Below are some thoughts our clients  shared with us.

Thanks guys and gals for your support, this is for what makes it all worthwhile!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Hi Tim,

Just wanted to let you know that Kristine was really wowed by the sound of music that was floating through the house when she came up the stairs on her birthday. We played many of our old favorites and were both very moved.

Thanks for your guidance during the selection process. The match of TT and cartridge is superb. And as you predicted, the 2M Black sounds even better after settling in. All thoughts of fooling around with MC etc. have vanished.


Regards,

Bob

Tim,



Hi Tim,
Wow, been listening to my mono records most of the afternoon.  So beautiful - great sound and so quiet.  Using the Miyajima in my Linn is like having a whole new record collection.  Vocal is amazing!!

Thanks for your help!

Steve

Sent from my iPhone

Hi Tim,

Hi Tim, I LOVE the new system! It sounds wonderful and is the perfect way to relax after work. Lindsey , Noe Valley ,CA







Dear Tim,

I’m very glad to hear this; thanks for letting me know.

Just back from the SF Opera. La Boheme was fantastic, one of the best
productions I’ve seen.

Great week for music:  Jackie Ryan at SF Jazz, my Frog installed,
SF Contemporary Chamber Players, and La Boheme!
 Aurthur Ogus Berkeley, CA

Best regards,

Arthur

Tim,

Thanks for all your help and time installing the gear on Monday.  I’m really blown away at the detail and resolution in the Divialet.  Really amazing pairing with the Harbeths and the subs.

Definitely on another level.

M Bailey SF

Well, everything everyone has said already is pretty accurate. What I appreciate most about Tim is his integrity. I felt he could have persuaded me to purchase this or that but he really was looking out for what he felt I needed and he was soooo patient. He took his time, was in no rush and was really just a thoughtful, smart businessman who clearly knows more about stereo equipment than anyone I've ever met. It was a pleasure to hear him talk to be about various options without it sounding like he wanted something from me. Outstanding in every respect.

LL. D

I helped Garrick put together a quality system within his budget

There are some yelp reviews people write they had a good experience and want others to know; there are some yelp reviews that people write because they want to warn others because they had a terrible experience.  But then there are the yelp reviews that are written by someone who was blown out of the water by something that it feels as if their life slightly changed course as a result.  This is one of those reviews.

So how did this happen and what exactly do I mean? Well, first let me explain a little bit about who I am and where I'm coming from. I am someone who, like a lot of people, love music but I've never been either wealthy enough or interested enough in being  one of "those" guys with a stereo that costs as much as a car.  ...

However (there's always a "however"), I was sick of stereos breaking down and being overpriced to begin with. SO I came across a high piece at a thrift store and it introduced me to a world that I didn't know about (and had no previous interest in). That lead me to look up on Yelp Tim and Tone of Audio.  I brought in my piece that was slightly broken. It was a Rotel Amp. We hooked it up and he explained to me what I should or could do with it. No pressure to buy from him or to spend money unnecessarily.  He in fact talked me out of buying something in order to save me time and money.  What he did do, however, is introduce me to the concept of equipment that was made to last and equipment that was built with a certain standard of quality.  Parasound yes, of course, he's a rep of Parasound but it wasn't so much about this particular product line as it was about the investment of money in something that would sound better and last. That made a lot of sense to me even if I didn't have the big bucks but I could spend more than I typically did if this was something that would prove to be true.  And I can safely say that all of the choices about the money I have spent has been wise, sensible and practical.  Everything has paid off in the end and I've been pleased and amazed not so much by the products but by my own comfort with the whole idea.  After all, why spend the same money on three receivers that you would spend on one especially with all the e-waste in the world. A lot of these component systems are meant to break down. And where do they go when they do? First to thrift stores and then when they're really beyond repair, to the dump. What if we all spent money on things that we could fix and keep for a long long time? I know I'll always own a stereo so why not get one I don't have to replace every 2-3 years.  This was the most persuasive piece in the whole outfit.

Then there's Tim who is one of those unique combinations of being simultaneously down to earth, sophisticated, knowledgeable, passionate, wise, direct, human, seasoned, helpful, patient, easy-going and thorough.  I cannot tell you how many times I called him to ask him a question about set up and how much he helped me get through all of the hoops with my system. Time and time again he was there, patient, easy to talk to and helpful with knowledge and insight that made the whole experience not merely an aesthetic one but a learning experience.

As I said, I was a novice in this world. I owned the Best Buy kind of equipment and basically bought things that worked but never thought about the disposability factor or how different it would sound if I bought something on the higher end. So I was fairly ignorant about this world and Tim brought me up to speed without being pushy or really trying to sell me something. It was more like taking a class in audio than being with a sales person. I learned so much!  Then there were technical aspects. Again, being somewhat of a beginning and not very technically savvy I had a lot of problems setting up my system when I was home. I texted, called and sent emails to Tim. He was always there, always patient, always helpful. I really can't imagine a better experience in purchasing equipment that sounds this good and is going to last than the one I had with Tim.  He is worth all of these reviews. I found him by reading them and I support what everyone has said: he is the best audio guy I've ever come across and deserves every bit of praise for making people enjoy the experience of music both seemingly for the first time and again and again.

