Tariffs

Every day we are asked about tariffs.

Trump tariffs are being assigned with the percentages changing per his whim.

In July he hit Canada with a 25% tariff. On August 1 he ramped it up to 35%. We sell Bryston and Axiom from Canada.

The general public seems to think Canada pays the tariff charge. They don’t.

Americans pay it.

Bryston ships directly to us. DHL (for ex) picks up Bryston in Canada and charges Audio Emporium the tariff percentage when they deliver to us.

This means we have to add this tariff tax to Bryston’s regular price TO YOU. Nobody can afford to EAT a 25-35% tariff.

The magnificent Bryston 4B Cubed power amp has an MSRP of $7500 (330×2 with 20 year warranty). For any shipped in July the price was $9375. Aug will be $10,125.

Any stock we had on hand before tariff charges- won’t suffer the tariff tax.

As you can infer, adding these 25-35% tariff taxes quashes new orders.

Here’s another example. On July 22 DT said there is a new tariff on Japan. They will pay 15% instead of the 25% he had imposed. To be clear, Japan will not be paying the tariff. We Americans pay the tariff when products hit the US. Any tariffs on foreign countries are a sales tax to us.

Demo Sale

We are running a demo sale on all Bryston/Axiom products purchased before the tariff taxes were assigned. We will re-order Canadian demos when this insanity ends.

If you’re looking for a good demo deal, for something WE HAVE IN STOCK, you can save now.

Castle Acoustics Speakers

When the topic of British speakers comes up, the discussion can quickly sound like a senate debate about the differences between Ding Dongs vs Ho Hos. The Brit speakers category is a cottage industry. Most of them are good, but more alike than not. Of course we audiophiles love to sweat the nuances.

Castle Acoustics was born in 1973. Designer Karl Heinz Fink (KHF) created a unique niche for the company.

Castle delivered smooth/clear sound, as many Brit companies did in the day. What made Castle a speaker family to LUST for was its incredibly lovely wood cabinetry. When many speakers sound pleasant, maybe GREAT aesthetics will provide the tipping point for your purchase?!

KHF is an avid proponent of sophisticated 2-way designs. He has come out with a new Castle Windsor Series of speakers, still made in England.

The Windsor Series has two outstanding stand mount models: The Duke & The Earl. There are many decisions KHF made in crafting these Windsors.

The drooling starts at the sight of these absolutely gorgeous speakers. Both models are offered in Walnut & Mahogany. I love em both, but am a real sucker for the burnished Mahogany with blackish accents. WOW!

The Windsors are finished from real tree slices, each with its own grain pattern. The pattern wraps the cabinet beautifully.

The Windsors start as double walled designs- a cabinet within a cabinet. KHF uses an innovative absorption glue to separate the inner and outer walls. It makes the cabinets “talk” less than the MDF panels “everyone” else uses.

You can hear this most clearly in vocal and instrumental definition. If you play a pair or group of singers for example, the new Castles allow you to follow the unique character of each voice more easily than with traditionally built, single wall MDF speakers.

The bass extension garnered from this technology is also perspicacious. You will be floored by the depth and WEIGHT of the sound produced by the Windsors.

This writing is just an appetizer. If you’re ready for the full entree, please dive down the rabbit hole with us!

Kim Wilde: 80s Singer Becomes Master Gardener

Kim Wilde, b 1960, was a fiery English singer in the 80s. Do you remember her classic 1986 video, “You Keep Me Hanging On?” If you don’t remember her, Youtube it for some fun sex appeal.

Kim has became a prolific gardener and has earned much UK acclaim for her impressive green thumb.