The Small Artisan Audio Manufacturer Reference Thread

Andre Marc · Jul 2, 2014

Hey Folks:

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread to point folks in the direction
of small artisan audio component, speaker, and cable makers that make affordable,
high quality products.

Only rules are: no DIY, unless the firm offers both finished product and kits, no prototypes, and
there must be a way to purchase either via the web or phone, or through dealers.

I will start:

Passive Preamp:
Tisbury Audio-
http://www.tisburyaudio.co.uk/mini-passive-preamplifier
London, England

Single Driver Speakers:
Blumenstein Audio-
www.blumensteinaudio.com
Seattle, WA

Preamps, Amplifiers, and DACs:
CLONES Audio-
www.clonesaudio.com.
Hong Kong

Softone-
http://softone.a.la9.jp/english/
Yokohama, Japan

Cables:
Stager Sound Systems-
http://stagersound.com/silver/
New York, NY

Darwin Cables-
www.darwincables.com
Fargo, North Dakota

Fire away...

garylkoh · Jul 2, 2014

Andre, you don't consider Genesis small, artisan, high quality?

Oh. Affordable.......

Point to Point wired Tube preamp and headphone amp
Coffman Labs
http://www.coffmanlabs.com/

Andre Marc · Jul 2, 2014

garylkoh said:
Andre, you don't consider Genesis small, artisan, high quality?

Oh. Affordable.......

Point to Point wired Tube preamp and headphone amp
Coffman Labs
http://www.coffmanlabs.com/

Absolutely!!!! Although your products are hyper engineered and stretch in to SOTA, and the fit and finish
is on par with the very best.

Thanks for Coffman Labs. Jeff Dorgay at Tone is a big fan.

garylkoh · Jul 2, 2014

We like to think of it as old fashioned craftsmanship.

Andre Marc · Jul 2, 2014

garylkoh said:
We like to think of it as old fashioned craftsmanship.

I also think your company has an earned legacy and a current reputation far beyond a small shop.

Some of the companies I listed are barely a few years old.

jazdoc · Jul 2, 2014

EMIA (Jeffrey Jackson's and Dave Slagle's more affordable offerings)

http://myemia.com/welcome.html

Found-Music

http://found-music.com/
The entry level cables are killer for the money. Speaker cables are an absolute steal.

Andre Marc · Jul 2, 2014

jazdoc said:
EMIA (Jeffrey Jackson's and Dave Slagle's more affordable offerings)

http://myemia.com/welcome.html

Found-Music

http://found-music.com/
The entry level cables are killer for the money. Speaker cables are an absolute steal.

Thanks man!

I am a passive attentuator freak at this point, so thanks for myemia.

One thing I would not mind adding to the discussion is why these companies make it or not, or stay under the radar etc.

If I may critique the web sites. The Myemia has no pricing, which I find frustrating.

The Found Music site is a disaster. I found it very difficult to read the tiny script font on a black background, and again, no pricing I could see. This is just comments about the business aspect. If you look at, let's say, the CLONES or Blumenstein sites, everything is crystal clear..specs, pricing, etc.

Lee · Jul 9, 2014

Black Cat Cables.

http://stereomatic.com

Andre Marc · Jul 9, 2014

Lee said:
Black Cat Cables.

http://stereomatic.com

A no brainier!

TBone · Jul 21, 2014

Andre,

small artisan audio component, speaker, and cable makers that make affordable,high quality products.

Does it have to look "artisan"?

;-)

Well, around these meandering streets, highways, lakes, rivers and trees, Bryston & Classe were once considered affordable artisan companies. Sima spawned SIM/Moon, they perhaps once applied, consider this first generation, Sim Moon Eclipse HDCD 1704 player ...

it actually came with an independent Darth Vader like power supply, how ugly-kewl is that?

God, how I loved the look/sound of that player in my system, like few past & present.

OK, sorry for the legacy tangent (I'm legacy myself now) ... how about Blue Circle, the Sonic Frontier spawned Anthem (still around today I believe) ...
...
Edit: that picture was not the 1st gen.

Andre Marc · Jul 21, 2014

TBone said:
Andre,

Does it have to look "artisan"?

;-)

Well, around these meandering streets, highways, lakes, rivers and trees, Bryston & Classe were once considered affordable artisan companies. Sima spawned SIM/Moon, they perhaps once applied, consider this first generation, Sim Moon Eclipse HDCD 1704 player ...

it actually came with an independent Darth Vader like power supply, how ugly-kewl is that?

God, how I loved the look/sound of that player in my system, like few past & present.

OK, sorry for the legacy tangent (I'm legacy myself now) ... how about Blue Circle, the Sonic Frontier spawned Anthem (still around today I believe) ...

Post away! No restrictions, just remember the focus on small shops, good products, and seems like a really good value.

TBone · Jul 21, 2014

no restrictions

really?

*********************

I digress ...

How about Mr.JKeny's Ciatus ... a small company I consider very interesting. But then again, I have a history of gravitating towards United Kingdom artisans, the late Mike Moore, Mike Knowles ...

Some of the products in my system, like Foundation Research (PLC), I can't even describe because no website ever existed.

Too artisan perhaps?

Andre Marc · Jul 21, 2014

TBone said:
really?

*********************

I digress ...

How about Mr.JKeny's Ciatus ... a small company I consider very interesting. But then again, I have a history of gravitating towards United Kingdom artisans, the late Mike Moore, Mike Knowles ...

Some of the products in my system, like Foundation Research (PLC), I can't even describe because no website ever existed.

Too artisan perhaps?

Ha! I reviewed the Jkenny Ciunas DAC! Great product.

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-preamplifiers/stereo-preamps/john-kenny-ciunas-usb-dac-review.html

Andre Marc · Jul 21, 2014

TBone said:
really?

*********************

I digress ...

How about Mr.JKeny's Ciatus ... a small company I consider very interesting. But then again, I have a history of gravitating towards United Kingdom artisans, the late Mike Moore, Mike Knowles ...

Some of the products in my system, like Foundation Research (PLC), I can't even describe because no website ever existed.

Too artisan perhaps?

I would not say too artisan. There just hast to be a legitimate way to contact the shop and purchase the product.

TBone · Jul 21, 2014

There just hast to be a legitimate way to contact the shop and purchase the product.

You mean I just can't knock on their door?

Andre Marc · Jul 21, 2014

TBone said:
You mean I just can't knock on their door?

At your own risk heheh.

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