- Joined
- Oct 11, 2018
- Messages
- 3,741
- Likes
- 6,462
I haven't see a thread for it, but since this is ASR I was thinking about those who contributed most to the application of scientific principles in audio--mostly in a domestic environment. That is, designers whose work is/was 'non-tweako' but based on hard scientific theory, either existing or that they themselves came up with. Also, no-nonsense designs that greatly benefited the mass of audiophile consumers.
I'd be interested in what the ASR gang has to say--names important to them. Most of my names are from the US; I'm particularly ignorant of other areas--specifically Japan. My impression is that most Japanese audio work was corporate, and not individual, but I am happy to be mistaken about that if someone knows more.
The following are three I came up with (in alphabetical order), a 'behind the scenes name', and three other 'important product' categories:
David Hafler. I know of no man who did more for popularizing home audio for the masses, but whose designs were always based on practical applications of sound audio theory. His list of achievements is legendary: Acrosound transformers; the Ultralinear circuit; Dynaco; Hafler Corp. David had an ability to seek other men of exceptional talent including Stu Hegeman, Erno Borbely, Jim Bongiorno, Ed Laurent, Jim Strickland and others. His ST-70 could well be the most popular stereo amplifier of all time. Hafler always offered value with engineering, and a learning experience with his kits. David was not the first to produce kits, but his kits were at the top in ease of construction.
Ed Villchur, whose acoustic suspension loudspeakers allowed 'full range' sound in a small package, and was no doubt the most popular speaker design in the '50s and '60s. His turntable offered exceptional sonic performance for pitifully small dollars, and became the template for many others, such as Thorens and the Linn Sondek.
Peter Walker. His work at Quad was not as well known in the States, but those who knew of it and heard his products were duly impressed. Walker was the epitome of no-nonsense, scientifically grounded engineering. A man that as far as I know never succumbed to the tweako scene, even as the tweakos couldn't wait to praise his loudspeakers. His preamplifiers and amps were as good as it gets from an ergonomic/design standpoint--wonderful to use.
Behind the scenes work of special note: Siegfried Linkwitz, a man who spent the majority of his life working to share his knowledge of loudspeaker design, and whose designs were always based on sound engineering, much it a result of his own groundbreaking work.
Products: I mentioned the ST-70, but from a modern engineering standpoint I'd cite the work of Benchmark and THX in producing the AHB-2 amplifier. Small, lightweight, powerful, and over the past five or six years (an eternity in audio design world) it remains king of the engineering hill, for relatively small dollars.
Best value from a company: from the pages of ASR I'd nominate Topping. A company that offers SOA (or pretty close to it) for pennies on the dollar, compared to 'high end' gear that often offers less for a lot more.
Finally, for journalism I'd have to nominate ASR Fearless Leader, @amirm, whose one-man operation appears to be turning a lot of heads, generating a lot of heat, and if he can continue (I honestly don't know how he does it) will no doubt have a huge impact in influencing consumer audio. I'd also nominate (surprise!) John Atkinson of Stereophile. An unlikely name for some, but I know of no man who measures and honestly reports on so much high-end gear, and for that the audio community has to be thankful.
I'd be interested in what the ASR gang has to say--names important to them. Most of my names are from the US; I'm particularly ignorant of other areas--specifically Japan. My impression is that most Japanese audio work was corporate, and not individual, but I am happy to be mistaken about that if someone knows more.
The following are three I came up with (in alphabetical order), a 'behind the scenes name', and three other 'important product' categories:
David Hafler. I know of no man who did more for popularizing home audio for the masses, but whose designs were always based on practical applications of sound audio theory. His list of achievements is legendary: Acrosound transformers; the Ultralinear circuit; Dynaco; Hafler Corp. David had an ability to seek other men of exceptional talent including Stu Hegeman, Erno Borbely, Jim Bongiorno, Ed Laurent, Jim Strickland and others. His ST-70 could well be the most popular stereo amplifier of all time. Hafler always offered value with engineering, and a learning experience with his kits. David was not the first to produce kits, but his kits were at the top in ease of construction.
Ed Villchur, whose acoustic suspension loudspeakers allowed 'full range' sound in a small package, and was no doubt the most popular speaker design in the '50s and '60s. His turntable offered exceptional sonic performance for pitifully small dollars, and became the template for many others, such as Thorens and the Linn Sondek.
Peter Walker. His work at Quad was not as well known in the States, but those who knew of it and heard his products were duly impressed. Walker was the epitome of no-nonsense, scientifically grounded engineering. A man that as far as I know never succumbed to the tweako scene, even as the tweakos couldn't wait to praise his loudspeakers. His preamplifiers and amps were as good as it gets from an ergonomic/design standpoint--wonderful to use.
Behind the scenes work of special note: Siegfried Linkwitz, a man who spent the majority of his life working to share his knowledge of loudspeaker design, and whose designs were always based on sound engineering, much it a result of his own groundbreaking work.
Products: I mentioned the ST-70, but from a modern engineering standpoint I'd cite the work of Benchmark and THX in producing the AHB-2 amplifier. Small, lightweight, powerful, and over the past five or six years (an eternity in audio design world) it remains king of the engineering hill, for relatively small dollars.
Best value from a company: from the pages of ASR I'd nominate Topping. A company that offers SOA (or pretty close to it) for pennies on the dollar, compared to 'high end' gear that often offers less for a lot more.
Finally, for journalism I'd have to nominate ASR Fearless Leader, @amirm, whose one-man operation appears to be turning a lot of heads, generating a lot of heat, and if he can continue (I honestly don't know how he does it) will no doubt have a huge impact in influencing consumer audio. I'd also nominate (surprise!) John Atkinson of Stereophile. An unlikely name for some, but I know of no man who measures and honestly reports on so much high-end gear, and for that the audio community has to be thankful.