[John Casler]

In case you do not follow Audio Circle daily, I have bad news.

Last week after getting home from Brian Cheney's Tribute at The Home Entertainment Show, Dave Housteau called and said he had heard James Bongiorno had passed away that Wed.

Bad News when our audio legends leave the listening room.

There is another thread on AC relative to this and you can see it in the thread history.

I thought I might post a Picture of James, and I found a list of his accomplishments that shows what an effect he had on the industry.



Below is a list of some of his accomplishments:

Hadley Laboratories 622C Power Amplifier, contributing engineer

Marantz Model 15 Power Amplifier, contributing engineer

Dynaco Stereo 400 Power Amplifier, Designer

Dynaco AF-6 AM/FM Tuner, contributing engineer

SAE (Scientific Audio Engineering)

XXXIB Power Amplifier, Designer

IIIC/CM Power Amplifier, Designer

IVD/DM Power Amplfier, Designer

VIB Stereo Tuner, contributing engineer

IC Stereo Preamplifier, contributing engineer

The following products continued to use my circuit topology:

2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, “A” series, “X” series

GAS (The Great American Sound Co.) Chief Designer

Ampzilla Power Amplifier

Ampzilla II (World’s first servo-controlled power amplifier)

Thaedra Preamplifier (World’s first (and only) servo controlled preamp

Thoebe Preamplifier

Son of Ampzilla Power Amplifier

Thalia Preamplifier

Grandson Power Amplfier

Sleeping Beauty Moving Coil Cartrdges

Sumo Electric Co. Ltd. Chief Designer

The Power, World’s first 450 watt/channel fully balanced Bridge Power Amp

The Gold, World’s first patented solid state Class A Power Amplifier

The Nine, World’s first low cost solid state class A power amplifier

The Nine+, Ruggedized version

Electra Preamplifier

“Charlie” the Tuner, world’s first premium low cost stereo tuner

The Half-power, stereo power amplifier

Andromeda, world’s first low cost solid state class AB Balanced Power Amp

The Sumo I, Magnetic Phono Cartridge

The Sumo II, Moving coil Phono Cartridge

Harmon-Kardon, Consultant, Completely redesigned the Citation 23 Tuner

Crown Radio, Japan, 4 luxurious Power amps, 2 Luxuious Preamps, a fully

Equalized (phase & amplitude) 3-way electronic crossover.

Spread Spectrum Technologies Inc.. Chief Designer

Ampzilla 2000, fully balanced monobloc power amplifier

Trinaural Processor

Ambrosia PreAMP

[nickd]

Sad to hear about Jim,
I had dinner with him a few years back at CES after he had recovered from a quite serious illness. He was truly one of a kind. Flashy, brilliant, funny, the list could go on. He, like many of us had ideas in his head that never came to market. unrealized advancement. There are very few circut designers with his gift. Borbely, Curl, King, Pass, and just a few others.

It seems the recent consolidation on the industry will be made even more severe with the passing of Jim and Brian. Time for the next generation of visionaries to step up and take the torch I hope.

The shows will not be the same with out Jim strutting around dressed to the max in one of his flamboyant suits . Where did he find that stuff anyway?

[simoon]

What a loss. 

When I was a young  teen, I used to live pretty close (a bike ride away) to the GAS factory in Chatsworth, California.

I used to go by there from time to time to drool over Ampzilla that I couldn't afford. They used to humor me because I was so enthusiastic. Mr. Bongiorno personally gave me a bunch of signed GAS posters I put up in my room. I wish I still had them. I can't remember for sure, but I bet he was wearing a lime green suit 

Finally, after months of bugging them, they sold me a refurbed Ampzilla, in a dented and scratched case, that I drove some early Maggies with. When Sumo opened, I followed Mr. Bongiorno and bought some Sumo gear. Even after buying higher end gear than GAS, getting that Ampzilla is still one of my fondest memories. I can still feel that excitement I felt when I got that thing home!

Great memories of my early audiophile hobby.

Thank you James Bongiorno.

[jhm731]

James was also a Consulting Analog Engineer for Constellation Audio

Link to an interview with James in the 1/12 issue of TAS:
 
http://www.ampzilla2000.com/James_Bongiorno_chat.pdf

[PMAT]

That was a nice read, thanks.

[rollo]

May he rest in peace and his work live forever. We will miss him.



charles

[buddyiramae]

May God rest his soul! I, too, remember him well. Fond memories regarding his early designs like SAE & Sumo. RIP, sir.

[John Casler]

Also, in the above mentioned list of accomplishments, I didn't see the following:

Was involved in the design of Rectilinear Speakers

Was involved in the design of the VMPS RM/x (He named Elixar)

Won the Best of Show HIGH END at CES with his TriNaural Processor on the RM/x speakers (VMPS room)

Had his AMPZILLA Series II and AMBROSIA Preamp awarded Editors Choice in Absolute Sound in 2011

[PLMONROE]

How sad, the loss of two Giants of the industry in such a short period of time. How I treasure having had  dinner with both he and Brian at CES only a couple of years back.

[Housteau]

How I treasure having had  dinner with both he and Brian at CES only a couple of years back.

I remember that evening and even have a few photos to share.







I was sitting at the next table over with Shirley and could hear Brian talking about James stating something to the effect:  "We have only been sitting here for two minutes and already you have insulted my wife, her ethnicity and my religion".  It was a fun mix of Brian's sense of humor and the direct take no prisoners manner in which James often discussed, well, everything .

I have a few more shots of him at the piano.  He told me that classical piano was boring.  It lacked pizazz.  Well, James certainly had pizazz.

 

[Stimpy]

It's sad, but somehow fitting and appropriate, that Brian and James passed so closely to one another.  I guess James didn't want Brian to get a head start on him, in their next venture together!

Also, like Brian and VMPS; what happens to Spread Spectrum Technology, now with James gone?  Was SST better positioned to carry on without James?  Was it more than a one-man show?  I guess I just hope both brands won't be lost now...???

[Rocket]

Hi,

I could be wrong but I had heard the Wyred 4 Sound bought Spread Spectrum Technologies a year or so ago.  James was still the principal designer and had been developing a new Son of Ampzilla and Thoebe preamplifier.

Cheers Rod

[Rob Babcock]

Another terrible loss for the audio world.  I wish I'd have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Gongiorno, but I did not.  I always wanted to hear that Trinaural processor, especially in conjunction with VMPS speakers.

My condolences to his friends and family.

[ka7niq]

Another terrible loss for the audio world. I wish I'd have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Gongiorno, but I did not.  I always wanted to hear that Trinaural processor, especially in conjunction with VMPS speakers.

My condolences to his friends and family.

You got that right! James and Brian both gone, what a great loss for us all. I happen to have Hepatitis C, the same disease that James did.
I talked to James about Audio and health once, and as soon as he found out I had Hep C, he lectured me very sternly to be sure and get myself vaccinated against Hepatitis B. He told me that Hepatitis B will kill someone with Hep C! I credit James with saving my Life.

[underdawg]

very sad the past year how many influential audio people has passed on