AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Digital Amplifier Company Owners => Topic started by: jtwrace on 16 Dec 2021, 07:18 pm
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I saw this in another thread here (https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=179325.msg1887573#msg1887573). Anyone know any details? What a crazy year with losing so many people.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=233840)
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So Tommy passed away on 12/21 but this only the 16th? :dunno:
Very sad if it is true and the date is wrong.
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So Tommy passed away on 12/21 but this only the 16th? :dunno:
Very sad if it is true and the date is wrong.
I'm pretty sure that means December, 2021.
And RIP. :cry:
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He passed on the 14th. So sad as he was great guy.
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I'm pretty sure that means December, 2021.
And RIP. :cry:
RIP Tommy
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That's really shocking. He was one of the greats. RIP Tommy.
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Very sad news.
RIP Tommy.
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He passed on the 14th. So sad as he was great guy.
Do you have any idea from what?
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Oh man, this is terrible news. So sad. What a crazy year. RIP Tommy.
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This seems to have come out of nowhere, Tommy was so active in his business and still relatively young. Nothing surprises me anymore, but I am really sorry to hear of his passing - a real gentleman and a hell of an audio engineer. I am using one of his amps and it’s not leaving my system.
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Really shocked to hear this. Tommy IS special. Had a question regarding HiFi and sent him an email a couple of years back. He responded with a phone call. We talked for over a half an hour, much about things other than my question. It didn’t take long to get a feel for how great of a person he was. Thoughts and prayers to his family. RIP Tommy.
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:cry: :cry:
Terrible, horrible news.
On 11/28 I emailed Tommy about buying an amp (I've owned 3 of them, and loved them all). In the past he was always very prompt to reply. In this case I never heard back, which seemed odd. :|
A real innovator and a good man.
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Wow. I'm a little freaked out. An absolute star in the electronics world.
I went to his website to look for some verification and right on the front page is a link back to here on my comments on the 2Cherry. I had no idea he did that.
RIP Tommy - you will be missed. There was plenty of more ground to gain in amplifier design and you were on the path.
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Very sorry to read these news, a huge loss.
RIP
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Praying for peace for his friends and family. :cry:
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Very sad and shocking news. I have a pair of his 3 Cherry King amplifiers that I purchased just a couple of months ago. He was a pleasure to deal with. May he rest in peace.
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Got to know Tommy a bit over the last year as he was trying to get his DAC DAC3 launched. He was an awesome guy and I’m so sad to hear this news. Prayers to those he left behind. RIP.
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So sad to read this. Another giant in the industry is gone. I have 4 of his amps. Condolences to his family.
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Wow.
RIP, Tommy.
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😢
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Very sad news, a true loss. :(
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Such sad news. Condolences to his family & friends.
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This really awful news. I like someone above also emailed him about two weeks ago. I had also not received a reply which was slightly worrisome. He always had gotten back to me the day usually. My wife and I both met him at the last Axpona. We both liked him very much. I had talked to him for hours on the phone. I have 11 channels of Cherry Amps. I was going to buy 4 more. What a shame. I will never sell these amps. They are the only equipment I will never sell. RIP Tommy. I am so depressed.
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First and most important, condolences to Tommy's family; may you find strength in the weeks to come.
The strongest praise I can give to Tommy is to say that the amplifiers he created five years ago continue to equal and often exceed most of the amplifiers be produced today. All designers final tune their amplifiers by ear...Tommy had two of the best ears in the business.
You will be missed but not forgotten.
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So sad, such a shock. Condolences go out to his family and friends.
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In total shock. A great Man and fun to be with. RIP my friend.
charles
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He died of complications from Covid. He was in text communication with me when he first was diagnosed, and wanted some treatment advice. Last text I received was on Friday 12/10 that said he was improving. I reached out multiple times over the past week and didn’t hear back I am very saddened over this news. Tommy was a single father of three children Please keep them in your hearts and prayers during this difficult time.
There are only a few really good guys in audio and Tommy was one of them head and shoulders above the rest. Although his passion was creating fine pieces of audio gear his true love and proudest accomplishment were his three children. Many times over the years I would received a text or an email describing something that one of his kids had done that he would be absolutely over the moon about.
Tommy was a friend of the truest sense of the word he will be sadly missed.
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Tommy was a single father of three children Please keep them in your hearts and prayers during this difficult time.
OMG
How old are the kids?
