Marco is an Italian music producer, record label owner, and lifelong audiophile with a deep passion for high-fidelity sound and audio engineering. His journey into music began early, experimenting with his parents' hi-fi systems and vinyl collection before eventually picking up an instrument. Over the years, his fascination with sound reproduction, recording technology, and the pursuit of sonic perfection led him to explore both music production and the intricacies of high-end audio systems.
Marco studied Music Business at the London School of Sound, where he deepened his knowledge of studio recording, audio equipment, and the science of sound design. Over time, his interest in high-quality sound reproduction extended beyond the studio into the world of hi-fi and immersive home audio.
He is the founder of Naviar Records, an experimental music label and online community exploring the connection between electronic music and traditional Japanese poetry. Since its inception in 2014, Naviar has fostered a global network of artists, publishing music, organizing events, and hosting The Naviar Haiku Fest, a cross-artform day of workshops, talks, and live performances focused on experimental music and haiku. His work has been covered in publications such as Electronic Sound and Cyclic Defrost.
Beyond music production, Marco is an avid audiophile with over 15 years of experience testing and refining hi-fi and home audio setups. His passion for sound engineering and high-fidelity reproduction has led him to analyze everything from speakers to DACs, amplifiers, and headphones. He is particularly drawn to vinyl playback, meticulously curating his vast record collection and refining turntable setups to extract the best possible sound from analog recordings. Whether he's evaluating the clarity of bookshelf speakers, comparing audio formats, or optimizing soundstage depth, his focus is always on achieving the most natural and immersive listening experience possible.
At Aphrodite Sound, Marco shares his hands-on expertise in audiophile gear, helping both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts navigate the world of high-end audio without falling for marketing hype. His mission is to make high-fidelity sound accessible to all, ensuring that music lovers can elevate their listening experience with real, tangible improvements rather than gimmicks.
Outside of his work with Naviar Records and Aphrodite Sound, Marco also writes for Sound of Life, Higher Hz, and various music magazines and blogs worldwide. Under the moniker Cryxuss, he creates ambient electronic music, and he continues to explore the intersection of music, technology, and sound as an art form. When he's not producing music or testing new audio equipment, he performs as a drummer in the psychedelic rock band Aktopasa.
Last month, I created a sound installation for an art organization in Fukuoka, Japan, as part of an art residency program. When the time came to upload the nine-hour sound installation to some playback device and run it through the PA system in the gallery, it turned out my good old MP3 player, connected to a power bank charger, was the best option.
I don’t even remember why I took it with me, and yet it turned out to be quite a useful thing to have at the time.
If you’re not happy with the way your music sounds on Spotify, the platform’s EQ settings offer a quick fix to fine-tune your sound, without spending a dime on headphones or other listening gear.
Let’s take a look at the best EQ settings offered by Spotify, and identify how you can find the one that can take your listening experience to the next level.
Long gone are the days when subwoofers had to be big, bulky and heavy to provide a deep sound. Yet even nowadays, manufacturers look for a balance between aesthetics and performance, and when it comes to subs, results are uncertain at best. Introducing the KEF KC62. Released in 2021, the tiny 10-inch cube took the audiophile community by storm, delivering a sound no one thought possible with such a small sub: a combination of power, depth, and versatility you’ll hardly find in any other compact...
In the digital era we live in, vinyl records are not just surviving; they’re thriving! For many, the allure of vinyl lies in its tangible nature: the ritual of dropping the needle and the rich, analog sound that many audiophiles love is something no digital format can quite replicate.
Last month, I had the chance to test out a listening room of a Sonus Faber aficionado for the first time. Being born and raised not far from Arcugnano, Italy, where the company started in the 80s, I’ve always been proud of this little gem of design and audio fidelity that’s a household name in the audiophile world.
Today, there are some fantastic budget-friendly floor-standing speakers available for those who want to create the finest aural experience in their listening room or home theater.
It’s no trivial task to exceed expectations when your predecessor is a legend like the B&W 606 S2. Yet the 606 S3, the latest standmounter in the 600 series, features palpable sonic differences when compared to the S2, and mostly on the positive side.
Replacing a phono cartridge is the quickest, least invasive, and often, cheapest way to upgrade your sound system. So before you replace your turntable, speakers, or preamp, check out our list of the best phono cartridges that can revolutionize your listening experience.
The first step in building your desktop hi-fi system is defining what you need in order to upgrade your sound. And one of the first questions you should ask yourself is: do I need a DAC, an amp, or both?
In this article, I’ll help you understand the difference between these two components and how each of them affects your sound.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the vinyl resurgence, it is that there’s a legion of music enthusiasts who need the music to be tangible and look for a sense of impermanence in music that the digital simply can’t offer.
If you’re one of those music listeners who need to touch, feel, and admire a record, here are the best speakers you can pair with your turntable to enhance the beauty of your vinyl collection.