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What companies, out of Business, did you LOVE???

I had just sold my Proceed PAV/PDSD combo, with a trio of Jeff Rowland Model 7s, and EAD Theatermaster. While I was waiting for my new system (Cal Audio CL-2500 pack) to arrive, I realized I needed some tunes and went to the yard to see what was 'laying' around. What I found was not only fun, but the idea to begin this thread. Personally, I am interested in this question from a Home Theater standpoint, but welcome 2 channel responses as well.

What is the BEST systems or pieces you have heard from companies that are no longer in business!!

I went to the garage, and pulled up a Golden Theater GTX-1 I had purchased a few years back. Solo Electronics went under about a year into these units. They received rave reviews from the magazines, but they just didn't hang around for a curtain call. I then pulled out an older 5 channel amp and here is what I gathered!

The DTS/DD Golden Theater GTX-1, which is STUNNINGLY good in 2 channel (what everyone loved about this unit!) was the start, and I paired it with a Chiro 5 channel C-500 amp.
I thought, hey, this company is also out of business too!!!
This amp was also favorably reviewed and when I put this system together, I realized how good they both were, specifically in 2 channel!! These companies both had GREAT products and when matched together, WOW! Obviously this set didn't chase the Proceed/Rowland gear out of my house, but you know, it did give it a run for its money!! Here is my thoughts on the BEST OutOfBusiness Home Theater!!

Golden Theater GTX-1 (DTS, DD)
Chiro C-500 (140 x 5, THX (for whatever that is worth)
Hales Concept 5 (owned these 250 lbs monsters some time ago) and for a center channel
the Hales Rev 1!!

This system would be stellar for music and if for music, it would kick butt for Home Theater!! The Hales are fabulous speakers, require substantial power (like the Aerials I run now) but if fed properly, even the mother of 'The Fridge' would be proud!

Put your best OutOfBusiness (OOB) companies down!!!

Dan

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sean
6,231 posts
 
I "think" that Harold Beveridge's son is still working with the speakers, but not sure. I remember reading something about that somewhere, but can't remember where. If really interested, i'm sure a search of either the Agon or AA archives would turn up something.

I would think that it would be nice to have a company like Apogee around, especially if they continued to refine their designs and work on newer technology at the same time. Same goes for Acoustat.

While i also love Threshold products, most of that has carried over to Pass Labs albeit in slightly different form. Same can be said for Counterpoint and Michael Elliot's current company Aria Audio and the few others that he's had in-between.

The only "come and gone" company that really sticks out in my head is Audio General Incorporated aka AGI. I would have liked to have seen what Dave Spiegel could have done with amplifier design, especially nowadays with the level of parts that we have available. He was ( and probably still is ) a designer way before his time.

Other than that, i think we have FAR more companies and products to choose from than in any other time in audio history. Maybe not as many "breakthrough engineers", but a LOT of "good stuff" none the less. Sean
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84audio
175 posts
 
A company called Ultech made a cd player for $1000 that was the best value for dollar audio product I had ever heard. The technology has changed significantly and time has moved on but at that time nothing else in the price range could touch it.
holman
22 posts
 
MFA.One of the best preamps made;Luminescence.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Harvey Rosenberg's New York Audio Labs (NYAL). I still use the NYAL Moscode "Super-IT" phono stage and it's beat a number of higher-priced pretenders. Love him or hate him, Harvey was one of a kind.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Many companies like Sonic Frontiers, Technics, Fisher, etc, are still in business in name only. They really are gone. Someone just bought the name to sell something else using the old company's goodwill. Just look at all the classic American television brands that are nothing but Asian mass produced sets with the old American name slapped on because Uncle Harry will only buy a Quasar television.

I wonder if anyone remembers Advance speakers? They were a little company in New Hampshire in the late 1970s to early 1980s. I think some of those principals were later involved with forming Boston Accoustics.

I am still impressed with older nameplates like Superphon (Stan Warren), Motif (Conrad Johnson), APT Holman, and MillerSound Labs cables.

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