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This has been a dream that has been a long time coming and now finally realized in a way that is rather emotional and mind blowing for me and Lorraine too. As most of you know, music is a core part of who I am. I am convinced I was born with it as part of my DNA. I know this is the same for many of you as well. 

Those of us who have been involved with music as a profession, know that sometimes the work can obscure the enjoyment of music from a listening perspective. We can get so immersed in the details and craft of what we do and dealing with the challenges that are a part of it, that sometimes it’s hard to pull away from that and be available unencumbered, to receive all that music brings in terms of the indescribable way it can touch and move the human spirit. Music is the universal language in that way, right? Those who are involved in the performance side of music might have a better chance for that to happen than those of us on the support side, but I suspect the pressures to perform at the highest level can get in the way as much as the pressures I face in delivering my craft at the highest levels to the artists I work with. I’m not even sure if this is at all relatable but it’s been my reality. Sometimes I can’t see the proverbial forest for the trees. Now that I have a little more space in my work life and with the move into a new home, the opportunity to change that was there for the taking and with Lorraine being fully on board we decided to do something about it.
Our solution involved a commitment in space and money. We decided to dedicate a part of our new home to incorporate a music room in its design. And we decided to invest in a 2-channel stereo system as a part of it. The goal for the system was to end up with a listening experience that came as close as possible to hearing a live performance. We wanted to be transported into the concert hall, the club, the recording studio, the living room, the stadium or wherever the artist or ensemble was performing and have that kind of “you are there” experience. Without making this long story even longer, I will simply say that we have achieved that goal with the system in the photo.
So, what has this meant for us? Quite simply we have both fallen in love with music again as a listener in such a deep way that I can’t fully describe it. The new system presents music in such a beautiful and powerful way that it cannot be ignored. Being moved by what we hear from it is at times profound and deeply emotional and at times light and fun in a frivolous almost guilty pleasure kind of way. It’s been life changing in the best way for me and I know Lorraine feels the same. We are very fortunate to have been able to do this, and I am beyond grateful. One of the best things about it is having something extraordinary we can now share with others. We have so enjoyed doing that with family and friends and look forward to many more shared listening sessions in the future. In realizing this dream, many thanks must go to our mothers — Lorraine’s mom, Bettye Jane and my mom, Donna — for the gift they left us, to my 2 Channel mentor, Scott Walker for guiding us into this system and doing such an amazing job fine tuning it and to Paul Magee from REL for his work to integrate the subwoofers into the system. What you two did was a head turner and I pinch myself every time I hear it.
Bob M. - August 2025

I was shopping new hifi systems after a 10 year break. I read about the new Keller TX based Scott Walker Audio on an online forum so dropped in. In short order, I found everything I was hoping for; knowledge, options, fair pricing on new and used audio, and a no BS knowledge I could tap and lean into. I’ve since invested in a new rig that gives me, my family, and friends great pleasure! They coached me through decisions with my budget, what I was hearing and how to improve it, and no nonsense ROI tweaks that have worked in my favor. In all, the value of my system is closing in on $200k, which is much more than I intended to spend. But I couldn’t be happier. I’ve since attended the 2025 Southwest Audio Show in Dallas, and their (Scott Walker Audio’s) new listening room, which is EPIC! Josh, Scott and Andy are pleasant, professional, knowledgeable, no BS and just good people. I’m loving my system and trust them to continue to guide my current and future investments in hifi. Thank you SWA team! Thanks guys! Wishing you many more great years serving the DFW area.!
Scott C. - July 2025

