[earlmarc]

I thought it very interesting that a number of one man operations under the established brand names are producing products that defy cost/performance standards and our doing it literally one handed. Companies like the following:
1. Steve Nugent at Empirical Audio
2. Curt Wishman at IRD-Audio
3. Ray Samuels at Ray Samuels Audio
4. Alex Phechev at APL Hifi
5. Steve Sammit at SAS Audio Labs
6. Gary Dodd at Dodd Audio
7. Kara Chafee at deHavilland Audio
8. Albert LTS at Space Tech Labs

These are a few examples. I would like to see a more expansive list. Is there any other one man operations out there that shake the establishment like these guys do?

[zybar]

I would add Ric Cummins of Argent Audio.  He makes very, very good ic's and cables.

George

[PeteG]

Here's one more,
Wayne at Bolder Cable Company.

[Brad V]

David Berning

[byteme]

How about Klaus @ Odyssey and Scott Nixon??

[reefrus]

I would also add Bob Smith of SP Technology. Both TimePiece 2.0 and Continuum AD are serious " Heavy Weight" speaker contender.

[DVV]

While this is a worthwhile topic, and surely deserves some time spent on it, there is one thing we should all remember - one man, even if "one man" is really a small group of people (say, 2 or 3), can make only so complex a product.

I am not referring to tweaking - that's something else, you take what the industry has already made and make it better. While a lot of fun, and a challenge, that's hardly bucking the trends, because you always depend on what the industry has to make first.

For example, it's VERY difficult for a one man operation to produce a multi channel receiver - not impossible, but very hard. Even something like a loudspeaker - of course it can be done, but it's very difficult for a single guy, or even 2-3 guys, to run a small series of products.

However, with add-ons and cables, it's a different matter - there, a single guy CAN buck the trend.

Cheers,
DVV

[earlmarc]

DVV, while I agree with the generalization of comments referring to the difficulty of any one man operation to produce complex products compared to mass marketed products by the likes of Sony, Pioneer, and Yamaha, and etc., I disagree that one man operations can't and don't. Most of the high-end audio companies started off as underground small operations. Companies like Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, Magnapan, Linn, Vandersteen, and many others. The old underground is now the current establishment and the current underground will likely produce companies that will soon become the future establishment.

Many of these one man operations have produced stellar products in most categories: Amps, preamps, processors, speakers, cables, and even receivers-Outlaw Audio.

[orthobiz]

Jon Dahlquist was the brains.
Saul Marantz came out of retirement to be
President of Dahlquist, helped with marketing
and I'm sure lent his ears to the project.
Dahlquist was an amazing speaker at the time.
Still is.

biz

[Marbles]

Let's not forget Hugh Dean from ASKA (Aspen).



Actually, just go down the "Audio Manufacturers" here and you can get a pretty long list..........

[DVV]

DVV, while I agree with the generalization of comments referring to the difficulty of any one man operation to produce complex products compared to mass marketed products by the likes of Sony, Pioneer, and Yamaha, and etc., I disagree that one man operations can't and don't. Most of the high-end audio companies started off as underground small operations. Companies like Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, Magnapan, Linn, Vandersteen, and many others. The old underground is now the current establishment and the  ...

I agree completely - my point was that "one man underground" can't really shake the business profoundly, but surely can give it some impetus, since big companies are big and relatively slow to respond. Also, one man may have ideas nobody had before, etc, etc.

Ultimately, quite a few giants tyoday started out as literally garage operations - Infinity, for example, started out from a garage. The example of Dahlquist is another good one - they were, and are, highly competent speakers.

One guy can buck some trends, but it remains questionable to what extent. I doubt one guy can rock the industry. My point was that while such operation can be most worthwhile promoters of new ideas, or even manufacturing methods, they will in all probability remain small operations which will make you and me happy, but will not be able to significantly influence the industry as a whole.

Cheers,
DVV

[AKSA]

Shucks, Marbles,

Thanks a million!    