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I never met them but will do my best. He had a son and two daughters. Son is in early 20’s, middle daughter late teens- early 20’s and youngest 13ish as best I can recollect. Tommy and I would chat occasionally over the phone about audio, life, family, music, etc…We live about 3 hours apart and tried many times to get together but life always happened and we kept putting it off. We did get together at a couple of AC raves here in NJ.
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Do you know if he got anything, such as monoclonal antibodies? Did he have health insurance?
That is a really depressing situation, and I feel for the family.
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He had medical insurance. Not sure if he got the antibodies. He was in the hospital for a couple of days when communication stopped. He was healthy with none of the common co-morbidities that we know are factors with C19. I was in the dark till I read this thread a little while ago.
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It's a difficult disease, as this shows. Some people get it like a cold (my brother, for instance). Others get hammered.
There's a possible genetic component: if you have certain genes, you can produce a "super" antibody that sets off many antibodies. This leads to the so-called cytokine storm, which is very dangerous.
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Got a chance to talk to Tommy over the phone maybe 4 times. Those conversations probably went on for 30 to 45 minutes. Nice man who loved his kids. Very sorry to you kids if you read this message my prayers for you. Your dad was a joy for me to talk to. I have his King STM. very musical. Brilliant man!
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My thoughts and prayers go out to the family
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https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-children-of-tom-obrien?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer-andr
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God Bless from the audio world.
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https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-children-of-tom-obrien?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer-andr
Thanks Barry
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Thanks Barry
For his kids. From the campaign:
"Tom passed away Dec 14th and as a single Dad he leaves his 3 children behind. Jake 21 yo and Athena , 18yo are both in college while 13yo Brynn is in 8th grade. Unfortunately the kids have no access to Tom's bank accounts and are without funds for day to day expenses and the funeral they are having to arrange. They are going to need all the support we as a community can give them, please help keep this young family together."
The organizer is a prominent long time woman real estate agent in the area. Looks ok to me, so I donated.
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Oh my. This is awful. RIP Tommy.
My heart goes out to the kids. :(
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It's a difficult disease, as this shows. Some people get it like a cold (my brother, for instance). Others get hammered.
There's a possible genetic component: if you have certain genes, you can produce a "super" antibody that sets off many antibodies. This leads to the so-called cytokine storm, which is very dangerous.
Very sad. Condolences to the family.
Covid also causes clotting and you can die from Pulmonary Emobi, Stroke, Heart attack. It causes pulmonary fibrosis and in some cases Lung Transplant. It causes acute and chronic kidney failure (leading to dialysis or kindney transplant), cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure and possible eventual heart transplant. There are many ways to die from COIVD, not just COVID pneumonia or ARDS. If you get COVID, at around days 10 is the turning point. You will either get better or worse. I see it all the time in my practice. The ones that are getting worse are mainly the unvaccinated.
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I didn’t know Tommy but I understand from those who did and the many condolences in this thread that he was a very special guy.Condolences to his family and also a reminder to those who aren’t immunized please get vaccinated.
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Leave your opinions about the ‘benefits’ of vaccination out of this. This is about Tommy and the family he left behind, leave it at that.
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Very sorry to learn about Tommy's passing.
Years ago, he sent me one of his first amps to try and was very interested in how it compared to the Tact amp I was using at the time.
Hope everything works out for his family.
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Leave your opinions about the ‘benefits’ of vaccination out of this. This is about Tommy and the family he left behind, leave it at that.
I can do that, as long as you can believe that covid is a dangerous virus that kills people, like Tommy, in the prime of life. I see too much on Twitter and the like with "99.9 percent of people live". Not only is this not true, but when someone doesn't live, it's devastating, as this is.
Further, a father my age in my town spent 12 days on a ventilator and over 50 days in the hospital. True, he lived. But he was physically trashed.
I'm getting sick of the whole "it's not dangerous", when it is. And Tommy is proof of that.
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ditto, rip tommy
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Words can't express how awesome it was to know Tommy. I've probably spent 40-50 hours on the phone with him the past year, if not more, after purchasing 4 mega mono amps and his dac. I talked him into selling his JTR 210s and upgrading to the JTR 212s. At first he was like, Darren I think I made a big mistake. I told him to give it 2-3 weeks and I guarantee you'll change your mind. Long story short, they became his favorite speakers of all time and he would always send me texts on songs to stream since I have the same system. He was not just a audio pioneer, he was a awesome father, and friend. RIP Tommy
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Leave your opinions about the ‘benefits’ of vaccination out of this. This is about Tommy and the family he left behind, leave it at that.
Actually, I am an ER physician and those are facts not opinions. Sorry if I offended you. Tommy died from covid, a true tragedy for his family and the audio community. And if my comment can convince someone to get a vaccine and save a life so be it.
