In 2021, at the height of the COVID pandemic, Mack-n-Cheeze Music spoke with Erik Owen, owner of Gig Harbor Audio in Gig Harbor, Washington. The music world had gone quiet. Venues closed. Studios slowed. Artists searched for ways to stay connected.

This interview focused on something that never disappeared: the experience of listening.

Gig Harbor Audio had already become a destination for serious music lovers in the Pacific Northwest. The shop is known for high-end two-channel audio systems and a culture of dedicated listening. In this conversation, Erik Owen discusses the philosophy behind the store. He also explains the enduring appeal of analog playback and why great sound still matters in a digital world.

The discussion explores audio reproduction, the return of vinyl, and the relationship between musicians, recordings, and playback systems.

The interview ultimately asks a central question:

How much of music’s power depends on the way we hear it?

Recorded during one of the most unusual periods in recent history, this conversation captures a moment when the music community began rethinking not only how music is performed—but how it is experienced.

Can We Help You?

What does it really mean to hear music the way it was meant to be heard?

If this conversation made you rethink how you listen to music, join the discussion.

Share the post, leave a comment with your listening setup or thoughts on high-end audio, and subscribe to Mack-n-Cheeze Music for more conversations about music, creativity, and the craft behind the sound.

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