High-end audio

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High-end audio equipment is purported by the manufacturers to be the best, regardless of the price. High-end audio equipment can be extremely expensive. It is sometimes referred to as cost-no-object equipment. Owners of high-end audio are either audiophiles or conspicuous consumers. Audiophiles run the gamut from budget to high-end in terms of equipment price range and are primarily concerned with the quality of music reproduction (accuracy with personal preferences).

Contents 1 Definition of 'high end' 2 Professional recording studios 3 See also 3.1 Significant companies 3.2 General 3.3 Cables 3.4 Earphones 3.5 Headphones 3.6 Speakers 3.7 Recording equipment 4 External links

[edit] Definition of 'high end'

High-end audio can refer to the build quality of the components, but more specifically, refers to the ability to reproduce a recording with the highest fidelity to the original performance that has been committed to the recording. Typical qualitative attributes that are scaled by audiophile publications and experts are accuracy vs. warmth, tonal color vs. speed, timbre, size of sound stage vs. depth (spatial origins), clarity, pace, timing etc, etc.

A theoretically perfect high-end audio system would create the illusion of the listener being present in the performance venue and with the musical performers performing on stage. There would be no sonic signature that imparts any clue as to the fact that the performance is a playback of a recording instead of witnessing a live performance given by the actual musicians in the particular performance venue. This is obviously more important with performances involving acoustic instruments and without studio manipulations of vocals.

[edit] Professional recording studios

Professional recording studios seldom use high-end audio gear for mixing and monitoring recording sessions. Instead, studios use players, amplifiers, signal processors, and speakers that are built to very high standards. These speakers are referred to as studio monitors and are specially crafted to produce very accurate sound, reflecting exactly what is on the recording. Most high-end speakers will tend to add color or tone shaping the music so that it sounds "better". For this reason studio monitors must be used to ensure that changes being made to the audio are accurately represented to the engineer.

Publications that interested parties can peruse include Stereophile (US), The Absolute Sound (US), Hifi News (UK) and Hifi + (UK). Also the Web site Hi Fi Wigwam (UK) has the best advice on audio equpiment from the forum users.

[edit] See also

• AV Receivers
• Audiophile
• High fidelity
• High-end audio cables
• Professional audio
• Audio quality measurement
• Studio monitors

(Alphabetical within category)

[edit] Significant companies

• Acoustic Research, US pioneer of acoustic suspension loudspeakers whose AR-3 was widely regarded as the most accurate loudspeaker available in its day. Founded by Edgar Villchur and Henry Kloss.
• Advent, US company making speakers and other equipment. founded by audio pioneer Henry Kloss (the K in KLH)
• Akai, a Japanese audio manufacturer reaching prominence in the '80s.
• ATC, Acoustic Transducer Company, British based pro audio manufacturer formed in 1974 by Billy Woodman.
• Audio Research Corp, Since 1970 to the present, US manufacturer of HIGH DEFINITION® vacuum tube and solid state audio equipment.
• Bang & Olufsen, producers of Audio and Video equipment since 1925.
• Bose Bose products can be found in Olympics stadiums, Broadway theatres, the Sistine Chapel, and the Space Shuttle.
• Bowers & Wilkins, widely regarded as producers of very high quality loudspeakers. Based in England.
• Carver, US makers of high-end components.
• Conrad-Johnson, US makers of high-end amplifiers and pre-amplifiers.
• Denon, Japanese pioneers of high-end consumer and professional audio; now part of D&M Holdings, owner of also Marantz, McIntosh, Boston Acoustics, Snell.
• Dynaco, a US electronics (finished and kit) manufacturer, beginning in the mono tube era. The brand survives today after having been sold several times.
• EgglestonWorks, a US manufacturer of speaker systems for 2-channel, home theater, and professional applications based in Memphis, TN.
• Electrocompaniet, widely recognized as one of the top five high-end manufacturers.
• EMT, A 66 year old company, specializing in phono cartridges, tone-arms and pre-amplifiers.
• German Physiks German Physiks loudspeakers utilize the (Dick Dipole Driver) DDD bending wave driver (omnidirectional) since 1992.
• Hafler, US maker of preamps and power amplifiers; its founder also founded Dynaco (see above).
• Kea Audio, high end manufacturer since 1989, produces loudspeakers with new cone material technology - an ultralight polymer hardfoam, developed by Kea Audio in 1995
• Kenwood, part of a Japanese conglomerate, manufacturer of high end audio equipment in the late 1970s up to the early 1990s.
• Klipsch, US high end speaker manufacturer, founded in 1946, developed horn loaded speakers including a full-range corner horns - Klipschorn. Still in operation, highly regarded. Some of its systems are among the most efficient hi-fi speakers ever made. 105db-1w/1m
• Krell, US high end all-in-one systems for home use. Top of the line single box units.
• Kyocera, a Japanese manufacturer of CD players, cassette decks, turntables, receivers.
• Linn Products, Scottish manufacturer of the LP12 turntable and audio electronics. Primary mover of the "source first" philosophy.
• Marantz, an early electronics manufacturer; now part of D&M Holdings, with Denon, McIntosh, Boston Acoustics, Snell.
• Martin Logan, maufacturers of high end home perfomance speakers. Primarily Electrostatic loudspeaker speakers.
• MBL, maufacturers of the famous "Radialstrahler" omnidirectional speakers and other sophisticated components.
• Naim Audio, English manufacturer of audio electronics known for its ability to convey strong sense of pace, rhythm and timing.
• New Acoustic Dimension(or NAD), a multi-national high fidelity audio company. Made a mark as good value for cost in the 80s.
• Maxell, a Japanese manufacturer of high end recording cassette tape media.
• Nakamichi, Japanese company most famous for high-end audio cassette recorders, continues in some form to the present day as manufacturer of lifestyle audio-visual components.
• NHT - Now Hear This!, Founded by Chris Byrne and Ken Kantor in 1986.
• Onkyo, a Japanese audio manufacturer reaching prominence in the 1980s.
• Ortofon, a Danish company founded in 1918. They pioneered moving coil phono cartridges in the 1940s, and are currently the world's largest manufacturer of phono cartridges.
• Quad Electroacoustics, a British manufacturer of high fidelity audio products including electrostatic speakers.
• ReVox, a 1980s high-end audio company known particularly for its reel-to-reel tape decks; also manufacturer of tuners, receivers, amplifiers, speakers. the hi-fi brand of Studer.
• Roksan, a British manufacturer of high fidelity audio products for domestic use.
• Rotel, a British audio equipment manufacturer targeting the 'budget audiophile' market, part of the Bowers & Wilkins Group.
• Sansui, a Japanese audio company reaching prominence in the late 1970s; continues in some form in the present day.
• Shindo Laboratory A Japanese audio company started in 1977 by Ken Shindo. They make full systems from phono cartridges to speakers.
• Soundcraftsmen, a Santa Ana, California maker of equalizers, preamps, power amplifiers, and other components.
• Tandberg, a high-end audio company making electronics, including cassette decks and tuners. Also makes computer equipment.
• Teac, a Japanese manufacturer of high end audio equipment.
• Technics, Japanese audio manufacturer reaching prominence in the '80s, subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., also owners of the National and Panasonic brands.
• Thorens, a historic Swiss manufacturer of phonographs; and more recently, amplifiers.
• [[1]], a British company founded in 1932 known for loudspeaker innovations such as the two-way design and ceramic magnet.
• Wilson Audio, an American Loudspeaker manufacturing company based in Provo, Utah.
• Yamaha, a Japanese conglomerate and audio and musical instrument manufacturer.

