Companies that used to make high end gear

[lugano]

Aurex

Aurex by Toshiba. The equvalent of today's Lexus by Toyota.

 

[Beat_Dominator]

Well we all knew Threshold needed to make an appearence

I have always thought the SA/1 monoblocks were the coolest looking amps they made.

 

[lugano]

(friggin OT) Can somebody explain to me why I always perceived top VU-Meters - like the Thresold ones - as being nervous and bottom ones as being relaxed ? (End of OT)

 

[Beat_Dominator]

It's because you're crazy

 

[STV]

I have always thought the SA/1 monoblocks were the coolest looking amps they made.

It's definitely one of the coolest looking amps I've seen.

 

[C.A.P]

I dreamed of those amps for a long time !:bowdown: It was them until I found Krell.:music: Nelson Pass still does work on them old amps for updates

 

[STV]

Aurex by Toshiba. The equvalent of today's Lexus by Toyota.

I had never hear of Aurex until now. That's interesting that Toshiba once had a high end audio division. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[STV]

California Audio Labs- A high end audio company from the get go, this company has given us some amazing looking and sounding products over the years. CAL is no longer in business, but was one of the leading high end audio makers.

 

[STV]

JVC Super Digifine- A line of components geared toward the high end. These were available back around 1990.

 

[eknuds01]

I remember California Audio Labs. They made some really expensive CD players back in the day.

Ah...JVC...my first CD player was a JVC; a Christmas present in the mid-90s. Wow, back then I had a Kenwood amp and Yamaha speakers!

 

[amey01]

Audio Alchemy - the manufacturer of the all time great DAC in the box!

Also, what about companies that used to be heavy hitters, but seem no longer at the cutting edge - Wadia rings a bell.

 

[amey01]

ME Sound - ME was an old Australian company and maker of some very good high-end amps. Shown is the ME850 power amp.

 

[amey01]

Has anyone mentioned Hafler?

 

[STV]

Ah...JVC...my first CD player was a JVC; a Christmas present in the mid-90s.

That's interesting. My second CD player (actually CD changer) was a JVC I got back in '94. It was a JVC XL-MC100, and what's really interesting is that I still have it to this day and still use it (in another room). They made some really great CD players back in the day.


JVC XL-MC100

 

[STV]

Audio Alchemy - the manufacturer of the all time great DAC in the box!

Also, what about companies that used to be heavy hitters, but seem no longer at the cutting edge - Wadia rings a bell.

I definitely remember Audio Alchemy. I hadn't realized that they were no longer in business. It's something how many of these high end audio companies have closed their doors. I remember listening to a CD player connected to one of their DAC units, it was an amazing listening experience. It's too bad that Audio Alchemy is no longer around, they had some excellent products.

I haven't followed Wadia in a while, but I remember in the 90's their CD players and transports were always at or near the top of most audiophiles wish list (including myself ). But you're right, that would be cool to find out which high end heavyweights that used to be at the cutting edge no loner are.


Seth

 

[STV]

ME Sound - ME was an old Australian company and maker of some very good high-end amps. Shown is the ME850 power amp.

I had never heard of ME before, but after seeing the pix, they definitely fit into the high end category. The ME850 is one classy looking amp! I would have loved to have listened to one. Thanks for sharing.


Seth

 

[STV]

Has anyone mentioned Hafler?

Nope, hasn't been mentioned yet. Thanks for adding them, Hafler is a brand I haven't seen in quite a while. I clearly remember their tagline, "Hafler, The affordable high end". They offered some quality separates.

 

[amey01]

Nope, hasn't been mentioned yet. Thanks for adding them, Hafler is a brand I haven't seen in quite a while. I clearly remember their tagline, "Hafler, The affordable high end". They offered some quality separates.

They made a fantastic tuner/preamp, but I couldn't find pics anywhere.

 

[amey01]

I definitely remember Audio Alchemy. I hadn't realized that they were no longer in business. It's something how many of these high end audio companies have closed their doors.

Seth

It is something, but remember:

1: Many of these companies have not closed their doors - just changed focus. eg. JVC, Toshiba, et al.

2: Many of the companies that have "closed their doors" actually live on in another form - eg Threshold lives on as Pass Labs, Sonic Frontiers lives on, etc.

 

[SundayNiagara]

Audio Alchemy

Was Mark Schifter's company. He now has http://www.av123.com . He sells direct.