I don't want to start a Bruha but you are out of line. I stated the factual truths, not antivaxx made up BS.
I am done!
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Actually, I am an ER physician and those are facts not opinions. Sorry if I offended you. Tommy died from covid, a true tragedy for his family and the audio community. And if my comment can convince someone to get a vaccine and save a life so be it.
I don't want to start a Bruha but you are out of line. I stated the factual truths, not antivaxx made up BS.
I am done!
Thank you
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I met Tommy on multiple occasions with the NYAR. His enthusiasm for what he was doing and the hobby was nothing short of wonderful.
R.I.P. good sir
Bill B.
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I talked to Tommy a time or two and bought a couple amps through those calls. As far as people in the industry, he was tops. May he rest in peace.
Actually, I am an ER physician and those are facts not opinions. Sorry if I offended you. Tommy died from covid, a true tragedy for his family and the audio community. And if my comment can convince someone to get a vaccine and save a life so be it.
I don't want to start a Bruha but you are out of line. I stated the factual truths, not antivaxx made up BS.
I am done!
You have nothing to apologize for.
Excuse me while I go and make a small donation to the go fund me for his kids.
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Wow, what a shocker!
Tommy always seem full of energy at all the NYARaves.
Best wished to the Children.
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I am stunned, this is terrible news. Just a couple months ago I spoke to Tommy on the phone for a couple hours. His passion for audio was infectous.
I own a pair of Golden Cherries with linear power supplies that Tommy custom made to fit in a pair of his cherry power supply cases. Tommy told me I am one of twelve to have the special linear supplies. I also have a King Cherry for my center channel and a Stereo Cherry amp (with upgrades) for my surrounds. My 2 channel and HT system are 100 percent cherry powered.
God Bless Tommy, you will be missed.
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Terribly sad news. I met Tommy once and liked him instantly. Deepest sympathies to his family and many friends, heartbreaking that we lose yet another from this terrible disease.
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https://www.google.com/amp/s/usobit.com/obituaries-2021/thomas-obrien-december-14-2021/amp/
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I hope his designs get bought up and made by others. They really are masterworks, the best class D I've heard, and I've owned a couple dozen class d.
I'm sure the kids could use the $ too.
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Actually, I am an ER physician and those are facts not opinions. Sorry if I offended you. Tommy died from covid, a true tragedy for his family and the audio community. And if my comment can convince someone to get a vaccine and save a life so be it.
I don't want to start a Bruha but you are out of line. I stated the factual truths, not antivaxx made up BS.
I am done!
Are you "an" ER physician or "the" ER physician who was providing care for Tommy up until his passing? If "an" ER physician, please stop as your comments are in arrogance and completely disrespectful to Tommy and his family.
My family and I were in close communication with Tommy (and his family), trying to help him for the last few weeks of his life and I happen to know more details that I will keep to myself out of respect for them. None of us (me included) were there in the hospital and know all the details of what happened. Tommy lived in a state that doesn't allow in some of the very effective treatments in creating recovery for what he was battling.
If you all want to do something, donate to the GoFundMe to help his kids. He blessed my life and I happily donated what I could to provide them some help in their most trying time. God bless Tommy and his family.
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Please refrain from medical discussion in this thread.
Thank you.
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Happily, thank you.
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I met Tommy on multiple occasions with the NYAR. His enthusiasm for what he was doing and the hobby was nothing short of wonderful.
R.I.P. good sir
Bill B.
Likewise, a great guy! He will be missed by all...
Condolences,
Pete
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What terrible news. First thoughts are for the kids, and for their mother who will also need strength beyond imagination now.
Forgive if this gets too long-
I knew Tommy very well and considered him simply one of my best friends.
After introducing him to the New York Audio Rave (he used those Rave Demo CDs constantly to evaluate his gear) and to Audio Circle, we became fast friends.
He had the worst allergies!! When he would visit we would always have Benadryl on hand as he would be sneezing and wheezing but would stay and listen and chat for hours anyway. Also, the Bombay gin helped.
Went on many a double date with him - many a Rave - many a time at his place listening to the latest gear - many a trip to my brother's store to hook his amps up to Dave's reference system - trips with him to client's houses - so many great times. He was dear not only to me but to my wife and brother as well.
