We’ve been part of Melbourne’s audio scene for over 50 years, with a legacy that includes the iconic Whatmough speaker brand — an Australian name synonymous with beautifully built, natural-sounding loudspeakers for over 50 years. Today, the Whatmough family continues that tradition right here at TAE, offering an unmatched blend of heritage and innovation that still powers some of the best systems in the country.

But we’re not here to push a particular brand. In fact, our approach is the opposite — we listen first. We handpick brands based on your room, your ears, and your lifestyle. Whether it’s for a two-channel vinyl rig, a streaming setup, or a full-blown Dolby Atmos cinema, we’ll help you build a system that suits you, not us!

Staffed by Real Experts (The Kind You Wish Every Store Had)

Steve Varga – The AV Alchemist

Steve doesn’t just know audio-visual — he is audio-visual. With an encyclopaedic mind for gear and an obsession with detail, Steve’s passion lies in the way things work together. Whether he’s hand-matching amps and speakers or diagnosing signal path gremlins, he’s always chasing that moment when the soundstage locks in and the hairs stand up on your neck. He’ll speak your language too, whether you're deep into DSP curves or just want your movies to thump. Expect deep dives into system synergy, cabling choices that actually matter, and setups that somehow always sound better than they should. You’ll leave smarter, and your system will leave more fitter and sharper than ever.

Mark Callenberg – The Cinema Perfectionist

Mark doesn’t believe in compromise, not in design, not in sound, and definitely not in home cinema. With over 20 years of experience in AV and electronics retail, he’s dedicated his career to creating Melbourne’s best-looking, best-sounding cinemas. From architectural builds to apartment-friendly setups, Mark combines deep product knowledge with sharp design instincts to deliver systems that wow on every level. His tool of choice? 3D SketchUp modelling, allowing you to see the dream before it’s built, and if you visit our Cheltenham display store, you can hear it as it was meant to sound. Whether it’s hidden acoustics, bold visuals, or the perfectly calibrated sub that makes movies come alive, Mark designs systems that look like art and hit like thunder.  For Mark, home cinema isn’t a luxury — it’s a passion, and it should be fun. He believes cinema is for everyone. Deep pockets or slim budget, Mark will find you a solution that looks sharp and sounds even better.

The Whatmough Legacy Team – Crafted. Voiced. Evolved.

Our roots run deep with the Whatmough speaker brand, proudly built in-house and constantly evolving. While we never push Whatmough as a one-size-fits-all solution, it remains a source of immense pride. These aren’t just speakers — they’re our expression of what’s possible when engineering, art, and listening collide. If your ears are ready, you’re in for something special.

Designed to Be Experienced

We’re not just a box-moving website. Our upstairs showroom is a full-blown audio playground, designed to let you hear and see the difference. When you visit, you’ll experience:

• 6 Dedicated Listening Rooms – 3 Hi-Fi and 3 Home Cinema setups, expertly tuned with real-world acoustics.
• 6 Open Living Room Displays – Real-life layouts that show gear as you'll use it at home – not sterile boxes.
• Turntable Heaven – 16 working decks plus 8 static displays, from entry-level to audiophile-grade.
• A Wall of Headphones – Including amps, DACs, and everything in between, ready to plug in and zone out.
• Massive Active Speaker Range – Featuring KEF, Sonos, Bluesound, Airpulse, and our very own Whatmough speakers.
• Accessories Galore – Cables, racks, streamers, power solutions, and more, all tested and trusted by our team.

We stock what we believe in — and test it relentlessly. If it’s in our store, it’s passed the vibe check. No filler, no fluff, just gear we’d use ourselves. We encourage side-by-side listening because your ears tell the truth — and we’re here to help you trust them.

No Hype. Just Performance.

We don’t do smoke and mirrors. We’re not here to dazzle you with jargon or push some overhyped box just because the internet says it’s cool. That’s not our thing. At The Audio Experts, we’re about the real-world experience — how a system actually sounds, feels, and performs in your space, not just in a glossy ad or YouTube review.

We take the time to understand your room, your needs, and your taste — whether that’s bringing cinema-quality sound to your family room, upgrading a stereo rig, or making sure your folks can hear the TV properly without cranking the volume to 99. We don’t assume anything, and we certainly don’t believe in “one-size-fits-all.”

When we say “performance,” we mean gear that delivers — with clarity, reliability, and musicality that keeps you coming back for just one more track or one more episode. And when we say “no hype,” here’s the truth: yes, we’ll absolutely recommend one speaker over another, even if it’s double the price — but only if it actually makes a difference in your room. Sometimes, the right speaker isn’t the most expensive one — it’s the one that works with your layout, your listening habits, and your gear.

Everything we recommend is tested, curated, and fine-tuned for your setup. That’s what we do. Whether you're after a simple vinyl setup with a record-cleaning kit or a custom-designed 13-channel 4K home cinema with a 200" screen — we’ll make sure it’s built around what matters: your experience.

That’s the TAE difference.