Today we’d like to introduce you to Henry Kohen.
Hi Henry, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Henry Kohen and I own and operate Space Baby Audio! I have been a musician my whole life, releasing music and touring quite a lot in my late teens and early 20’s. My interest in fixing my own equipment led me to guitar amplifier repair initially and then after moving to Austin in 2017, I ended up working alongside a great stereo technician named Drew L who accelerated my learning process greatly. Austin has a rich history of record and repair shops and I am happy to feel as though I am doing my part keeping that alive and going. Getting to operate out of an 80-year-old house in one of Austin’s less-modernized neighborhoods is a real treat.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am not incredibly business-inclined, maintaining simultaneous dialogues with dozens of customers across a variety of platforms while also trying to center my focus on the repair work itself has proved challenging. I think I have a hard time wrapping my head around pricing as well, sometimes I don’t fully comprehend that I am operating in a very niche trade that people are happy to pay decent money for. Working from home is a blessing and a curse as I am constantly surrounded by distractions, the biggest being my two dogs Tenoch and Kino who greatly enjoy my attention.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Space Baby Audio is a repair shop specializing in hifi-equipment manufactured from the 1960’s to the 1980’s, but certainly not confined to those parameters. I repair and maintain turntables, cassette decks, amplifiers, reel to reels, speakers, 8-track players, multitrack recorders, etc. etc. I feel proud to be maintaining something so closely linked to Austin’s history as a city known for music. I am a one person operation, meaning that all aspects of the business pass directly through me and with that come some of the flaws and quirks of a human-driven experience, but I am grateful that people seem to appreciate the efforts that I put into my work and presentation.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I owe most of my hifi repair knowledge to Drew L and my guitar amplifier repair to Gio L. My inclination towards engineering definitely comes mostly from my dad who has always had great attention for detail and problem solving. Dan and Blake from End of an Ear as well as Enzo and Robert at Living in Stereo and Alberto at Atomic Tube have been crucial in spreading the word about my shop and sending customers my way. My parents will always be my largest cheerleaders in any of my endeavors. I’d like to thank Joan K, who initially took on great organizational capacities with the shop. Thanks to every repeat customer and recommendation, shout out youtube, shout out Tim Hunkin, shout out Uncle Doug’s Amps. Thanks to Jon M for taking photos of the shop for me to include in this interview!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spacebabyaudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spacebabyaudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083148221318#
Image Credits
All photos by Jonathan Mazaltov @mazalthan