Hugh

[JohnR]

My point was that while such operation can be most worthwhile promoters of new ideas, or even manufacturing methods, they will in all probability remain small operations which will make you and me happy, but will not be able to significantly influence the industry as a whole.

You're probably right. Why you are right, though, is an interesting question. Personally, I think that most people buying hifi gear are really buying reassurance. That costs a lot more than just making top-notch equipment at a reasonable price.

[Dan Banquer]

I know this guy named Dan Banquer who runs R.E. Designs who is pretty much of a one man shop. www.redesignsaudio.com It's even been reported that he makes some decent power amps and pre amps.
            Dan Banquer
            R.E. Designs

[ohenry]

Ed Schilling's father at the Horn Shoppe (Ed is only the spokesmodel).  

[Shamrock Audio]

I know this guy named Dan Banquer who runs R.E. Designs who is pretty much of a one man shop. www.redesignsaudio.com It's even been reported that he makes some decent power amps and pre amps.
            Dan Banquer
            R.E. Designs

Yea, and he's quiet, shy, and humble too.

[Dan Banquer]

Hi Mike;
    You forgot to mention bald too.  It's one of my more endearing qualities.  
                    d.b.

[lonewolfny42]

I've heard that Mike McCall of Shamrock Audio makes some pretty good speakers......(but I still can't find that shamrock.. )

[DVV]

My point was that while such operation can be most worthwhile promoters of new ideas, or even manufacturing methods, they will in all probability remain small operations which will make you and me happy, but will not be able to significantly influence the industry as a whole.

You're probably right. Why you are right, though, is an interesting question. Personally, I think that most people buying hifi gear are really buying reassurance. That costs a lot more than just making top-notch equipment at a reasonable price.

John, I have long held the view that MOST people (not all, thank God!) are buying audio by the pound, not by the sound. They want it for many reasons, but music is hardly ever No.1. Even here, on this list, people talk 99% of the time about new gear, most seem bent on discovering something new and revolutionary, rather than discussing music, recordings, etc. If that's so here, imagine what's it like out there, in the wilderness of the economy, where buy, buy, buy is the key word.

People buy thinking before even paying what will they be able to sell it for in six months' time - how much will it depreciate? Not how it sounds, but how much can they sell it for.

This bodes ill for small, unheard-of companies. ESPECIALLY if they make outstanding products, which by default cannot be cheap (which does not mean they have to be outrageously expensive). Not a big name, tough luck bud, I'm off to buy X or Y who are big names, and hey, if they are big, and magazines write about them, they HAVE to be good.

It never occurs to them that small upstart companies, which may have wonderful products, do not have anywhere near the ad budget of the big guns, so magazines WILL NOT write about them, because they can't afford the kind of ad space the big guys can - if at all.

This is where far too many small, upstart companies, with some really good ideas and products, are lost far too often. This is the way of the consumer audio world. The moment it becomes a consumer commodity, produced in the millions, quality takes the back seat at first, and is eventually dumped out altogether in favor of flashing lights, more features nobody knows the purpose of, and of course, lower prices.

Which is why I have been saying for the last 25 years that quality audio lives at the outskirts of the industry as a whole - small companies bent on quality rather than sheer sales performance as such, no matter what. These are not the hit-and-run salesmen, these are more often than not true enthusiasts.

Just look at our own list here - there's Dan Banquer, then Hugh with his AKSA, and to a much lesser degree, even my old self, although I am not into commercial audio. I really do it for the fun of it, for the satisfaction and soul food it gives me back, and for the people I get to meet. Oh yeah, and I change my cables once every 10 years. I'm one bad, lousy consumer, and should be shot for it.

But you try telling this to laymen who rule themselves by the mags and local audio shop hearsay.

Sorry for the bible thumping, but every now and then, I have to get it off my chest.

Cheers,
DVV

[pjchappy]

Brian Cheney. . .

p