F1 Audio – Chicago’s Home Audio Boutique.

exceptional brands.
extraordinary experience.

Mellody Farm in Vernon Hills

our story

In 1999, Jamie Pauls started the business under the name JPaulsDesign. Fifteen years later, in 2015, we opened our first brick and mortar showroom in Palatine IL and changed our name to F1 Audio (inspired by Formula 1 racing). Our business grew quickly as we added several high end brands to our existing line up and started to get a name for ourselves.

Now, in 2020, we have moved our showroom to the beautiful Mellody Farm shopping center in Vernon Hills IL and couldn’t be happier to be a part of this amazing community. We continue to work with our existing brand partners and welcome several new manufacturers.

We invite you to join us at our beautiful showroom in Mellody Farm and allow us the opportunity to help you build the best sound system possible.

Crafted to perfection

No name is more closely associated with high-end audio amplifiers than that of Dan D’Agostino. During his career of more than 35 years, D’Agostino pioneered countless advances in the design of amplifiers, preamplifiers, CD players, and surround-sound processors. He is known as the audio industry’s most passionate promoter of high-quality, high-powered amplification. Makers of the world’s finest loudspeakers rely on D’Agostino-designed amplifiers for their most important demonstrations.

a showroom of distinction

Get ready

to be amazed

Experience a no pressure demonstration in Chicagos most beautiful home audio showroom. Relax with a cold beverage or latte while playing your favorite music on a world class system. This is a brand new approach to a decades old industry exclusively at F1 Audio.

passion for music

Rockport Technologies began as Payor Acoustics Inc. in 1984 with the design of a compact, satellite/subwoofer loudspeaker system. Long ago we recognized that the two areas of greatest loss in an analog reproduction chain are where the transduction occurs from mechanical to electrical energy at the front end, and then back to mechanical (acoustical) energy at the loudspeaker. Consequently, these two transduction sites provide the greatest opportunity for improvement in an audio system, and have been the areas where we have focused our attention for more than 30 years.

closer to the music

Every type of cable has its unique balance of electrical properties. Typical cables have electrical properties that make them inherently superior at passing ultra-high frequencies, not audio range signals. Transparent Audio Cables have built-in low pass filter networks that balance out the inherent electrical properties of each cable design to create a better conduit for audio range signals. Transparent Network Technology is the result of decades of listening and measurement research. After numerous technology mileposts, the Transparent design model has become highly evolved and increasingly more precise. With each generation, Transparent has been able to offer customers more listening enjoyment and more value.

Special offer

The brain behind the entire Roon experience is the Roon Core. Every aspect of Nucleus — hardware, operating system, and software — was developed to provide a silent, high-performance, power-efficient Roon Core, by the same team that created Roon.

Simply the best way to experience Roon

music revealed

We created Magico to reform loudspeaker design and construction practices that have been compromising music reproduction for decades. We research everything and stop at nothing to build the most advanced loudspeakers available today – speakers that reveal the true character of music, win the highest critical honors and earn the gratitude of music lovers worldwide.

THE BEST OF THE BEST

Located in Silicon Valley, our dedicated engineers and production specialists work to bring you the best in high-end audio. Combining elegant design thinking with a passion for lifelike reproduction, our close-knit team, led by brothers Jonathan and Daniel Gullman, build and curate a wide array of hifi products—DACs, transports and amplifiers—setting an industry benchmark.

legendary audio

Founded in 1980, Krell has earned a distinguished reputation for engineering innovation, build integrity and product excellence. The company has a rich history of product introductions, each transcending mere ‘latest model year’ status by deeply impacting the high-end audio industry.

currently on display

speakers

Magico A1
Magico A3
Magico S3

Rockport Atria II
Rockport Avior II

GoldenEar One.R
GoldenEar BRX

Revel F228Be
Revel F206
Revel F35

Aerial Acoustics 5T

amplifiers

D’Agostino Momentum S250

Classe’ stereo

Ayre VX-5 Twenty

Hegel H30

preamplifiers

D’Agostino Momentum HD

Classe’

