Listening Bar in NYC

[PeterA]

I went to NYC last weekend and visited a new listening bar in Tribeca called All Blues. I took my whole family and we all really enjoyed it. My interest was in hearing the JBL Paragon and Hartsfield speakers and EMT 930 turntables and in introducing my family to something a bit different. Everyone really seemed to enjoy it before heading out to a nice dinner.

Last night my wife and one of my daughters joined me in our living room to listen to my vintage horn system. I played some jazz, similar to what we heard in NYC. I think the listening bar inspired them and they are now better understand why I enjoy this hobby.

The experience at All Blues was similar to what I have in our living room, a very alive and engaging sound. After a moment or two, the system disappears and one is left with the music and the emotions it invokes. We arrived right when the doors opened at six. By seven o'clock, the place was jammed. I recommend a visit. The place is a nice oasis from the hussle and bussle of the big city. They serve excellent drinks and the music is fabulous.

Here is a short video clip:

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you for this great report and photos, Peter! I am glad y'all had a great time!

 

[J007B]

What a great place to spend an evening…..

 

[Amir]

Dear Peter, Thank you very much for sharing

 

[heihei]

I can also recommend Tokyo Record Bar which is just round the corner from Blue Note in Manhattan. Very tasty Japanese food while they play your request on a McIntosh / Sonus Faber system. Great fun!

 

[Holli82]

Man!!!

This is good stuff. I am looking forward to my next trip to NYC.

 

[Robh3606]

Good to know thanks!

Rob

 

[Rensselaer]

I went to NYC last weekend and visited a new listening bar in Tribeca called All Blues. I took my whole family and we all really enjoyed it. My interest was in hearing the JBL Paragon and Hartsfield speakers and EMT 930 turntables and in introducing my family to something a bit different. Everyone really seemed to enjoy it before heading out to a nice dinner.

Last night my wife and one of my daughters joined me in our living room to listen to my vintage horn system. I played some jazz, similar to what we heard in NYC. I think the listening bar inspired them and they are now better understand why I enjoy this hobby.

The experience at All Blues was similar to what I have in our living room, a very alive and engaging sound. After a moment or two, the system disappears and one is left with the music and the emotions it invokes. We arrived right when the doors opened at six. By seven o'clock, the place was jammed. I recommend a visit. The place is a nice oasis from the hussle and bussle of the big city. They serve excellent drinks and the music is fabulous.

Here is a short video clip:

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The second photo gives me the impression that all seats point towards the speakers, like my college lecture halls. Is each row of seats a bit elevated in relation to the row directly preceding it?

 

[Rensselaer]

I have mentioned my desire to help set up one of these in Norwich (UK) on this website. Someone contacted me saying that they were interested. I suggested a way if making it profitable but he wasn’t interested in that, instead wanted to start small by making a deal with a sandwich shop to let him rent their shop after hours where he would play music for customers as the DJ (something he has done before), would provide the food and pour the drinks.

All this unfit seventy year old man had to do was deconstruct my entire listening room, rent a moving truck, carry all my equipment (turntable weighs more than 100lbs, speakers are Altec A7’s) down stairs and load the truck, drive to the sandwich shop that first evening, along with my records, set it up and leave. He would do everything else.

I am not sure who he thinks moves my equipment (and where) at the end of each evening session so it doesn’t get in the way of the sandwich shop business the next day … or was he thinking I would come and take it all home every night?

Who insures my gear, and the shop?
This guy was only offering his organisational and d.j. skills.
I politely declined.

 

[Blue58]

There are at least 6 near me within walking distance and several close by but honestly I wouldn’t want to spend time in any other than for a coffee and a chat with friends. One opened up in a butchers, yes a butchers, but now closed. Most just have some horns or JBLs/Klipsch and some retro decks to ‘impress’ the young crowd.
They’re not aimed at the audiophile crowd and simply try to bring in people to buy their expensive mediocre sushi or Tapas.

 

[PeterA]

The second photo gives me the impression that all seats point towards the speakers, like my college lecture halls. Is each row of seats a bit elevated in relation to the row directly preceding it?

Yes very slightly. I think there are only three rows of seats. They all have tables in front of them.

 

[PeterA]

There are at least 6 near me within walking distance and several close by but honestly I wouldn’t want to spend time in any other than for a coffee and a chat with friends. One opened up in a butchers, yes a butchers, but now closed. Most just have some horns or JBLs/Klipsch and some retro decks to ‘impress’ the young crowd.
They’re not aimed at the audiophile crowd and simply try to bring in people to buy their expensive mediocre sushi or Tapas.

Yeah, this place that I went to seems a little different from what you describe.

 

[Zuman]

Thanks for this, Peter. Your report on your family's response at the bar and later at your home is insightful and revealing: I've long suspected that a primary obstacle between many people and high-end audio is that they perceive the experience it generates as being non-social and exclusionary (in that they think you can't do anything else while listening). While that is certainly an option, it's not the only way to enjoy high-fidelity music!

 

[twitch]

Looks like a great environment to enjoy a cocktail, or two !