Mike Prager is a lifetime music lover, and a flutist when young, who has attended thousands of musical concerts and club dates in Miami, New York, and elsewhere at such storied venues as the Village Vanguard, Sweet Basil, Ali’s Alley, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and CBGB. Prager also is a longtime audiophile whose approach to system-building is choosing gear and setup choices that make decisive improvements to sound. As an amateur recordist, Mike operated the Grant Street Studio in his listening room, recording Three Hand Stephen and collaborating musicians.
Mike earned an SB in Humanities and Science from M.I.T. and a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. A retired research biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, he’s the author of many scientific papers and of analysis software used internationally. Prager’s letters have been published in Stereophile Magazine and elsewhere.
For five years, Mike Prager organized the Portland (Oregon) Audio Club and is proud of having helped many members get better sound. Listening to members’ systems ranging in price from under $600 to well over $500,000 convinced him that engaging sound is possible on any budget. Today, Prager lives in Portland, where he enjoys hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and exploring the state’s many wild places.
Mike has over 10 years experience as an audiophile writer. His specialties in the audiophile editorial world include class-D power amplifiers, high performance stand-mount or bookshelf speakers. Mike is one of the most experienced audiophile reviewers when it comes to digital room correction. In terms of audio, Mike Prager is an enthusiast of subwoofers. He uses literally four SVS SB-3000 subwoofers in his dedicated listening room which is a powerful audiophile statement but no small logistical feat.
Mike Prager’s Reference Audiophile System
• Synology DS-1522 Network Drive
• Custom NUC running Roon ROCK
• Auralic Aries G1 streamer
• NAD M66 Preamp with Dirac Room Correction (read the review)
• Schiit Loki Max equalizer (read the review)
• Benchmark Media AHB2 monoblock power amps (read the review)
• Janszen Valentina P8 hybrid electrostatic speakers (read the review)
• (4) SVS SB-3000 subwoofers (yes, we meant four)
• Auralic Taurus 2 headphone amp
• Sennheiser HD650 headphones
Dedicated room with QuietRock soundproofing
Various acoustical treatments from ASC, GIK, RPG, and Vicoustic
Torus RM-20 and Furman IT Ref 15i power conditioners
Racks and stands by Butcher Block and Billy Bags
Mike Prager’s Desktop Audiophile System
• Windows i7 computer running Roon Remote and JRiver Media Center
• Classé CP-800 DAC-Preamp
• Buckeye Amps Hypex NCx500 Stereo Amplifier (read the review)
• Harbeth P3ESR main speakers
• Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 sub
