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WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM OVERTURE AUDIO

Our style of demonstration is different -

With the variety of equipment that we sell, there are hundreds of logical systems that could be created. We don't believe in shoehorning customers into one of a limited number of fixed "package" systems, even though that might make our job a lot easier. When we help you put together a system, we'll do it one step at a time, hooking and unhooking components as needed to take you through the possible choices. Don't feel as though you're putting us out; this is the level of effort and attention we choose to give all of our customers. We do it this way because it's simply the best way for us to help you appreciate the differences between components.

If it's a speaker system you're shopping for, you can expect us to move several different pairs in and out of the demo room for your audition. We're not masochists; there are some good reasons for doing it this way. Having a wall of speakers wired through a switchbox is a recipe for bad sound. The energy from all the undriven speakers in the room adversely affects the sound of the pair that's playing; and the extra circuitry the signal has to run through makes it harder to differentiate between one pair and another. Plus, it's impossible to place each pair of speakers in an optimum location if you have to make room for a dozen other speakers. In short, our method is the most effective way for you to choose a pair of speakers that you'll enjoy for years.

The staff -

Just like the equipment we sell, Overture Audio's staff puts us well ahead of the competition. Unlike the steady stream of teenagers you'll see at the mass merchandisers, we have been doing this for a long time. I've been selling audio and home theater here in Ann Arbor since 1981, and I have several staff members who have been at it longer than I have. We have received in-depth training from our most important manufacturers, both in our store and at their facilities. Our full time staff has also completed the Masters Training Program by Sumiko in Berkeley, California, which focuses on Sonus Faber, Vienna Acoustics, and REL sub bass systems, as well as general system tuning. Overture Audio is very proud that several of our guys have gone on to careers with some of our best manufacturers and distributors.

We'd also like for you to know that no one at Overture Audio is paid a commission on their sales. We think our customers benefit when there isn't any financial motivation for us to recommend a particular product. We also think it's beneficial for our customers to be able to talk to several different salespeople if they wish, without having to worry about stepping on anyone's toes.

The equipment -

What can we say? Overture Audio has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to having the most involving, musical sounding equipment in every price range we represent. We're definitely not a "product of the month" kind of store; the product lines we represent have been in business for an average of 25 years. Having confidence that a brand will continue to be in business to support us and our customers is a critical factor in our selection process.

Should you be impressed with stores that carry a huge laundry list of brands? To us, that says "We're not really sure which of these is best; you figure it out". Overture Audio is known for having a fairly small, focused lineup of brands. It has always been our mission to determine which products are the very best in their respective price ranges - we've already done 95% of your homework!

A great facility for auditioning equipment -

Overture Audio has 3 different environments set up for demonstrations. In the upper level adjacent to our lobby we have a long mezzanine, which houses theater systems at the far end. We use this area to demonstrate 2-channel systems as well. We use the rest of the mezzanine to display all of the different speakers that aren't currently in use in one of our other systems. Off the mezzanine area, we have 2 more rooms where the majority of our demonstrations take place.

The demonstration rooms -

These rooms are designed to represent typical listening and viewing environments. The smaller room is about 18' by 14', and is used primarily for 2-channel systems and A-B comparisons. The larger room is about 18' by 20', and is used for both home theater and 2-channel demonstrations.

There is nothing particularly "tweaky" about the design of these rooms - no tube traps, diffusers, echo busters, pillows in the corners, etc. While we do believe that room treatments can be beneficial, we know that an extremely small percentage of you are going to have these things in your rooms at home. We want to give you an honest representation of the level of performance you can expect in your own home.

Click on this link for a different perspective on room acoustics.

An easy location to find -

We're located at 618 South Main Street, just at the edge of Ann Arbor's downtown entertainment district. We're about halfway between the center of town and the U of M football stadium. The store is on the west side of Main Street, just south of the traffic signal at Madison. We have plenty of free parking - a rare commodity in Ann Arbor!

Click on this link for MapQuest driving directions.

Accommodating store hours -

Monday Closed
Tuesday 11 - 7
Wednesday 11 - 7
Thursday 11 - 7
Friday 11 - 7
Saturday 10 - 6
Sunday Closed

We're also open on Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We're always happy to arrange an appointment with you either during or outside our normal store hours for your convenience.