Garrick D

Carol and Mavis enjoys ther system for film and music, Mavis wants to hear the voices and dialogs with feeling and emotion like she does with her music, we adressed the issues and delivered.

Tim Nguyen knows how to design the right system for you. He listens carefully to what you want and he works with your current system. He explains what he is doing and understands how to match the equipment to the room. I love his low key approach. He has transformed our home theatre experience.

My client Andrew was looking for speakers but what really would improve his sytem was a great phono stage, he took my advice and had this to say:

Dear Tim,
A belated note of thanks. After several months of experimenting with the EAR phono stage, and even a little fun with tube-rolling, I'm really happy with the purchase, and appreciate the good advice you gave me on that, which wasn't at the time the direction I had in mind.

all best,  Andrew

Hey Tim,

I've been meaning to write you. The turntable sounds amazing. Thank you so much for all your help and attention. I might be coming to you in the fall about speakers.

Thanks again!

My client Zack had a big decision to make between two speakers, one we recommended and another highly touted speaker;

Tim, 

My Client Mike called me one day to ask for advice to build a system around a beautiful Garrard 301 he had rebuilt, we started a piece at a time and eventually put the amp and phono stage together to build a satisfying system.

System is great - I love it.  I am really happy and actually working from home today and playing some records ...  so far so good.

Steven was looking for an amp to improve his system, after some thought he took my advice and this is what he had to say:

My client Mark replaced his highly touted monitor with the a more musical, but no hype ,speakers we represent and finds his listening experience is greatly improved.

Hi Tim,

Keeping in mind that what necessitated a change to different loudspeakers was a change in hearing sensitivity in one ear, these are my impressions:

The Rega RS5s sound unforced and smooth across the range of frequencies. They represent acoustic instruments in a very natural and analog-like way. These speakers sound like they were voiced for piano trios (jazz and classical) and string quartets. Grand piano is startlingly natural and realistic.

Unlike the Usher BE-718s, the Regas do not demand attention or declare themselves as audiophile components. There’s no question that Usher uses high quality cabinetry and hardware (the brass binding posts are very finely made), and high-end drivers. Compared to the Regas, the BE-718s push fine details farther forward. Unfortunately, that was exactly the characteristic of the Usher’s tweeters that stressed my ear. Presentation was too razor-sharp. The Regas certainly resolve details, but the silk-dome tweeters and the positioning of the midrange drivers seems to shift the sonic balance – or perhaps restore the balance – in a way that I find more relaxing and enjoyable. I listened to a string quartet on SACD, a highly detailed recording. I didn’t want to change discs; I listened straight through. Soundstaging was even better when I removed the front speaker grill cloth.

In my circumstances, loudspeakers that can do justice to my recording library but that don’t draw attention to the change in my hearing senstitivity are a first priority. From what I can tell after only a couple of hours of listening, the Regas will perform this task very well.

Many thanks for your great service and assistance in obtaining the speakers!

All the best,

Mark

My client Richard in Alamo,Ca. wanted to update his existing system that he enjoys for music and film, we added new speakers and rel subs to lay the foundation.

Hi Tim: 

Rich

My client Patrick in Larkspur,CA wanted to me consult with room design and voice his system. We added a few pieces and brought his sytem to a whole new new of performance.

Hey Tim,

The air tight is amazing. Old, well known recordings become new again,

Thanks Tim

My Client Andrew and his lovely wife Susan wanted a new system to enjoy their classical lp collection, and serve as a home entertainment sytem.

My good client Peter recently moved to San Francisco, he was looking for a new system, we put together and Airtigh ATM 1 and Harbeth SHL 5s mated to his custom modified Sony player,

hi Tim -

a quick note, thanks so much delivering the Harbeths and taking a significant amount of your time to optimally set them up in my home. They are a particularly beautiful looking pair in a rather nice/unique light cherry (better than I expected).