I was fortunate to hear and live with many of his prototype amps and can remember the exact place, northbound on Rt 287, when I turned to him and said "You know, you should take all of the power supply guts from a stereo amp and put it all into a monoblock" and his eyes lit up and the mono amps were born. There is tiny chance that I attached the feet or wire harness on the DAC amp you own - It was fun to hang with him in his basement and help screw stuff together and listen to the plans for the next upgrade! He was always cooking up many things at once in that brain. We were currently discussing applications for live music PA amps...so much lost on so many levels.
Tommy is a drummer too and always made a point to come see our band play, even coming up on stage to play my drums to help us sound-check once. He loved that!
We clicked on so many levels and had such a deep bond that I was free to have very serious and frank words with him regarding our opposite views on the virus and appropriate actions to take. It caused some rift in our friendship but we agreed to not discuss such matters anymore, just a few short months ago. I doubt I could have done or said more short of tackling him, but I will forever feel that I failed to take sufficient action to protect a dear friend.
Great kids, I wish them the best. Oldest is a naturally gifted musician - guitar, drums and voice. A competitive table hockey player who didn't like to lose, and didn't! Middle daughters is a very talented artist. The youngest was always so sweet and shy but that was years ago when she was still young...
Tommy family man story: As mentioned, he had bad pet allergies, but the kids wanted dogs. Did he get them a dog, no, he got three!! You always got to see the latest guitar videos and artwork his kids made. and he was always telling me the names they gave to his reference tracks.
Goodbye friend.
-Mike
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What terrible news. First thoughts are for the kids, and for their mother who will also need strength beyond imagination now.
Forgive if this gets too long-
I knew Tommy very well and considered him simply one of my best friends.
After introducing him to the New York Audio Rave (he used those Rave Demo CDs constantly to evaluate his gear) and to Audio Circle, we became fast friends.
He had the worst allergies!! When he would visit we would always have Benadryl on hand as he would be sneezing and wheezing but would stay and listen and chat for hours anyway. Also, the Bombay gin helped.
Went on many a double date with him - many a Rave - many a time at his place listening to the latest gear - many a trip to my brother's store to hook his amps up to Dave's reference system - trips with him to client's houses - so many great times. He was dear not only to me but to my wife and brother as well.
I was fortunate to hear and live with many of his prototype amps and can remember the exact place, northbound on Rt 287, when I turned to him and said "You know, you should take all of the power supply guts from a stereo amp and put it all into a monoblock" and his eyes lit up and the mono amps were born. There is tiny chance that I attached the feet or wire harness on the DAC amp you own - It was fun to hang with him in his basement and help screw stuff together and listen to the plans for the next upgrade! He was always cooking up many things at once in that brain. We were currently discussing applications for live music PA amps...so much lost on so many levels.
Tommy is a drummer too and always made a point to come see our band play, even coming up on stage to play my drums to help us sound-check once. He loved that!
We clicked on so many levels and had such a deep bond that I was free to have very serious and frank words with him regarding our opposite views on the virus and appropriate actions to take. It caused some rift in our friendship but we agreed to not discuss such matters anymore, just a few short months ago. I doubt I could have done or said more short of tackling him, but I will forever feel that I failed to take sufficient action to protect a dear friend.
Great kids, I wish them the best. Oldest is a naturally gifted musician - guitar, drums and voice. A competitive table hockey player who didn't like to lose, and didn't! Middle daughters is a very talented artist. The youngest was always so sweet and shy but that was years ago when she was still young...
Tommy family man story: As mentioned, he had bad pet allergies, but the kids wanted dogs. Did he get them a dog, no, he got three!! You always got to see the latest guitar videos and artwork his kids made. and he was always telling me the names they gave to his reference tracks.
Goodbye friend.
-Mike
Thanks for sharing your story Mike.
I was an early adopter for Tommy's inline Cherry amps and enjoyed the many chats and emails we exchanged as I upgraded within his product line.
You are fortunate to have known Tommy on a much more personal level.
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Are you "an" ER physician or "the" ER physician who was providing care for Tommy up until his passing? If "an" ER physician, please stop as your comments are in arrogance and completely disrespectful to Tommy and his family.
My family and I were in close communication with Tommy (and his family), trying to help him for the last few weeks of his life and I happen to know more details that I will keep to myself out of respect for them. None of us (me included) were there in the hospital and know all the details of what happened. Tommy lived in a state that doesn't allow in some of the very effective treatments in creating recovery for what he was battling.
If you all want to do something, donate to the GoFundMe to help his kids. He blessed my life and I happily donated what I could to provide them some help in their most trying time. God bless Tommy and his family.
