Could VMPS be the longest surviving independantly owned highend speaker company?

DFaulds · « **on:** 21 Mar 2011, 11:36 am »

I was talking to a friend last night and while we were talking about desireable used speakers, I mentioned VMPS. Even though he is mostly interested in older tube electronics and horn loaded speakers (EV, Altec, JBL, etc.), he quickly recognized the name and talked at length about the value oif Brian's designs. I added that I thought perhaps VMPS was the longest surviving high end speaker company still owned by it's founder. The only other companies that might be in the running would be Shahinian Acoustics, or maybe Magnepan, although I'm not 100% certain of it's ownership.

Despite the fact that the design philosophies from all 3 of these companies are drastically different, they have all ben run for many years with the goal of designing the best speakers possible for the money. And the fact that they have all been in business for many years is a testament to their ability to deliver both high quality products and service.

Sorry if this seems off topic, but it's not something that's too often discussed, and I think Brian deserves recognition for having survived and thrived for decades in one of the toughest business around.

BPoletti · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 01:12 pm »

Acoustat has been around for quite a while. Not sure of their "independently owned" status since I think they changed hands in the 80s.

DFaulds · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 01:34 pm »

I think Acoustat went belly up in the 90's. Other than the name, I'm not certain that the current UK based Acoustat has much to do with the US based Acoustat from many years ago. Kind of like the Greek(?) based Apogee Acoustics, although their product lineup appears to be based on the original Apogee products.

Thiel is another good example, although I think Brian has a few years on Jim's fine company.

rbbert · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 02:00 pm »

Vandersteen

simon wagstaff · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 04:56 pm »

What about Klipsch? Sold to a cousin so still independent.

Up to the age of 96, Paul Klipsch played an active role in the company he and his wife Valerie sold to a cousin and Indianapolis businessman Fred Klipsch and his wife Judy in 1989. Paul W. Klipsch passed away on May 5, 2002. He was 98 years old.

DFaulds · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 05:43 pm »

How could I forget Klipsch? Although no longer owned by the legendary founder, it is still in the family and you can still buy a Klipschorn.

Of course, VMPS may be the longest surviving audio company still operated by it's founder.

simon wagstaff · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 05:44 pm »

Hopefully Brian will live to 96, music must be good for your health, at least listening to it, not making it.

simon wagstaff · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 05:45 pm »

oops, I meant 98, or 102 or whatever.

Hipper · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Mar 2011, 08:57 am »

Could Jim Salk be considered?

Brian Cheney · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Mar 2011, 01:23 am »

When I exhibited at my first CES show in Chicago, Bismarck Hotel, in 1977 Thiel and Vandersteen were co exhibitors. I believe these companies were established within a year or so of VMPS. The first speakers marketed under the VMPS label (there was an earlier incarnation, Linear Sound Systems) appeared in 1975.

ehider · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Mar 2011, 02:22 am »

Hmmm, how about Magnepan? ....circa 1969

"He immediately set out to patent his design, and in 1969, "in a house on 6th Street in White Bear Lake," he founded Magnepan -- on $50,000 that he and his family would have to live on for two years and use to run his business, including outfitting a lab. The first years were lean times for Winey -- going from a well-paid engineer at a prestigious company to an up-and-coming inventor/entrepreneur working on his own."

From 2001 Soundstage article; Magnepan factory tour http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/magnepan/

DFaulds · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Mar 2011, 11:44 am »

I think the original Shahinian Obelisk was marketed sometime around 1975, but I could be mistaken. As mentioned by a previous poster, Jim Winey and Magnepan probably is the oldest still being run by it's founder.

No matter who gets the crown, all of the companies mentioned are all well known for providing very musical speakers at very reasonable prices and have all survived in part because of great customer loyalty and the great passion and hard work of their founders.

Of the brands mentioned, I either own or have owned products from them all, except for Vandersteen. All make great products, and it's easy to understand how they have all survived and even flourished, despite the decline of the high end audio market.

Darac · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Mar 2011, 04:17 pm »

As long as there is no influence of someone else's money, VMPS will be an independent company. .

JRace · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Mar 2011, 05:01 pm »

Quote from: simon wagstaff on 21 Mar 2011, 04:56 pm

What about Klipsch? Sold to a cousin so still independent.

Up to the age of 96, Paul Klipsch played an active role in the company he and his wife Valerie sold to a cousin and Indianapolis businessman Fred Klipsch and his wife Judy in 1989. Paul W. Klipsch passed away on May 5, 2002. He was 98 years old.

Klipsch sold...to Audiovox!
http://www.marketnews.ca/LatestNewsHeadlines/ItsOfficial:AudiovoxtoAcquireKlipschforUS$166M.html

Quote

The Hauppauge, NY-based manufacturer has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Klipsch Group Inc. for US$166 million, including its subsidiaries with popular AV brands like Energy, Jamo, and Mirage.

Brian Cheney · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Mar 2011, 05:17 pm »

VMPS has never had investors or partners.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Mar 2011, 06:02 pm »

Hey, cool thread guys. I love traveling down memory lane.

I really wanted a pair of those big VMPS speakers when I was a kid but that was way out of my reach . . . . . maybe it's not too late for me yet!

Since we're honoring the good people of yesterday, I thought I would mention Sound Lab. Roger West co-founded the company in 1978, only one year after VMPS started its adventure. I believe Dr. West still owns the company.

Who else is still at it after all of these years???

DFaulds · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Mar 2011, 06:07 pm »

Quote from: Brian Cheney on 24 Mar 2011, 05:17 pm

VMPS has never had investors or partners.

That's kind of what I was getting at. In a very small club with other audio legends like Shahinian, Thiel, Winey and Vandersteen. You can't survive on your own in Audio without passion, hard work and a fair amount brilliance.

musicman70 · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Mar 2011, 02:08 am »

Quote from: JRace on 24 Mar 2011, 05:01 pm

Klipsch sold...to Audiovox!
http://www.marketnews.ca/LatestNewsHeadlines/ItsOfficial:AudiovoxtoAcquireKlipschforUS$166M.html

Say goodbye to Klipsch. I read the article, Audiovox purchased for $166M and the article stated that Audiovox plans to earn $170M in sales for fiscal 2012. Look for some crap from Klipsch, same as with Infinity speakers after John Ulrick and Arnie Nudel left.

John Casler · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Apr 2011, 01:16 am »

Quote from: DFaulds on 24 Mar 2011, 06:07 pm

That's kind of what I was getting at. In a very small club with other audio legends like Shahinian, Thiel, Winey and Vandersteen. You can't survive on your own in Audio without passion, hard work and a fair amount brilliance.

If you use the "qualifier" of owned and operated by the founder, the list tightens up quite a bit.

Taterworks · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Apr 2011, 01:55 am »

Look for crap from Klipsch? I already found it -- and it's in the Best Buy already. The Klipsch speakers sold there have paper cones with foam surrounds and stamped frames, and the grilles are non-removable to keep you from finding out. One reviewer did a tear-down of them and found them to have very cheap cabinets. The Polks they sell there (Monitor series) are far superior but still very bottom-end-of-mid-fi. Stereo gear doesn't survive commoditization very well.