Joe Cali was my boss when I had possibly the greatest college job ever, which was selling the world’s most expensive audiophile systems with Joe and his then-partner, Mark Levinson, at the Cello Music and Film Showroom in West Hollywood. The Cello Showroom is still ultra-famous in Los Angeles audiophile circles, as it was located high above the Sunset Strip. My office overlooked all the city lights and down into the nearby Geffen Records offices. You would walk to The Whiskey or The Roxy. It was the most rock and roll stereo store, perhaps ever.
Later this summer, Joe will be opening a 3,000-square-foot audiophile experience based around Gryphon systems. There will be three distinct showrooms, which will be different grades of expensive, but all representing fully Gryphon-branded audiophile playback systems ranging from around $100,000 to basically cost-no-object.
The Gryphon Showroom will be located in the legendary Pacific Design Center in the red building (there are a number of buildings that all have vividly colored exteriors). Auditions of the Gryphon systems will be by appointment only. Privacy for Hollywood’s elite and lucky audiophiles will be a high priority. I can tell you from our days at Cello, you never knew who could be coming by. James Cameron wanting to see the new nine-inch CRT projector wasn’t unthinkable. Now, Los Angeles’ most well-heeled audiophiles and music celebrities will have a whole new uber-high-end experience in the heart of the Hollywood music scene. Don’t worry, you are welcome, too.
Known as the custom installer to the stars (Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, Oprah, George and Amal Clooney, Randy Gerber and Cindy Crawford, Irving Azoff and nearly countless others), Joe has passion for music and audio. Joe’s heart, like many of us, is still at the stereo store, so it is more than fitting that he’s opening one.
Most audio industry executives who date back far enough think Joe Cali is likely the best audiophile salesman to ever walk the Earth. I have been told that I was good. Joe is leagues better. Joe makes sure that he connects with the client, finding the music that makes them “get the feels,” as they say today. To this day, Joe delivers a customer experience that is so special, so unique, that you just want to be all in.
The Gryphon Showroom will be open in the summer of 2025.
If you want to come by and see what Joe is doing with the outrageously good Gryphon equipment, tell them Jerry sent you. Joe’s email is jcali (at ) gryphonla.com
About Gryphon: Gryphon Audio Designs ApS, manufacturer of Ultra-Luxe Audio Systems, was founded in 1985 by Flemming E. Rasmussen, whose artistic training resulted in products that offer state-of-the-art technical performance, complemented by stunning visual design. Since 2002, Thomas Willum Børsting has been the majority shareholder. Gryphon is distributed in more than 40 countries worldwide.
