About Us
We love music, and we want it reproduced properly.
We are retailers and designers
of high-fidelity audio systems.
Ash Forest Hi-Fi began in 2011 in a 4 acre ash forest, north of Kingston.
I have always enjoyed great audio. In the early 80s, I was amazed at how good by Dad’s Yamaha system sounded in the living room. It was so much better than anything I had in my bedroom, and better than anything I had heard at my friend’s homes. I quickly became interested in why it sounded better, and I started to acquire components to get the sound I wanted.
After working in a few audio/video shops and for some satellite installation companies, I moved to Kingston in 1998 to attend St. Lawrence College for electronics technician. I was hired by Sony in 1999 and worked at the Sony Store for a little over a year. While I was working for Sony in the mall, I was actually buying my hi-fi components from Just Hi-Fi, a hi-fi shop in downtown Kingston.
In 2000, Larry hired me to work at Just Hi-Fi. Less hours and more money was great, and being able to sell and set up high-end products made it so much better.
I decided to leave Just Hi-Fi in August of 2005, and was hired by Leading Edge Hobbies for sales and service.
We bought a 4 acre lot north of the city and built a house in the fall of 2005. New home and a new job – a little bit stressful!
In 2011, I was really missing audio and started Ash Forest Audio. I spoke to various audio suppliers about becoming a dealer. A few would allow me to start slowly out of my home, until I was brave enough to open a store.
Friends and potential customers would come over to listen to the high-end audio in our living room, while looking out through our large front window at the ash forest…
I was working full time at Leading Edge Hobbies, and selling audio on my days off.
In 2015 we opened up Ash Forest Hi-Fi in downtown Kingston, very close to where Just Hi-Fi was.
Matthew Snell
Ash Forest feels like a home away from home. After Greg and Co. were able to bring my father’s 37 year old record player back to life and sounding better than ever, I knew I was in good hands.
Tom Williams
I was looking to upgrade my stereo system and went to Ash Forest on a friend’s suggestion. Greg was incredibly helpful. He is very knowledgeable and a superb communicator. The service was superb. As noted in another review, this business is a hidden gem in Kingston.
Peter Dendy
Thank you again, Greg, for your amazing service and honest, excellent, advice. You continue to be a pleasure to deal with after many years. We love the Rega P3 from Ash Forest Hi-Fi!
Brendan Fyke
I took my turntable in to be serviced yesterday and got it back today! Greg was awesome, very knowledgeable and great with communication. Couldn’t be happier. I will do all my business there now. Highly recommended.