In no way did I want to be disrespectful to Tommy and I don't think I was. And I was not arrogant just passionate about trying to save lives, that is what I have done for 34 years. Frankly, I feel that he would probably have supported my saying something about COVID. By the way, I already did make a donation and posted it. Just drop it already, it is water under the bridge. You want to say something to me, send me a PM. I will reiterate for the last time, if my statement saves at least one life it was worth it. There is nothing political or condescending about what I said and if people don't want to believe it that is their problem. I did not implicate Tommy as being antivax as I couldn't possibly know. His loss is a huge tragedy.
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I knew Tom from around 2010 when we both worked for Siemens. He was a great mentor for me at the start of my career. This is a big loss not only to the family but to the world.
RIP Tommy.
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Yes a huge loss to His Children. Please do not speculate the cause just celebrate the memory of Tommy. A fun Guy to be with. Intense in His views and generous in every way I know. RIP my friend.
charles
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Tommy was a great guy. I spent many days at his house listening to his products and loving every minute. I last saw him Black Friday when we went to his favorite BBQ place. We talked about what he had in the pipeline and I was impressed. I will miss him tremendously. He always had time to talk equipment and he really loved to talk music and about his children. I own one of his amps and like the other person stated it will not be leaving my system.
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Tommy was a great guy. I spent many days at his house listening to his products and loving every minute. I last saw him Black Friday when we went to his favorite BBQ place. We talked about what he had in the pipeline and I was impressed. I will miss him tremendously. He always had time to talk equipment and he really loved to talk music and about his children. I own one of his amps and like the other person stated it will not be leaving my system.
I've spent several hours over the past year and half on the phone with Tommy. Damn near every week. I always told him he was like the big brother I never met, since he graduated high school in 1987 and I did in 1992. I own 4 of his Megaschino Mono amps (2 were his review amps in enjoythemusic) and 1 of his DAC DAC 2 HSV. And I just bought one of his DAC DAC TL tonight off US Audio Mart. Before his passing I was selling 2 of the amps to finish my home theater (which I got his blessing) and eventually purchasing 2 of his Megaschino Monos SW limited edition amps once he got them into production, because he said they would work better in a electrically challanged inviroment. Meaning not pop circuit breakers like normal amps, because of the new power supply. Which now I'm obviously never selling. Tommy was truly a one of a kind and was always exited about coming up with better products for his customers.
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I've spent several hours over the past year and half on the phone with Tommy. Damn near every week. I always told him he was like the big brother I never met, since he graduated high school in 1987 and I did in 1992. I own 4 of his Megaschino Mono amps (2 were his review amps in enjoythemusic) and 1 of his DAC DAC 2 HSV. And I just bought one of his DAC DAC TL tonight off US Audio Mart. Before his passing I was selling 2 of the amps to finish my home theater (which I got his blessing) and eventually purchasing 2 of his Megaschino Monos SW limited edition amps once he got them into production, because he said they would work better in a electrically challanged inviroment. Meaning not pop circuit breakers like normal amps, because of the new power supply. Which now I'm obviously never selling. Tommy was truly a one of a kind and was always exited about coming up with better products for his customers.
Agreed. I just talked to him a few weeks ago as well. He was such a gentleman and am sad to see him go. And I do believe I’ll keep the Megaschino I have for life as well. I can’t think of a better SS amp I’d rather own.
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I've spent several hours over the past year and half on the phone with Tommy. Damn near every week. I always told him he was like the big brother I never met, since he graduated high school in 1987 and I did in 1992. I own 4 of his Megaschino Mono amps (2 were his review amps in enjoythemusic) and 1 of his DAC DAC 2 HSV. And I just bought one of his DAC DAC TL tonight off US Audio Mart. Before his passing I was selling 2 of the amps to finish my home theater (which I got his blessing) and eventually purchasing 2 of his Megaschino Monos SW limited edition amps once he got them into production, because he said they would work better in a electrically challanged inviroment. Meaning not pop circuit breakers like normal amps, because of the new power supply. Which now I'm obviously never selling. Tommy was truly a one of a kind and was always exited about coming up with better products for his customers.
I love Tommy’s products and have a pair of Maraschino mono blocks, and a DAC DAC TL. It was very hard to put up his mono blocks for sale (about a month ago) since I liked them so much, but as we know sometimes we have to let go and sell our favorites things. I was in shock that they haven’t sold since they are so good.
