Development Tools

[JackD201]

In another thread I mentioned how I would hate to be a manufacturer when it comes to working a timeline. Then I got to thinking that these guys have fun too! In a recent post Von Schweikert showed a partial delivery of VAC electronics for development purposes. I think they sent a pair of speakers VAC's way to broaden Kevin's stable of speakers too. Now they have tubes to go with their Constellation SS and are waiting on their Kronos Pro for analog. I know Wilson has VTL, Rockport has Gryphon and Doshi, Sonus Faber has McIntosh and ARC. Can you think of any more test pairings used by the speaker guys?

[Hugh]

For us, it is Melody to go with Seraphim.

[MylesBAstor]

Alon at Magico uses a lot of different amps to drive his speakers. Among them are Spectral, Vitus and a few others. The BIG Soulution, however, seem lately to be his go to amplifier.

Not sure if current but Wilson at one time used Mark Levinson (the company, not the man) amps too. Dave is very much into linearity.

Carl at NOLA is partial to ARC. Not sure what else he has laying around.

ARC and Magnepan still have a good working relationship going back to the beginning of time were... high-end audio.

Obviously Evolution Acoustics and Dartzeel. Sure Jonathan can tell us any others.

[MylesBAstor]

BTW just was asking around today and as I though, Dave Wilson has a ton load of amplifiers around to use in listening to his speakers.

On the other hand, there are electronics manufacturers who give their amplifier to a trusted few listeners to audition with different speakers too.

[Audiocrack]

Well, some of the speaker guys produce their own amps. Tidal eg hat its own line of (solid state) amps. Actually the Tidal company is going one step further: by combining the forces/minds of a few 'audio smart heads' Tidal produces their own cables and digital devices as well. Furthermore Tidal is working on a state of the art powerstrip. I am particularly looking forward to the new Tidal dac that is in the making because it promises to be a very special dac able to play dsd at high rates as well.

I suppose,Jack, that you were actually looking for speaker brands that combine their various speakers with products of audio brands. However, I find this development of an audio company producing a complete audio system 'in house' in order to create maximum synergy effects very interesting as well. Are there other audio companies following this strategy?

[Beaur]

Well for one Linn has been doing it for years. Naim also did it if you count using an LP12 as a front end. McIntosh also comes to mind but not sure if they make theor own cables.

Beau

Well, some of the speaker guys produce their own amps. Tidal eg hat its own line of (solid state) amps. Actually the Tidal company is going one step further: by combining the forces/minds of a few 'audio smart heads' Tidal produces their own cables and digital devices as well. Furthermore Tidal is working on a state of the art powerstrip. I am particularly looking forward to the new Tidal dac that is in the making because it promises to be a very special dac able to play dsd at high rates as well.

I suppose,Jack, that you were actually looking for speaker brands that combine their various speakers with products of audio brands. However, I find this development of an audio company producing a complete audio system 'in house' in order to create maximum synergy effects very interesting as well. Are there other audio companies following this strategy?

[Audiocrack]

Yep, I forgot about Linn. Still only very few companies are following this strategy as far as I know. Understandable of course because you need the recources and know how to diversify your productlines.

[JackD201]

Well, some of the speaker guys produce their own amps. Tidal eg hat its own line of (solid state) amps. Actually the Tidal company is going one step further: by combining the forces/minds of a few 'audio smart heads' Tidal produces their own cables and digital devices as well. Furthermore Tidal is working on a state of the art powerstrip. I am particularly looking forward to the new Tidal dac that is in the making because it promises to be a very special dac able to play dsd at high rates as well.

I suppose,Jack, that you were actually looking for speaker brands that combine their various speakers with products of audio brands. However, I find this development of an audio company producing a complete audio system 'in house' in order to create maximum synergy effects very interesting as well. Are there other audio companies following this strategy?

I think it is wide spread and long standing but we are just getting more glimpses of it publicly because of social media sharing being done by the manufacturers. I think the US is a bit of the peculiarity since front to back end is much more common in the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Japan. That's pretty much the Big 5 right there. The only US owned front to back end company I can think of right now is HKSG yet they do not share brand names as far as speakers and electronics go. There is McIntosh I guess since they are still US based even if foreign owned AFAIK.

I could very well be wrong but my observation is that for the longest time pairings were made because of dealer network commonalities like B&W/Krell and later B&W/Classe. There are also many cases where being longtime show partners had manufacturers swapping gear with each other. I was more curious who uses what in house really.