Edouard-Leon Scott.
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Don’t forget about Frank Van Alstine, a designer talented enough to diagnose and fix the problems in early ARC designs (specifically the SP-3 pre-amp). As was just posted, Tim de Paravicini (EAR-Yoshino)---a master designer pretty much ignored here on Audiogon---recently left us, as did Roger Modjeski (Music Reference). Both huge losses to hi-fi. John Curl’s name was mentioned by the OP, but only in terms of Parasound. Though Mark Levinson’s name is on that company’s products, the early Levinson models were all designed by Curl. Before starting his own company, Nelson Pass worked at Electrostatic Sound Systems (ESS), doing speaker-related projects. |
Before starting his own company, Nelson Pass worked at Electrostatic Sound Systems (ESS), doing speaker-related projects. God/Hal has been around a long time. https://us.v-cdn.net/5021930/uploads/editor/d2/gvmgylmr261j.png https://positive-feedback.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Nelson_Pass_portrait_listening_room_Sea_Ran... Cheers George |
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Roy Gandy ! https://www.rega.co.uk/about/roy-gandy Ivor Tiefenbrun! https://www.whathifi.com/us/features/making-linn-sondek-lp12 |
Are you talking about electronics? All around? Bob Carver, still alive and still designing. James Martini (JBL & Altec) + James B. Lansing. I personally don't like Nelson Pass because he bought ALL the extra Sony V-FET transistors. People like me that own V-FET amps now have no replacement parts😒, but a good designer. |
John Curl has been around and active for a LONG time. He is correct about high quality parts. It’s easier and cheaper for large quantity FET manufacturers to skip a few steps in production (especially baking time) to produce chips that still meet specs. But those specs don’t necessarily carry over to quiet / low noise audio components. And the quantities of chips required for high-end audio manufacturing doesn’t justify the added expense in manufacturing. Keith Herron has also been around for a long time, since the 70s. He designed Crate and Ampeg musical instrument electronics before forming Herron Audio. |
William Johnson of audio research fame and Sid Smith of Marantz fame must be considered. Kenneth Stevens of cat can't should not be overlooked. He has continued to improve his products and they must be reckoned with in the marketplace Unlike curl, pass and Tim, who are legendary designers, ken built and builds products that are arguably state of the art. You have to be both a great engineer and know all the audiophile tricks to produce a great sounding product-and he knows them all. For all of curls, tim’s and pass’s greatness I have never felt they produced a great sounding product that I had to have. |
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Nelson is essentially a one trick pony, Frank van Alstine never reached the same legendary status. Bob Carver is extremely capable. I have not heard one of his tube amps but I did once own a Fuzz Linear 700 which was a very good sounding amp in it's day and very affordable. John Curl can design anything, from sound boards to phono stages, Concert sound systems to preamps. He has been involved with the design of some of the most highly regarded high end equipment and he is not finished yet. If John Curl's name is on it, you can bet on it being a great peace of equipment. |
Nelson a one trick pony? What a silly thing to say; he's only the most versatile amplifier designer in the history of hi-fi! He makes amplifiers employing dozens of different circuits, of all types and topologies. As for Frank, the topic of this thread is who's been around the longest, not achieved the most legendary status. |