Ayre KX-5 Twenty

integrated

Hegel H590
Hegel H120

Vinnie Rossi L2i

Bluesound Powernode2i

DACs

MSB Reference
MSB Premier

Hegel HD30

Ayre QX-5 Twenty

streamers

Innuos Zen mkIII

Roon Nucleus

Aurender N100H
Aurender A10

headphones

Meze Empyrean
Meze 99 Classics
Meze 99 Neo
Meze Headphone Couch

Audeze LCD-2

transparent

CONDITIONERS
Reference Powerisolator
Powerwave
Powerbank 6
Powerbank2

POWER CORDS
Reference
Premium
High Performance
Performance
Hardwired

INTERCONNECTS
Ultra
Plus
Musiclink
Hardwired

SPEAKER
Reference
Super
Plus
Hardwired

coming soon

Magico A5 Loudspeaker

D’Agostino Progression Integrated

Krell K300i Integrated
Krell Evolution 302

Chord Electronics Qutest DAC
Chord Electronics BlumkII

Innuos Zen mini mkIII

Audeze LCD-4

Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC
Abyss Diana Phi

our clients words

I initially contacted F1 as one of the few US distributors of a niche, ultra high end audio component I was looking for. Jamie, F1's owner, hooked me up. Straight to the point and utterly professional. He found me my product, worked with me throughout the purchase, and made sure I was happy every step along the way. I had the product shipped to my home, which I was concerned about; but the item came in its factory-sealed box, in another box, which was then wrapped in heavy-duty plastic. F1 knows the audio business and knows how to care for its customers. Great experience.

Jamie, the owner was fabulous working with me in the sale of a set of speakers. He spent extended quality time with me, sharing the audiophile passion, and adding no sales pressure whatsoever in his dealing with me. We even sat and listened to the speakers for an hour after the store closed and I had not made any commitment to a purchase. I went in just to browse with no intent to buy, but after a few days of internal debate I ended up buying some high quality Magico speakers after one experience in the store. Great experience and highly recommended.

I found F1 Audio just over 1 year ago and am so glad I did!!! Jamie is AWESOME to work with and is so knowledgeable. I have full confidence in his recommendations and am thrilled with the audio components I have purchased. My music listening experiences have been taken to the next level.

Jamie really knows his gear. Je will help to find a system to fit your needs and budget. Can't wait to see the new store.

Jamie and his team here are not only knowledgeable, but approachable. When was the last time you saw those two words in the same sentence when talking about a high-end audio equipment retailer? Jamie's prices are also exceptionally fair and felt within reach for even my modest budget. If you are looking to upgrade your stereo to a listening experience generator, and don't want to be talked down to while you learn, you owe it to yourself to visit F1.

Totally, totally awesome, highly recommended, Jamie is one of the nicest and knowledgeable individuals I have met. Excellent to work with!!!

A big thank you to Jamie at F1 Audio! I have been slowly assembling a new system and Jamie has been incredibly helpful and patient during this process. He has provided general background information, technical information and system matching recommendations. His extensive knowledge and calm demeanor make working with him a pleasant and rewarding experience. Highly Recommended!

Great products excellent customer service highly recommend

Jaime is a great person to just talk audio with. Very knowledgeable and dedicated to finding the best solution that works for you.

Jamie is the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes to high fidelity. He's an extremely nice person and is more than reasonable in his pricing. There is no reason to shop and compare his store with other stores His spectrum of products from low price range to high price range is met at his store. Whatever your needs, Jamie will fill them. I feel fortunate to have "discovered" him!

I am very pleased to have found F1 Audio even though it means I have to drive clear across the city to their shop. Jamie and Bryan are very knowledgeable, give great advice, and go the extra mile to keep their customers happy. The brands they carry are excellent, and their shop is first class in every way.

contact us

875 N Milwaukee Ave Suite 500 Vernon Hills IL 60061

Tuesday – noon to 6:30
Wednesday – noon to 6:30
Thursday – noon to 8:00
Friday – noon to 6:30
Saturday – 11:00 to 5:00
Sunday & Monday – by appointment

847-772-3140