real estate/home
Alterman Audio offers New Orleans sound advice by Lee J. Green
Since 1973, Alterman Audio has offered sound (and video) advice to the New Orleans area. But while the times as well as the products have changed and evolved, one thing remains true — Alterman Audio has vast experience on how to make customers feel they have made sound decisions on their home audio/video equipment. “Getting the best sound and viewing experience hasn’t changed over the years,” said owner Henry Alterman, an involved member of the New Orleans area Jewish community. “Just because something is the most expensive it doesn’t mean it’s the best. I’ve sold products that were much less expensive than others and you can’t tell the difference. It’s about understanding what works best for someone’s home environment.” Alterman is from the Miami area. In high school, he got into music, but instead of buying 45s, he used a tape recorder to record songs off the radio. Better speakers and amps made the music sound better. He attended an experimental public high school with all kinds of high tech, like video production capabilities in every room. To pursue his interests in audio and video he ended up at Tulane University with a major in electrical engineering. But, “that was all math,” so he ended up with a degree in biology because of his other hobby, herpetology. All the way back in high school at Nova in Ft. Lauderdale, Alterman started taking a keen interest in music and sound. In high school and college he would advise people on what products to buy and where to put the equipment to get the best sound reproduction. At Tulane, someone in the dorm would be about to buy some speakers and he would offer his “two cents.” Others came and to ask for his sound advice. He found out how to buy equipment wholesale and started selling, not just offering advice. He 1973, he opened Alterman Audio right down the block from Tulane in an old barber shop and paid rent of $75 a month. “It has been successful since we didn’t just sell, we explain,” he said. “We want to train people on how to notice good sound and the little things we can do to make a big difference. Eighty percent of people who come here thank me for the education.” Back when the store started up, it was all record players. Alterman Audio was the place to go to learn about new technology. Alterman Audio introduced the Betamax, the CD player, the DVD, high definition and Blu rays, and they had the first camcorder too. Today the new thing is 4K television and high resolution computer music. How does Alterman compete against the big box stores? For starters, if Alterman sells the same product as Best Buy, the price is the same. Alterman Audio has better products, some not available anywhere else in the state. Alterman or his people explain complex technology in easy to understand plain English. They know the differences between models, and the pros and cons of various brands, not just those Alterman sells. When it comes to installation and running of wires, and cutting holes in walls, Alterman’s right hand man is in charge and has been there over 30 years. Muhammed Ali proclaimed in a 1978 TV commercial, Henry Alterman was “the greatest in your area.”
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Co-President of Hadassah Birmingham Involved member of area Jewish community
June 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 37