Recently got the itch to having a nice 2 channel system. Was out of hifi for about 15 years and felt it was time to get back in and get a nice system. First I went to a few audio stores in my area, and also did some calling around to see what kind of gear was out there these days, and then the last store I went to was Scott Walker Audio. First thing I noticed was that they have a wide range of gear, mainly what I call medium to high end, and they had the good gear. Colby greeted me at the door and took me on a full tour of the store, and explained each piece of gear that I was interested in and he gave me the basic sonic character, and price point. I could tell that he was very knowledgeable, and he took the time with me and didn’t ask my budget or price point yet, which made me feel comfortable right off the bat, especially since I didn’t know my budget yet. He let me listen to the system upstairs for hours, and told me that I should bring my wife to the store. I did, and well she did kind of give me that look, can’t blame here since this is not real cheap hobby. She really liked this store and of course Colby, compared to the other stores we previously went to. I listened to different integrated amps and speakers at the store for about a month. At that point I knew what integrated amp I wanted, and streamer/dac. I had a real hard time choosing a speaker, and then I got a call from Colby and he asked me to come listen after work, and by the way it was after hours at his store which speaks volumes. It was worth it because the Magico speakers sounded better than anything I had heard up to that point, and they were also within my budget. There was another speaker that sounded good also that I was interested in, and I could not decide between the two. So Scott who owns the store told me that they will bring my new system to my house and set it all up, and also bring both sets of speakers, so I could listen and hear the difference in my room, and make the decision at my house. Wow now that is service, and beyond that, what really impressed me the most was that Scott and Colby wanted to make sure that I got what I wanted without regrets later. A couple weeks later they showed up to my house and set up all the gear, racks, cables and 2 sets of speakers, and these speakers were heavy. Watching them set up the speakers in my room was all new to me. In the past I had never gone to the lengths they went to just to get them dialed in. I did end up picking the Magico speakers, and so did my wife, which by the way, they encouraged her to make her decision without my influence, and she picked the Magico speakers also. I could tell through this whole process that they really had a passion for good audio. They love listening to music and they passed it on to my wife and I. I recommend their store and more than that I recommend Colby and Scott for advice and making our purchase more than a purchase.
David P - April 2025

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Ruining reviewers one trade show at a time...

Florida International Audio Expo 2025: Estelon, Vitus Audio, Crystal Cable, and Others—

More Than a Million, Now We’re Cooking

Scott Walker Audio

 Category: Florida International Audio Expo 2025
 

For a while, I followed Doug Schneider around, checking out systems that people could actually afford. Although the socialist in me recognized this pursuit as valuable, it was mighty boring. While looking at $1500 amplifiers and $5000 speakers, I found myself mentally rolling my eyes, knowing there were other rooms jam-packed with systems that cost more than a house.

That said, some of these high-rent systems sounded like hammered shit, and when we’re talking seven figures, it’s got to at least sound good, if not great. So, to satisfy the grasping oligarch that lurks beneath my egalitarian facade, I hightailed it to the Scott Walker Audio room.

This system was the bomb. Estelon Extreme Mk II speakers, which cost $296,000 for the pair (all prices in USD), fronted by a Vitus Audio SL-103 preamplifier, which costs $42,000, and two dual-chassis SM-103 Mk.II amplifiers, at $81,000 a pop. Crystal Cable Art Series DaVinci cables and Infinity power cables hooked things up. The price of those wires is high. Add in a whole pile of Audio Realignment Technologies EMI noise reduction plates, which are not cheap.

That’s a lot of money, but I’m still not finished listing it out. This system played the part. It looked elegant, aggressive, predatory. The Extremes seemed about to attack, moving forward even as they stood still. The shallow pyramid of gear looked fantastic, the neutron-star Vitus Audio amps, leading up to that Sonorus Audio ATR MkII reel-to-reel tape deck—a 20th-century anachronism brought up to 21st-century specifications for $35,000, complete with a remote control.

As I sat down, I caught the tail end of Pink Floyd’s The Wall, specifically “The Trial,” being played on that reel-to-reel from what was purportedly a master tape (but undoubtedly a copy of the master tape). Holy hell. Huge, rich, enveloping—this system made the judge sound like the monster he was meant to be.

Next, Josh Doyle, national sales manager for Scott Walker Audio, cued up “The Expert” by Yello. Here we were listening to digital, via the Taiko GSM Extreme music server, which sells for $30,000, and a Vitus SD-025 Mk.II DAC, which adds another $32,000. I keep meaning to listen to more Yello at home, and this experience reinforced that. Another gigantic, insane presentation—bass that went down to the earth’s core, attack that felt like a physical force, highs that shimmered but were utterly without grain. The way these formidable speakers loaded up the bass in this quite-large room was outstanding.

As I was finishing up this article, Doyle rewound The Wall and started the tape again on side 3, and I had no choice but to sit and listen to the whole thing. Damn.

Doyle did the calculations for me and came up with an estimate for the entire system at around $1,250,000. I think I may have used up my daily quota of superlatives in this one article, but it was worth it. Now I’ll have to follow Doug around for an hour or two listening to the little guys in order to recalibrate my brain to audio that lives below the stratosphere.

This system has ruined me.

Jason Thorpe
Senior Editor, SoundStage!