We have combined all the audio personalities' interviews in one article, starting with Michael Fremer and Bill Peugh (Wilson Audio). Following them, you may look forward to in-depth conversations with Ricardo Franassovici (Absolute Sounds), Dan D’Agostino (Dan D’Agostino Master Systems), and David Steven (dCS). But that’s not all! Please stay tuned and check back regularly for more interviews and insights.

Michael Fremer

In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Michael Fremer, the iconic American audio reviewer renowned for his sharp insights and passion for analog sound. But this isn’t your typical hi-fi chat. Oh no—we’re diving into the lesser-known aspects of Michael’s incredible career!

Did you know Michael is now a record producer? Or that, back in the ‘80s, he was an actor? And wait for it—in 2015, he teamed up with Mauro Grange of Sonus faber to destroy the carbon fiber mold of the X3rema loudspeaker, proving that only 30 pairs were ever made. Talk about a ‘loudspeaker terminator’ moment!

We also explore Michael’s recent visit to Imacustica in Portugal, where he shared his expertise on tuning record players. From achieving that perfect vinyl sound to behind-the-scenes stories, this interview is filled with surprises and insights you won’t find anywhere else.

So, whether you’re a vinyl junkie, a gearhead, or simply curious about one of audio’s most prominent personalities, this video is for you. Hit that play button, and let’s uncover the many facets of Michael Fremer together.

Remember to like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more exclusive interviews and hi-fi content. Next, I will feature Dan D’Agostino, Bill Peugh (Wilson Audio), David Steven (dCS), and Ricardo Franassovici (Absolute Sounds), in that order, depending on the editing status.

Now watch the video below, and remember to turn off YouTube’s automatic captions if they are on.

Note: The first interview with Michael Fremer has garnered over 2,000 views within just two days! Let's maintain this enthusiasm for the upcoming interviews. Thank you for your continued support!

Bill Peugh

Today, we’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with Bill Peugh, a key figure at Wilson Audio, recorded during his recent trip to Portugal to unveil the stunning Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX loudspeakers. Bill shares his experience showcasing these remarkable speakers, driven by Dan D’Agostino’s Relentless Preamp and 800 monoblock amplifiers, with a cutting-edge dCS Varèse front end. Most importantly, he walks us through the Wilson Audio Setup Procedure, or WASP, and how it transforms the listening experience in any room. Let’s get started!

Ricardo Franassovici

The passion (for music) according to Ricardo Franassovici

Ricardo Franassovici

Ricardo Franassovici was the personality who most influenced my career as a critic and audiophile. It was he who introduced me to the leading figures of the international audio scene, such as Franco Serblin, Dan D’Agostino, and David Wilson, as well as equipment that, back then, existed only in my imagination, like Krell and Apogee.

For over 40 years, I’ve had the privilege of calling Ricardo Franassovici a friend. I’ve often recounted the curious story of our first meeting, during the Journées de la Haute Fidelité at the Hotel Nikko in Paris, in the eighties, which felt like destiny. Since then, it’s as if we’ve known each other forever. Though our paths had never crossed until then, we were both shaped by the same socio-geographic environment—the Estoril Coast in the late 1960s.

Those were happy days, when life was brighter and simpler. There was no pollution in the sea or the air, food was delicious, seafood was abundant and cheap, construction was minimal, and security was high. There were other problems, of course, but youngsters tend to preserve only the good memories—except for the war, a bad memory which I cannot forget…

The scent of the sea, the pleasure of feeling the wet sand beneath our feet during long beach walks, the sun kissing our tanned, healthy skin, the unique taste of freshly caught fish, and the inimitable flavour of bolas de Berlim hawked by vendors in pristine white aprons. And the street cries that roused us from the lazy haze of summer afternoons at Tamariz, or those of steaming chestnuts in autumn, wrapped in yellow paper cones made from telephone directories or newsprint with grey, black-and-white stories.

Sunset in Guincho seen from Boca do Inferno, Cascais

Though we never crossed paths in Estoril, we shared the same palette of indelible sensations, to which fate later added a passion for music reproduced at the pinnacle of perfection—a subconscious desire, perhaps, to relive the powerful sound of the salty, cold waves at Guincho, illuminated by the fiery orb of the sun, melting slowly into the sea like Santini ice cream on the palate.

Some things mark us forever. I, for instance, cannot live far from the sea or music, even when I can only feel its presence from where I live nearby. The same goes for the sound system when it is not playing. It’s enough to know they’re both there, waiting for me.

They say we should never return to the places where we were happy. They’re mad—they don’t know what they’re talking about. Furthermore, they’ve never learned the true meaning of the word saudade, as Ricardo learned at his own expense.

Note: Based on a text published in 2020, in Portuguese, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary celebration of Absolute Sounds.

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Please stay tuned and check back regularly for more interviews and insights.