2. vintage
  3. 162775-2319

For auld lang syne, ..high-end companies you really liked that are gone....

’tis that time of year. Another year nearly gone and a new one full of land mines ahead...etc. I thought I would ask, what companies are now gone that were a part of you audio history? Mine would be:

Thiel,
Nakamichi (when they were doing some high end stuff, N. Pass)
Sony....same thing, when they were doing some high end, esp. early CD players
Classe """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
California Audio Labs
Straightwire
Advent
Dahlquist

And please add to this list. Now some of these I mentioned do exist, but are not now really two-channel/stereo "high-end"

Have a good and safe New Year holiday.


whatjd

Showing 1 response by normansizemore

normansizemore
601 posts
 
Dual, I use a 1229 idler driven turntable every day with a Grace 747 tonearm, it’s amazing. 

Advent, for their excellent speakers and cassette deck.  I still use a 201A cassette deck.  I think they have the best midrange of any cassette deck ever.
 
EPI, excellent speakers all of them pre 1980.

Nakamichi, loved the 1000, but the model 500 was my favorite.  That focus gap tape head was incredible!

The original Altec Lansing, they made of the best sounding speakers ever.

The original JBL,  same as above.

Phase Linear,  some of the best sound I’ve ever heard has been from Phase.  I love their amps.

Ariston, the original LP12.  Nice table.

Empire, great turntables and cartridges.

SUMO, GAS,  James made great amps and preamps. 
Harman Kardon  Citation, Pre 1980.  There was a time when this was spoken of in the same line as McIntosh, Audio Research and Threshold.

GRACE, excellent tonearms  and cartridges.

Counter Point, wonderful preamps and power amps 

Marantz pre 1975

Sansui pre 1978

Garrad 

Acoustic Research, that AR9 can still compete today.

KLH, the 9’s sounded fantastic if you could find an amp to drive them.

Apogee, loved there speakers.  Same as above.

Thanks for making me flash back! 
N





More to discover