Our Phoenix Discovered series (PhD for short) shares essential insight into downtown by introducing people and places that define our unique culture.
I’ve heard Phoenix described as a city with “…not a lot to do.” But, I’ve always said, “You just need to know where to look… or listen.”
Located on the ground floor of downtown’s 111 West Monroe building, Esoteric Audio is a high-end audio retailer, reborn through a modern vision of helping individuals connect to the music they love on a deeper level. Even the name of the company translates to “private sounds,” which is truly a beautiful way to describe this hidden gem that has been part of our community for just under a year.
The name may sound familiar to some, as the business began 30 years ago in Old Town Scottsdale before changing hands to the current owner, Andrew Papanikolas, who saw Phoenix as the next audio frontier. “It was just supposed to be a fun side project…,” said Papanikolas. But it was apparent that it had grown to become something more.
After hearing about Esoteric from a friend, who had described it to me as a furniture store where you could chill and listen to records, my interest was piqued, but what lay beyond the threshold was more than I expected.
Esoteric offers a unique audio experience that has the feel of a curated, interactive art show. Each piece of equipment is truly a piece of artwork and is displayed to reflect its caliber. The space between each system is designed to give you the sensation of isolation with your music, essentially giving the listener the chance to get a feel for what the system might be like in their own home. Unlike many other audio stores where all the equipment is packed so tightly into one area, you don’t know what you’re listening to any more.
The systems range in size and price, spanning from a few thousand to the impressive 500K which basically takes up an entire room and delivers an experience unlike any other. Without a doubt, Esoteric is an unparalleled resource for music lovers, audiophiles and industry enthusiasts looking to ride the resurging sound wave of home audio systems.
Not convinced? Swing by and listen for yourself as you turn up the volume on one of your favorite albums available in their vast vinyl library that spans the decades. Provided by local business, Record High, there isn’t much Esoteric doesn’t offer in the wonderful world of vinyl. Not only that, they also host a monthly listening party every second Saturday from 4-8 p.m., complete with libations so you can get that good energy flowing.
So now you that you know, be sure to welcome Esoteric Audio to the neighborhood and find time to reconnect with your love of music. Who knows what you’ll discover.
Photos by Jesse Perry.