[edit] General

Accuphase, Audio Alchemy, Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Clear Audio, Denon, Goldmund, Gryphon Audio Designs, Harman/Kardon, HeadRoom, Krell, Linn Products, Mark Levinson, Meridian, McIntosh Laboratory, Nagra, Naim Audio, Pass Labs, PS-Audio, Quad Electroacoustics, Rega, Roksan Audio, Shindo Laboratory, Sony, Thor Audio, Wilson Audio

[edit] Cables

Main article: High-end audio cables

Auditorium 23, Crystal Cable, Kimber, Siltech, Tara Labs, Krystal Kables

[edit] Earphones

Etymotic, Shure, Ultimate Ears Westone

[edit] Headphones

AKG Acoustics, Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic, Grado, Sennheiser, Stax, Ultrasone, Koss

[edit] Speakers

ART Loudspeakers, Anubis Audio, Auditorium 23, Bowers & Wilkins, Burmester DALI, Duevel, Dynaudio, EgglestonWorks Genelec, Infinity, Jamo, JBL, Joseph Audio, KEF, Klipsch, Linn, Magnepan, Martin-Logan, Merlin Music Systems, Monitor Audio, NHT Loudspeakers, O'Heocha, Paradigm Electronics, Polk Audio, Rethm Loudspeakers, PSB, Shindo Laboratory, Sonus Faber, Spendor, Studio Electric, Tannoy, Totem Acoustic, Usher, Vandersteen, Wharfedale, Wilson Audio

[edit] Recording equipment

ADL, API, Grace, Great River, Manley Labs, Millennia Music & Media Systems, Neve, Neumann (Now owned by Sennheiser), SSL, Studer, Telefunken, Universal Audio

[edit] External links

• [2]- Extensive listing of Audio related links-One of the most complete on the net. constantly updated
• hifiwigwam.com A UK forum for audio discussion.
• lalena.com - Categorized audio links. Home Theater and DIY information.
• pure-hifi.info - Resource site for high-end audio, technology and music groupe, Manufacturer Links.
• Audiophile Manufacturer Links - Extensive quantity of high-end audio manufacturer links.
• The Audio Circuit - Information on and user reviews of loudspeakers, headphones, amplifiers, and playback equipment.
• The Audio Critic A 30 year publication (now online only) that offers in-depth independent verification of manufacturer's claims.
• Stereophile Magazine
• Avid Listener A directory of hi-fi equipment manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and information resources.
• Enjoy the Music.com - High-end audio equipment & music reviews, show reports, and educational information.
• Stereo|411 - Resource site for high end audio and video manufacturers, dealers and equipment.
• eCoustics.com - Resource site indexing reviews of high end audio and video gear (and more) from around the web.
• Testing audio fidelity with absolute dynamic range