to enjoy throughout your Roswell, GA home, no streaming platform can muster the magic of vinyl.

‘Tis the season for audiophiles to slow down and sink into the warm, musical nuances that only vinyl records can deliver. For rockers and crooners alike, our team at GHT Group has provided 10 top holiday vinyl records to spin on your high-end audio rig. See the list below, as well as some of our premium turntable and speaker recommendations should you need a home audio upgrade.

If you’re not a home theater or audio aficionado, you might think a subwoofer is a speaker you don't need. That is, until you hear the very same set of speakers you have, in your room, with a well-integrated subwoofer (or two). We'll put some money on the chance that you won't want to go back to your system sans subwoofers.

We will grant you that if you have some incredible full-range speakers, like B&W Diamonds, or others of that class, you may not want for more bass. Still, you might be surprised at how much the right subwoofer can add to even the best speakers' sound quality. The reason is that bass is foundational for music and movies, adding fullness and depth to the soundstage that gives the sound more gravitas and impact. We're not talking about rumbly, sloppy bass here. We're talking about punchy, tight, fast, and impactful bass that keeps up with the most complicated movie soundtracks and music.

Perhaps we’ve convinced you that you need a subwoofer, no matter what your system looks like. But, you say, I don’t want the big box in my listening room/home theater/media room/escape room. Once again, we'll grant you the point that most subwoofers are lacking in the aesthetics department. But we have a solution for you, too: the architectural subwoofer. Yes, subwoofers can be built into the wall and even the ceiling.

Read on to learn more about JL Audio architectural subwoofers for that room in your Atlanta home where you want to hear the bass but never see the box.

Note: We drafted this wildly popular blog last year and generated a lot of curiosity about this McIntosh preamplifier. Now that you’re at home, and you rely on home audio and entertainment for your lifestyle, it’s time to take a second look at the McIntosh C2700.

Many would describe the McIntosh lineup as “iconic,” largely due to its glossy design, vintage logo and time-tested sound quality. Not to mention, they have built a sonic legacy since they started in 1949 and have continued to develop their product offerings since. Fast-forward to the 2020s, and McIntosh keeps making audio technology that never fails to seem modern. That’s why the brand is still a trusted source for speakers, amps, receivers and preamps alike. Keep reading to learn more details about their C2700 preamplifier and the specific features you’ll appreciate for many years.

Some say this is the golden age of audio, and we think they’re right. We cannot think of another time when there were so many options to choose from for great sound. It doesn’t matter whether you’re into the ease of wireless speakers like Sonos or the legendary quality of McIntosh equipment; there is excellent audio quality to be had at every end of the price spectrum.

We've had several blogs featuring various high-end audio products from Klipsch and MartinLogan speakers to turntables and amplifiers.  In this blog, we wanted to highlight a couple of options that deliver the sound quality that any Atlanta audio enthusiast could applaud at two ends of the budget spectrum. As we're talking about hi-fi audio here, budget does not mean inexpensive. As any enthusiast knows, truly great sound does not come cheap.

Of course, these are but two options to get you thinking about your high-end audio upgrade; GHT Group has many others. But these two can start the creative juices flowing!

Will the turntable trend continue into the new decade? The turntable’s history is long and storied, reaching all the way back to the phonograph’s invention in the 1800s. Next came the hand-crank-powered gramophone, which traced grooves onto a cylinder with a needle. When the cylinder was replaced by a flat disk, the turntable as we know it was born. 

In the 1930s, wind-up players were being replaced by their electric-powered successors, and after the increasing popularity of bulky turntable systems with built-in amplification and speakers, came the rise of the dedicated hi-fi record player. Given its long history, there’s something about a turntable that feels like a time capsule, even now. Will you still see it in smart homes throughout the 2020s? We think so, especially with the modernized technology we see from audio giants like McIntosh.

Here is our review of this turntable from last year.