After this horrific news, I didn’t know what to do? Do I pull them off the market? This sounds weird but I felt guilty putting them up for sale in the first place. Which is weird since we buy and sell all the time in this hobby, but Tommy was so passionate about his products that they are a reflection of him. A couple days of reflection, leaded me to think the best thing I can do for my family and his, is to sell them and make another sizable donation to his kids. While his amps were his passion. Man he always talked about his kids. He would share stories about his son playing instruments and so on. I know they must be suffering right now and I’m sure they could the money. Whoever gets them will get a piece of music history as Tommy designed amazing products. I’ll keep my dac dac. Does this sound like a good way to respect Tommy? Appreciate any feedback cause I’m struggling on what to do.
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I love Tommy’s products and have a pair of Maraschino mono blocks, and a DAC DAC TL. It was very hard to put up his mono blocks for sale (about a month ago) since I liked them so much, but as we know sometimes we have to let go and sell our favorites things. I was in shock that they haven’t sold since they are so good.
After this horrific news, I didn’t know what to do? Do I pull them off the market? This sounds weird but I felt guilty putting them up for sale in the first place. Which is weird since we buy and sell all the time in this hobby, but Tommy was so passionate about his products that they are a reflection of him. A couple days of reflection, leaded me to think the best thing I can do for my family and his, is to sell them and make another sizable donation to his kids. While his amps were his passion. Man he always talked about his kids. He would share stories about his son playing instruments and so on. I know they must be suffering right now and I’m sure they could the money. Whoever gets them will get a piece of music history as Tommy designed amazing products. I’ll keep my dac dac. Does this sound like a good way to respect Tommy? Appreciate any feedback cause I’m struggling on what to do.
That sounds amazingly kind and generous from my seat.
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I love Tommy’s products and have a pair of Maraschino mono blocks, and a DAC DAC TL. It was very hard to put up his mono blocks for sale (about a month ago) since I liked them so much, but as we know sometimes we have to let go and sell our favorites things. I was in shock that they haven’t sold since they are so good.
After this horrific news, I didn’t know what to do? Do I pull them off the market? This sounds weird but I felt guilty putting them up for sale in the first place. Which is weird since we buy and sell all the time in this hobby, but Tommy was so passionate about his products that they are a reflection of him. A couple days of reflection, leaded me to think the best thing I can do for my family and his, is to sell them and make another sizable donation to his kids. While his amps were his passion. Man he always talked about his kids. He would share stories about his son playing instruments and so on. I know they must be suffering right now and I’m sure they could the money. Whoever gets them will get a piece of music history as Tommy designed amazing products. I’ll keep my dac dac. Does this sound like a good way to respect Tommy? Appreciate any feedback cause I’m struggling on what to do.
Amazing, and kudos to you for your giving spirit!
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I love Tommy’s products and have a pair of Maraschino mono blocks, and a DAC DAC TL. It was very hard to put up his mono blocks for sale (about a month ago) since I liked them so much, but as we know sometimes we have to let go and sell our favorites things. I was in shock that they haven’t sold since they are so good.
After this horrific news, I didn’t know what to do? Do I pull them off the market? This sounds weird but I felt guilty putting them up for sale in the first place. Which is weird since we buy and sell all the time in this hobby, but Tommy was so passionate about his products that they are a reflection of him. A couple days of reflection, leaded me to think the best thing I can do for my family and his, is to sell them and make another sizable donation to his kids. While his amps were his passion. Man he always talked about his kids. He would share stories about his son playing instruments and so on. I know they must be suffering right now and I’m sure they could the money. Whoever gets them will get a piece of music history as Tommy designed amazing products. I’ll keep my dac dac. Does this sound like a good way to respect Tommy? Appreciate any feedback cause I’m struggling on what to do.
Either way, sadly, there may not be any more of these great amps.
Whether you keep them or sell them is a matter for you, but a "tip" for his family is in order as a token of appreciation for his work in advancing amplifier design. We know how "underpriced" his amps were.
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I love Tommy’s products and have a pair of Maraschino mono blocks, and a DAC DAC TL. It was very hard to put up his mono blocks for sale (about a month ago) since I liked them so much, but as we know sometimes we have to let go and sell our favorites things. I was in shock that they haven’t sold since they are so good.
After this horrific news, I didn’t know what to do? Do I pull them off the market? This sounds weird but I felt guilty putting them up for sale in the first place. Which is weird since we buy and sell all the time in this hobby, but Tommy was so passionate about his products that they are a reflection of him. A couple days of reflection, leaded me to think the best thing I can do for my family and his, is to sell them and make another sizable donation to his kids. While his amps were his passion. Man he always talked about his kids. He would share stories about his son playing instruments and so on. I know they must be suffering right now and I’m sure they could the money. Whoever gets them will get a piece of music history as Tommy designed amazing products. I’ll keep my dac dac. Does this sound like a good way to respect Tommy? Appreciate any feedback cause I’m struggling on what to do.
