small companies making today's best products

This thread reminds me of the good old days of buying DIY amp kits that we built and continually modified , I don't no if we ever got it just right but it was fun and educational , and finding the best ingredients for home made power cords . That made audio a fun hobby .

Tekton, Zu and Decware are three I have come across recently that I would like to experience.

Also a fan of the Audiokinesis approach to things, though have not actually heard.

THough also have not heard, gotta give a plug for HHR Exotic Speakers as well for forging ahead with the Walsh speaker design and keeping costs manageable.

Did I forget OHM? Here's to John Strohbeen as well!

Audio Research....still the cornerstone of tube amp products?

mhdt systems: very good DACs for not much cost.

Bel Canto: I like this company's products and service a lot though there is tons of competition.

Dynaudio are they too big? A gold standard in modern speaker design I would say.

How about Triangle? Not up with their more recent products too much but like what I have heard.

Manley and Rogue....I like these two companies products that I have heard though I liked Manley's old price structure a lot better than the new.

Magnepan, not too big to mention, right?

Haven't heard Atmasphere but I suspect Ralph's tube amp products are quite exceptional.

I suspect Classic Audio Loudspeakers may have some of the better sounding speakers out there especially with use of their field coil drivers.

I heard charming and reasonably priced large horns from The Cathedral Speaker company a while back that caught the ears of many at a show in addition to myself.

I tend to levitate towards products that are unique or innovative relative to the norm. There are many small companies making good stuff out there.

For me it is hard to what are big companies and what are the small ones beside the obvious ones like Sony, Marantz etc. What might be a small brand in one place can be big somewhere else. For example VanderSteen speakers a know brand in the US if I have to believe this forum. But where I live I doubt you will find 1 pair of vandersteen speakers amnong 1000 audiophiles.

Also I think Symphonic Line is a big name in Germany but beyond Germany it is mutch more a niche brand.

I know brand name =/ company size but still.

Anyone here knows about Metrum DAC's?

o think my intention of this thread is to imply that small companies that sell direct have an advantage over others which have a dealer network.

companies which don't have a dealer network don't have to contend with the problems which dealers may present to a manufacturer.

they may not have to be concerned with the need for a review, they may offer an audition for a period of time, only requiring the potential purchaser to pay for shipping.

dealers may or may not offer audition periods, other than some stores which will lend a component for a day or two.

in addition,it is nice to be able to chat with the designer and ask questions which many dealers do not or cannot answer

I've always brought home possible suspects from my local salon and keep them until I'm satisfied there fully run in, usually a few weeks. Then I'll do some research, including chatting up the designer when possible and reading reviews to see if there ramblings concur with my thoughts. Getting a few audiophile friends over to scrutinize the equipment and price is the final step. My dealer tells me I average trying six components in store and at home before a purchase. I must be a bloody pain in the arse.