Dan Banquer, You Were Ahead Of Your Time

audiophile39 · « **on:** 6 Feb 2006, 07:02 pm »

Dan, although I'm not an audio expert, I do know that the amazing sound produced by your highly-regarded SCPA preamp is based, in part, on the clever use of op amps, which some among the audio intelligentsia have derided as not cutting-edge. And, so it is with some amusement that I read, in a glowing review of a "cutting-edge" new amp receiving a lot of underground attention called the Patek SE, that the designer of the amp is achieving such wonderful results with the use of...OP AMPS! Holy cow!Whodathunkit? I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/audiosector/patek.html

Dan Banquer · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Feb 2006, 07:46 pm »

Thanks for the compliment!
Well I wish I could say I was ahead of my time, but I can't. For those of us who have worked in electronics outside of audio, have a good technical and musical educational background, and then start to investigate audio; can easily come to the conclusion that consumer audio is about twenty to twenty five years behind what is already known. To quote one of the engineers I have worked with over the years "Consumer Audio is the bastard child of electronics". Or let me paraphrase, or maybe I should say butcher a quote from Walt Jung: "50% of design is the circuit, the other 50% is what goes around the circuit, and audio usually blows it when it comes to designing around the circuit" Just to further the point, I recently borrowed a Behringer SRC 2496 unit. The Playback section in this unit is damn good for 160.00 retail. It came really close to the one I designed and built about 8 years ago. What really blew me away about the Behringer unit is that retail cost is less than what I paid for some of the best top quality parts I could get for te DAC I designed years ago. Now that's what I call progress!

Walt Jung who formerly worked for Analog Devices is dead on, it's just that some of us prefer to use Burr-Brown parts for certain applications.
Now if I had any marketing sense I would do a Bob Carver and proclaim that I am a genius. Oh well, it doesn't matter now.
d.b.

ABEX · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Feb 2006, 05:09 am »

Good to see you getting some well deserved recognition Dan as we have talked before through mails and post.

I live in ME. and your in MA. .

I was saddened by the loss of Bob Crump and I know as the yrs. pass I see more and more good designers pass on .Their designs and work live on though.

Best wishes,LG

Folsom · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Feb 2006, 06:35 am »

I think it is pretty funny how manufcaturer's designers think more parts means better, regardless of function.... What could be more sad than the current state of music in general.

Peter and the chip-amp guys are very nice and friendly, and I am sure they agree on flattery as well as general appreciation.

audiophile39 · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Feb 2006, 01:52 pm »

Dan, I was taken a little aback when, asked which audio companies you respect, you mentioned Mark Levinson and Jeff Roland---Not because I question the integrity of those companies, but primarily because their stratospheric prices are almost surreal. Given the modest price points of your products (when you were making them), I would have thought you'd look askance at their inflated prices and have respect for other companies making quality components at more reasonable and accessible prices.

Dan Banquer · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Feb 2006, 02:03 pm »

Quote from: audiophile39

Dan, I was taken a little aback when, asked which audio companies you respect, you mentioned Mark Levinson and Jeff Roland---Not because I question the integrity of those companies, but primarily because their stratospheric prices are almost surreal. Given the modest price points of your products (when you were making them), I would have thought you'd look askance at their inflated prices and have respect for other companies making quality components at more reasonable and accessible prices.

Levinson, Roland and McIntosh had a reputation for building "brick s**t house" amps, I think Levinson had a few models with a regulated supply. Yes they were/are expensive and this due to two major factors, the fancy cases that many consumers value, and the retail markup. In addition there are also things like name recognition, status, and perceived value.
d.b.