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.
In one of my recent articles, I wrote about a few turntables that I believe deliver a superb sound without breaking the bank. Among them is the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, an evolution of the iconic AT-LP60, which undoubtedly has been the first turntable of many modern audiophiles.
You might already have a vast record collection at home, or perhaps a long wish list you’re expanding every year with new titles to add to your physical music library.
Regardless of your taste in music, there are albums that an audiophile should own on vinyl simply because they sound better in an analog medium.
There are movies in which sound is just a background, whereas in others, the sonic elements play such a pivotal role that we couldn’t imagine those movies without the soundtracks and sound effects they have.
As your taste for high-fidelity audio evolves, you might find yourself craving richer sonic palettes, more immersive soundscapes, or simply a more powerful sound to galvanize your listening sessions.
If that sounds familiar, here are the best bookshelf speakers you can buy in 2025 across all price tags.
The KEF LS50 Meta is the evolution of the hugely successful LS50, released over a decade ago and still considered a milestone in terms of sound quality and design.
However, KEF felt they could further push the boundaries of audio reproduction, so they released the KEF LS50 Meta in 2020 to critical acclaim.
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...
Vinyl is back, and it’s here to stay. Two decades of gradual yet relentless resurgence made the once-obsolete format the emblem of the modern music connoisseur, to the point that the good-old records are outperforming all other physical media in terms of sales and popularity.
Nothing makes a track more engaging than a powerful bass, and although it might seem obvious to simply look for subs that can reach the lowest possible frequencies, the best sonic results are often a combination of bass articulation and how the subwoofer blends with the rest of your equipment.
Optimizing your surround system is a necessary step if you want to make the most of your home theater experience.
Given not everyone has the luxury of having a free, spacious, and acoustically-treated room ready to be transformed into a private cinema, we need to discuss how to make the most of what we have, whether it’s our living room, open floor, or unused space in our house.
Going down the rabbit hole of audio fidelity means coming across the terms bi-wiring and bi-amping. These are two techniques that can help you make the most of, or upgrade, your sound system, bringing to life a soundscape that’s more defined and transparent.