Reported by Dave McNair
When I walked into the Joseph Audio, Doshi Audio and Cardas Audio room at the 2020 Florida Audio Expo, I heard Jeff Joseph playing Brubeck’s “Take Five” and instantly thought, “It must be a request.” I mentioned that to others in the room, including Jeff and Nick Doshi, and we all laughed at the joke.
Why is this funny? Well, I usually enter Jeff Joseph’s rooms at shows knowing he’s going to play something that I’ve never heard before and it’s going to sound spectacular. I’m going to have to ask him “What was that?” I’m going to have to write it down in my notebook. That happens every single time. I’m not the only one who feels this way, either.
This was a familiar room, with a familiar system, one that I’ve heard before. That’s not a bad thing–to me, it always feels like home. As I mentioned in the FLAX wrap-up for The Occasional Podcast, Joseph Audio speakers always make me think that “this is the sound I’m looking for.” Dave McNair commented that it sounded both liquid and utterly filled with detail. Plus, I think it’s impossible to beat the Joseph Audio Perspective2 Graphenes ($15,000/pair) at anywhere near their price point. And when they’re paired with Doshi Audio’s exquisite tube amplification, including Nick Doshi’s unique V3.0 Tape Stage for R2R decks, and all wired up with Cardas Audio Clear, I know that I’m not going to find a single thing that’s not to my liking, whether it’s digital via the Aurender server and Berkeley Audio DAC, or that tremendous open-reel machine.
I’ll tell you one more somewhat personal story about the Joseph Audio/Doshi Audio/Cardas Audio room at FLAX. A few weeks ago I met with Shayne Tenace of Tenacious Sound. (We both attended Scot Hull’s ordination in Frederick, Maryland.) We smoked quite a few cigars, and during the herf he suddenly asked me, “Why haven’t you ever reviewed Jeff Joseph’s speakers?” Shayne’s a part-owner of Now Listen Here, which has been a Joseph Audio dealer for a while, and he knows I’ve known Jeff for many years and that I’m a fan of his loudspeakers. So when I visited the room at FLAX, I mentioned this to Jeff. A big smile appeared on his face, and he said something like “Oh wow.”
He seemed pleased that I wanted to review one of his speakers and surprised that I finally asked. I, on the other hand, was waiting patiently for Jeff to ask ME if I wanted to review one of his speakers. (This kind of thing happens a lot to an introvert like me.) Anyway, I look forward to rectifying this situation soon. If Jeff Joseph’s speakers make me feel at home while I’m at an audio show, I can only imagine what I’d feel if they were actually in my home.
Great to read about the possible Joseph review, Marc. I’d always wondered why Joseph speakers hadn’t been reviewed here (or at least not for a very long time).
I have the Perspectives and recently auditioned the Perspective2Graphene. The Graphenes did strike me as an evolution, with even more clarity and refinement in the mids/highs. (Hard to tell about the bass quality from the particular audition I had, but bass is supposed to be perhaps the biggest improvement in the new model).
I’ve just spoken with Jeff, and I’m arranging for a review of the Pulsar Graphenes, which will probably be completed before summer. It’s the only one from the Graphene line I haven’t heard. I’m looking forward to it!