Sample. is a small basement listening bar beneath the Arcadia Hotel in Old Montreal. Its 150-record collection runs through soul, jazz, funk and disco, with listening sessions during the week and DJs on weekends. The music has a schedule and a physical format; it is not there to fill silence between drink orders.
A McIntosh MC275 amplifier anchors the analogue system, while the room has been described as having studio-grade acoustics. The speakers and turntable have not been publicly identified. Seating is close and the atmosphere is built for conversation without competing with the system.
Phones are meant to stay out of the way, though the policy is an encouragement rather than a hard ban. Sample. suits listeners who want a properly considered room without the solemn manners of a silent kissa.