If you truly like them, then keep them. Then donate what you feel comfortable with.
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Sitting in bed on the oncology floor right now and I see an email about Tommy from the NJAS. And I was devastated. I got to know Tommy from the raves and later on I booked him to host an NJAS meeting.
We weren't close friends but I consider him one. What always struck me most about him was how driven he was to build the best product and for his company to succeed. Most people like that are a huge turn off but not Tommy. He was just so sincere a person.
I'll remember his love for Hockey and his kids. He'll be missed as a designer but more so as a person.
Btw. Those of you who know me know I have pancreatic cancer. After chemo and radiation. I've lost 50 pounds and hope to have Whipple surgery next month once I get my strength back.
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Prayers for you putz from another survivor,
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putz-
My wife had a Whipple at John Hopkins.
They took out 2/3 of her pancreas.
She live 17 years after the surgery.
It's very complex surgery, so hopefully you can find a doctor that does the procedure on a regular basis.
May the good lord take a likin to ya.
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Just reading this. I'm shocked!
I live in Belgium and have his Marashino mono blocks from the very beginning before release. Also a DAC DAC 2 and was looking forward to his yet to be released DPA (digital preamp).
I hope this is not the end for the brand and his know how.
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Just reading this. I'm shocked!
I live in Belgium and have his Marashino mono blocks from the very beginning before release. Also a DAC DAC 2 and was looking forward to his yet to be released DPA (digital preamp).
I hope this is not the end for the brand and his know how.
Me and Tommy talked about his preamp a lot. He wanted to put digital bass and treble controls so there was no effect on distortion. I told him he needs to corner the market for 2 channel listeners and add 2 sub outs and a digital crossover section for towers and subs. He was all over it and already had a game plan how to design it and keep it simple. I'll miss our long tech conversations.
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Wow, what terrible news and a great loss to his family, friends and supporters. One of the very few extremely gifted , talented and honest people in all of audio. It was only in the last month that I received my 2 5 Cherry amps after a number of conversations with Tommy, which I enjoyed immensely. Strangely, one of the channels in one of amps shorted and started to send out a smoke signal. So, I turned it off and sent it back to Tommy. It arrived there on December 15. I waited to hear back of course, it was the Christmas season and so I assumed he was super busy, but I thought a bit unusual that I didn't hear anything back by today ( the 28th) and for some reason I thought to check in here on the circle only to learn of Tommy's passing. He was far to young and far too good to leave this earth so soon.
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Wow, what terrible news and a great loss to his family, friends and supporters. One of the very few extremely gifted , talented and honest people in all of audio. It was only in the last month that I received my 2 5 Cherry amps after a number of conversations with Tommy, which I enjoyed immensely. Strangely, one of the channels in one of amps shorted and started to send out a smoke signal. So, I turned it off and sent it back to Tommy. It arrived there on December 15. I waited to hear back of course, it was the Christmas season and so I assumed he was super busy, but I thought a bit unusual that I didn't hear anything back by today ( the 28th) and for some reason I thought to check in here on the circle only to learn of Tommy's passing. He was far to young and far too good to leave this earth so soon.
I'm in shock......
I came here to check on what Tommy had said about loving the JTR speakers so much, I didn't expect any of this.
I'm in the same boat, last I talked to Tommy was 12/2. One of my channels shorted out, we couldn't figure it out but both agreed it was probably MY fault......the amp was damaged in shipping too so he fixed the channel and replaced the faceplate for me. We talked a lot in the past few months and this is so beyond shocking......it's painful. He will be missed.
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What terrible news. First thoughts are for the kids, and for their mother who will also need strength beyond imagination now.
Forgive if this gets too long-
I knew Tommy very well and considered him simply one of my best friends.
After introducing him to the New York Audio Rave (he used those Rave Demo CDs constantly to evaluate his gear) and to Audio Circle, we became fast friends.
He had the worst allergies!! When he would visit we would always have Benadryl on hand as he would be sneezing and wheezing but would stay and listen and chat for hours anyway. Also, the Bombay gin helped.
Went on many a double date with him - many a Rave - many a time at his place listening to the latest gear - many a trip to my brother's store to hook his amps up to Dave's reference system - trips with him to client's houses - so many great times. He was dear not only to me but to my wife and brother as well.
