Today Merrell is a business consultant, but back in 1983 he was a disc jockey at Colorado Public Radio — KCFR. That year the compact disc format was just being introduced in the U.S., and ListenUp co-owners Walt Stinson and Steven Weiner were early and vocal proponents of the then groundbreaking new technology. Walt went around to a number of radio stations in the area to introduce them to the joys of CD, and once Merrell heard the demonstration he was hooked. That meeting began a relationship that continues to this day.

Get out of Denver, baby go
Merrell and his wife PJ, a successful fiber artist, both lived in Denver for more than 20 years before making a monumental change five years ago: they bought and moved into an 1890s office building in the heart of Salida. The old-time feel of the building and its charming original details made it the perfect backdrop for their extensive collection of modern art. The results, as you can see from the accompanying photographs, are quite spectacular.

Once the renovation was complete, the couple contacted longtime friend and ListenUp sales consultant Kevin Russell. Knowing their passion for music and their desire to maintain the vintage feel of the home, Kevin suggested a Sonos system.

This wireless, multiroom music system would allow the couple to enjoy instant access to their favorite music without compromising the architectural integrity of the home they worked so hard to preserve.

Merrell wanted audiophile, CD-quality listening capabilities, and at first he wasn’t sure the Sonos system could fill the bill. After some critical listening, though, the he and PJ decided to give Sonos a try.

Wireless solution makes for
painless installation!
Once the project began, they were positive they had made the right decision. There weren’t any holes in the walls and no dust from hardwiring. In fact, the noninvasive installation left them with the technology they wanted without any harm to the building.

Now equipped with six zones of sound in their home, the couple have easily integrated this technology into their daily lives. Whether holding a benefit in the salon, waking up to NPR, cooking dinner to Roy Orbison, or having dinner in the sunroom with the perfect background music, Sonos has allowed Merrell and PJ to relax and enjoy the finer things in life.

Music for all
While PJ and Merrell frequently enjoy the system together, they also take advantage of zone controls and use the system separately, as well. Classical music and jazz vocalists can be heard in Merrell’s office, while PJ gets creative in her studio to jazz and an eclectic variety of popular music.

As a very right-brained artist, PJ generally shies away from technological stuff. But because of its user-friendly design, the Sonos system allows her to create her textile masterpieces without ever having to pause to change the CD. She often sets a playlist or listens to her favorite KUVO and KUNC webcasts in the morning and continues throughout the day without distraction. PJ also takes advantage of the system’s automatic settings when Merrell is out of town. Sonos ends and starts PJ’s days just as she likes it: she can fall asleep to her favorite evening jazz program with the knowledge that it will automatically fade off in an hour and then wake her up to news reports on NPR the next morning.

Entertaining with style
The initial sensitivity Kevin showed for the visual and technical considerations of their system has given the Merrell and PJ the ability to set a perfect stage regardless of the occasion. When throwing benefits or having smaller gatherings, they use every square foot their home has to offer. With food in the kitchen, drinks in the sunroom, world-class art in the salon and music flowing in every location, they are hosts extraordinaire. Sonos is also there for them on quiet evenings together when Merrell decides to cook up a masterpiece of his own in the kitchen. Relaxing to the vocals of Dinah Washington while making a feast for two is one of Merrell’s favorite ways to use their system. They’ve become enthusiastic proponents of Kevin’s Sonos suggestion.

“We like dealing with Kevin and ListenUp because they make you comfortable when making a decision,” says Merrell. “Anyone can put in a system, but how the process is handled is very important and ListenUp always pays attention to all the details. Plus, we’re customers for life — where else would we go?”

Is There Anything Better?