Sound-wise, they are starting to open up and the sonics are getting better and better. They already do sound amazingly coherent. I am glad I listened to you regarding Super 5HL vs other loudspeaker options in and outside the Harbeth line. Also, the DNM cables are quite a revelation and amazing for what they do (and what they do not do) - their simplicity in shape and look defies all logic as we are all somewhat pre-programmed to expect only good results with thick, pricey cables using esoteric materials with years of R&D.

thanks again,
peter

Hi Tim,

A quick note, I am really enjoying the Air Tight ATM-1S and Harbeth Super HL5 pairing. Instruments just sound correct with more texture whilst vocals are beautifully reproduced with more dimensionality.  We are rediscovering some if our favorite music in a more tonally rich manner and with greater dynamics and flow. The music is simply more engaging. Finally, I appreciate  the time taken to personally deliver each component, set it up and fully optimize in our home setting. Thanks again for all help and diligence in assembling a system that can be enjoyed by all!
cheers, Peter

My client Vince was a big fan of digital, he had pick up a Cayin and and rega Dac to go with a beautiful pair of Klipsh Lascala he recently aquired, but his sytem took a big step forward when he added a Nottingham deck with the heavy platter , Ear Phono and a wonderful Shelter 901,

Tim,

Thank you!

I managed to get everything setup and actually played about 20 minutes of music before I had to go to bed.  First impressions are wow!  Very clear!  It seems like there is more space between notes than I hear with digital.  Marcia and I learned some new lyrics to a familiar song yesterday.  Lyrics that we have heard for years and never quite understood.

Thanks again for the great help!

Vince

Tim;

Funny thing happened last night.  I was listening to Al Di Meola John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, Friday Night in San Francisco and the lengthy first track was ending.  I actually felt my muscles contract to applaud! This has never happened before!  I felt a little dumb, at first, then realized that there is something unique happening here.  We will be paying another visit to Amoeba this weekend.

Vince
Love it!!!!

Not much time with it yet, but amazing. 

Sent from my iPhone

I recently had the peasure to consult for Park Pictures in the production of an add for GM , they are known for their innvative commercials for some of the premier companies in the world, like AT&T and Coka Cola,Nike...

Tim,

So glad to hear the shoot went well for you.

I apologize for not getting in touch with you sooner, yesterday was a marathon day of wrapping the commercial.

The director  and agency were very happy with the look of the amp and turntable and I know Brian was very happy to have you on set.

I am so very grateful for all your help.

Should the need arise in the future,  I would love to call upon you for your equipment and expertise.

Have a lovely holiday.

Jody Weisenfeld

My good client Hamilton wanted to build a system around a Mcintosh 275 that he  always wanted. We ended up with a Pair of Harbeth C7s, Conrad Johnson et3 and a Bellari Phono to complete his system,with a Rega turtable...

Wow. This is an incredibly talented machine. THANK YOU!!!!!  The beautiful range, clarity, musical balance, from highs to lows, and across the volume spectrum are better than I could have imagined.

Truly wonderful. Thank you again.  Hope you're feeling better.

Best,
Hamilton

hi Tim,

things are good.  hope so with you, too.

the speakers sound beautiful.  a really musical merging of detail with plenty of punch.  thanks again for your patience and help in choosing them!

i should be free most evenings this coming week.  just give a shout when the bellari is in and it would be GREAT if you can stop by to give me some guidance about placement.  i'll use your visit as a good deadline to get the turntable shelf mounted on the wall.

best,
hamilton

My client Todd in Central California had owned a very exotic system that was less than engaging so I helped him assemble a new system at one quarter of the price that he feels is vastly more enjoyable

Hi Tim,
We are getting along well :-). Having said all of that it is still very nice and I'm liking it.
 
Hope you are well...I'm enjoying the system very much and especially enjoying SACD's which I have begun to replace my previous CD's with. 
 
Best,
Todd

My Client Loren is a musician and had done production work in the past. Loren also has a recording studio in his home. After owning many different systems that  never quite fullfilled his desire for an invlvong musical experience, I put together a Luxman amp, Rega Dac with Harbeth Hp3 esr for him.

Tim,
 
 
After years of upgrading my recording studio environment and equipment, My experience with Tone of Music Audio has been second-to-none in providing quality and concern, in presentation, products and service.  Tim's beneficial presentation includes concise quality-based experience in sound, his design research, and from his prier purchases and use of many types of audio products from dealers and sales representatives.
 
Tim has graciously given only the necessary background knowledge and points of audio appreciation that eased my important decisions, without bias or sales pressure. 
 
Thinking that it must cost much more than I had to achieve natural sounding audio products for my recording studio; surprise, it could be done within my modest budget.  The Tone of Music experience with Tim's considerations has provided me with hand-selected fine quality audio instruments that are amazing to me and clients. 
 
Through Tim's onsite guidance, and his setting up the equipment in my listening environment, the result has gladly satisfied my studio's business needs for the all-around natural and revealing sounds of a variety of musical compositions and recordings, far beyond what I had imagined for much less.
 
Thanks, Amazed Client, LLC

My Client Bruce had this to say about his Harebth C7

Fricking' insane. I have Tori Amos on & soundstage extends into another zip code or two. This is based on two minutes of positioning, and I have not even worked on leveling yet.> Bruce,

So I have to ask you, how do the Harbeth C7 sound in your room vs in my room?