I was fortunate to hear and live with many of his prototype amps and can remember the exact place, northbound on Rt 287, when I turned to him and said "You know, you should take all of the power supply guts from a stereo amp and put it all into a monoblock" and his eyes lit up and the mono amps were born. There is tiny chance that I attached the feet or wire harness on the DAC amp you own - It was fun to hang with him in his basement and help screw stuff together and listen to the plans for the next upgrade! He was always cooking up many things at once in that brain. We were currently discussing applications for live music PA amps...so much lost on so many levels.
Tommy is a drummer too and always made a point to come see our band play, even coming up on stage to play my drums to help us sound-check once. He loved that!
We clicked on so many levels and had such a deep bond that I was free to have very serious and frank words with him regarding our opposite views on the virus and appropriate actions to take. It caused some rift in our friendship but we agreed to not discuss such matters anymore, just a few short months ago. I doubt I could have done or said more short of tackling him, but I will forever feel that I failed to take sufficient action to protect a dear friend.
Great kids, I wish them the best. Oldest is a naturally gifted musician - guitar, drums and voice. A competitive table hockey player who didn't like to lose, and didn't! Middle daughters is a very talented artist. The youngest was always so sweet and shy but that was years ago when she was still young...
Tommy family man story: As mentioned, he had bad pet allergies, but the kids wanted dogs. Did he get them a dog, no, he got three!! You always got to see the latest guitar videos and artwork his kids made. and he was always telling me the names they gave to his reference tracks.
Goodbye friend.
-Mike
This is powerful......thank you so much for sharing.
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@mfsoa Mike
Thank you for providing a little more insight for all of us into Tommy....the person. His designs/products were truly special. One question for you....was the company Tommy and only Tommy or did he have employees helping him build the products that he designed?
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Hi Ron,
As his son said at the funeral service, it was really just Tommy. On and off I think he had some help but it was largely a 1 man show. Certainly the industrial design, circuit design, dealing w/ the various places that assembled the boards and made the chassis, ordering the mucho expensive transformers etc., the customer service - All Tommy (except for the sorbothane footers on the bases of the Maraschinos - my idea!!).
You guys don't know the number of times I heard "I was a up all night so I could get this XXX product out to this guy I've been talking to..." The reason he was up all night was often because his kids needed him during "normal business hours"
I can tell you that as far as I know he was selling all of his gear for as little as he could - There was never the slightest hint of "He-he, ya' know what I really pay for each board...".
For years we were discussing subwoofers - He wanted a ~1 cubic foot enclosure from billet aluminum. Oh man, what could have been.
I know it's corny to say that noone is gone if we talk about them or take some other step to remember them, but if this can ever be so it surely is when we keep enjoying music through Tommy's gear.
-Mike
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Any of you Tommy friends and custumers want facilitate this Circle?
Please apply here:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=179862.0
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Tommy loved the number 3.
He loved the particular mathematical things that 3-ness can bring.
That is the root of his "AmpDesigner333" handle here! I always told him that he was not the 333rd best amp designer around :lol:
-Mike
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I like 12 that sum 3, the 12 apostles, the 12 hours, the 12 months, the perfect number.
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OMG in total shock hearing this very sad news. Was checking in to see what might be new after the Holidays and found this, so sad. R.I.P Tommy Sir.
Have Tommys MEGAschino upgraded to what he called a 2.5 version, loaded as far as it could go. The MK-3 was almost finished, or might have been, not sure. Also running his 1st DACDAC - TL version.
Have been with Tommy since 2012 enjoying his products, the man shall be sorely missed.
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So sad to hear this! I have (5) Golden Cherry monoblock amps I want to get rid of that I purchased in 2018 and have been trying to get a hold of Tommy and could not figure out why he hadn't responded yet because he was a PROMPT guy and a classy act so sorry to hear! Is this the best place to sell these?
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Try the Trading Post Circle:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=109.0
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Hi everyone,
I haven't been in the scene for quite a few years, and recently have been downsizing a lot of things in my life, including selling off most of my audio gear. I came back to the DAC circle to sell my Cherry when I saw this posting - absolutely gutted! Tommy was a class act, and it was obvious he tried to pass on most of the 'bang' out of the 'bang for buck' to his customers. Was also really cool that he was so innovative with his designs, especially in the early class D era where the "conventional wisdom" was that class D could only do bass.
RIP Tommy!
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RIP. I hope that his company will continue. I wish I owned one of his amplifiers. They are getting harder to find on the market. That shows you how good of an engineer he was. If anyone knows of one for sale please let me know. Piece of nostalgia