163 The High End Matures 271 The Switching Amplifier 165 Introduction and Historical Overview 273 Introduction and Historical Overview 167 Spectral Audio 274 TacT Audio Millennium Contents 175 Burmester Audiosysteme 275 John Ulrick: Infinity and Spectron 177 Bryston Ltd. 277 Bruno Putzeys 181 Goldmund 279 Devialet Electronics Milestones The High End Responds 183 Simaudio Ltd. 01 67 186 John Iverson: Electro Research and Electron from the Acoustic Era to 69 Introduction and Historical Overview Kinetics/Eagle 71 Robert W. (Bob) Carver: Phase Linear, Carver Corporation, 187 Dan D’Agostino: Krell Industries and Today’s Vanguard the Modern High End Sunfire, Bob Carver Corporation Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems 281 79 John Curl 195 Plinius Audio 283 Introduction and Historical Overview 83 NAD 196 Boulder Amplifiers 284 Vitus Audio 90 Bascom King 199 Madrigal Audio Laboratories 285 Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) The High-Fidelity Era, 1945–1970 93 James Bongiorno: Great American Sound, Sumo, Ampzilla 202 T+A 288 Odyssey Audio 13 2000 203 Classé Audio 289 Aesthetix 15 Introduction and Historical Overview 98 Electrocompaniet 205 Parasound 291 Hegel Music Systems 16 Fisher Radio 99 Mark Levinson: Mark Levinson Audio Systems, Cello, Red 207 Jeff Rowland 293 PrimaLuna 17 H.H. Scott Rose Music, Daniel Hertz 214 MBL 295 Viola Audio Laboratories 18 Crown International 107 PS Audio 215 Gryphon Audio Designs 297 Soulution 19 Williamson Amplifier 111 Nelson Pass: Threshold, Pass Labs, First Watt 216 Edge Electronics 301 Constellation Audio 21 Heath 121 Adcom 217 A Brief History of Solid-State Amplifiers 305 Absolare 22 David Hafler: Dynaco, and the Hafler Company 307 CH Precision 25 McIntosh Laboratory 31 Marantz 39 Harman Kardon The Tube Renaissance The British Contribution 43 Soundcraftsmen 123 231 A Technical History: From 44 Hadley Laboratories 125 Introduction and Historical Overview 233 Introduction and Historical Overview 309 45 Scientific Audio Electronics (SAE) 126 Audio by Van Alstine 235 Peter Walker and Quad Before the Amplifier Through 127 William Zane Johnson and the Audio Research Corporation 238 Linn 137 Conrad-Johnson 239 Cambridge Audio the Golden Age of Hi-Fi 145 Esoteric Audio Research (EAR) 241 Naim Audio The Japanese Contribution 147 Audible Illusions 249 Arcam 47 148 MFA 251 Chord Electronics 317 Glossary of Terms 49 Introduction and Historical Overview 149 Vacuum Tube Logic (VTL) 253 Other Significant British Companies 322 Index 50 Yamaha 153 Jadis 326 Contributors 51 Denon 155 Valve Amplification Company (VAC) 52 Technics 157 Wavestream Kinetics 53 Luxman 158 Ayon Audio The SET and OTL Phenomena 54 Pioneer 159 The Five Most Significant Tube Amplifiers 255 55 Sansui 257 Introduction and Historical Overview 56 Kenwood 259 Julius Futterman: New York Audio Laboratories 57 Sony 261 Audio Note Japan 59 Accuphase 263 David Berning Audio 62 Zanden Audio Systems 265 Nobu Shishido 63 Rotel 266 Atma-Sphere Music Systems 65 Air Tight 267 Lamm Industries 66 Concert Fidelity 270 Cary Audio VI VII.