Hate to say it but no comparison, you were right about scale, sound fills the whole space. Sounds wonderful sitting at the landing at the top of the stairs, which is about 2/3 of the way towards the ceiling. Of course the Cary CD player is no match for that Luxman, luckily I did not have time to get spoiled by it. Imaging, detail and micro-dynamics are just outstanding. Another photo is attached.

My Client Ray in Florida is self taught bass player was looking for an analog rig that gets the tone and notes right,as it  helps him learn from the giants of the instrument of yesteryear when he studies bass technique.

Hi Tim,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now that I've put a good 25 hrs. on the Shelter 501 and have the turntable, man... This is one killer sounding turntable!

Last night, after playing some blues albums and playing along with my upright bass, I sat down for a good listen. Started off with "Getz Au Go Go" Live performance featuring Astrud Gilberto, ORG 2 180 gram 45rpm. If I didn't have to get up and flip the record over, I might have melted into my Ekornes Stressless recliner. haha...

Then it was Bill Evans Trio "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" featuring Scott La Faro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. I think I was at the third table back from the stage. The smell of bourbon and cigar smoke was thick. I offered a tissue to the girl that sneezed and she giggled. I think that was during Jade Visions.

On to Kenny Burrell's "Bluesin' Around", Shuggie Otis "Freedom Flight" and some Hendrix. What really sent me to another planet was Paul Chambers arco bass solo on the song "What Can I Say Dear" off of Red Garland Trio's "Groovy" album.

Well, you get the idea. I'm stoked and just wanted to say Thank You again for working with me to get this Turntable.


All the Best to you and yours,
Ray Satcher

My client Corey is the director of SF Jazz education, he came by looking for a system and ended up with a complete system that he says is "the best he's heard of his own recording"

Love the unit, Tim!!  Big difference.  

Let's talk about that sub you recommended.  What's the brand?  I know I'm going to have you get one eventually.  How long does it take you to order?

Thanks again!

We later added a REl Sub to complete Corey's system as he is an accoplished bass player its only fitting

It sounds awesome. Thanks. glad I picked it up.

Rick came into the shop one afternoon looking for a good cd player to repalce his old unit, I recommended the Rega for their history of satistisfiying many of my clients, he is very happy with the big change it brought to his system-

Dear Tim,

The Rega Apollo is just terrific.  My system just sparkles (Forte amp, Bryston Pre-amp, and B & W speakers).  Best it's ever sounded.

My other other system uses these Holophone speakers, which are quite wonderful.  That's the name I was trying to remember.

Rick.

Lou wanted a serious system that offers a musical enjoyment and immersion into each performance while keeping the aesthetics of his home's elegant aesthetics. We ended up with a LFD integrated, Rega digital and analog set up played through a pair of Harbeth C7s.

 "Tone of Music provides great products and service.  I was looking for a complete hi-fi system, and Tim gave great recommendations, didn't rush the purchase process, and made sure everything was set up in my home correctly.  That last part was really important to me - I wanted to buy the sound that I heard in Tim's listening room, and he made sure that I got it.  Highly recommended."

Lou F.

Alan is enjoying his new  amp, it has tubes of course...

Hi Tim,
"I just wanted to shoot you a quick email to let you know that I've got the new amp set up.  I didn't get to set it up and listen yesterday because I had some other engagements that night.  But I set it up today and it sounds terrific.  The first CD I played sounded almost impossibly better than anything ever sounded through the old amp.  I was shocked.  It renewed my faith in the Klipsch speakers as well.  I didn't know they had it in them to sound as good as they do.  They'll at least last me long enough to be happy while I save for an upgrade.  Vinyl is sounding good as well especially with some of my better pressings.  I'm definitely going to be socking some money away for the Rega soon though. 

I took some of your room suggestions and put them into practice and it's sounding good so far.  I'll let you know if I think I can improve things a bit and if I need your help.  I'll definitely be interested in some consultation once I have the turntable upgraded. 

I'll keep in touch if I have any questions or thoughts or want to do some listening to any products. 

Thanks for all your help and allowing me to come by and listen with no pressure.  I appreciate your honesty when it comes to items that would fit might budget and things I can do short term to have a system I can enjoy. "

-Alan T

Rencently Bob upgraded to the Harbeth SHL fives in Beautiful Rosewood finish and he had this to say

Tim,

I've been listening the Super HL5s for a few weeks now.  Great suggestion upgrading to these from the Compact 7-es3.  As you know, I listen to a lot of classical music, particular piano and violin instrumental.  The dynamic range and timbre of the Super HL5s are superior, in my opinion.

Thanks again.
Bob

Erlie l.

Tim-

"Thank you for the wonderful demonstration of the Harbeth C7's. They sounded great (you have excellent products,) and the listening was the best audition I have experienced with an audio dealer....

Again thank you and I hope to see you soon."
-Christopher

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