The Hi-Fi Atlas

The people behind the sound

Makers

Manufacturers, component suppliers and designers behind the systems in our listening rooms.

155 makers

Amplifiers

Accuphase

Accuphase makes high-end audio electronics in Yokohama. Its power amplifiers appear here in a multiroom listening venue.

Japan1 location

Custom systems / Speakers

Admire Audio

Admire Audio builds high-efficiency loudspeakers in Paterna, near Valencia. Its workshop develops the cabinets, horns and driver alignment together, drawing on classic cinema sound.

Spain1 location

Accessories / Cables / Components

Analog Relax

Analog Relax supplies analogue-playback accessories. Its cartridge lead wires form part of a modified turntable in the directory.

Japan1 location

Speakers

Apart Audio

Apart Audio makes equipment for installed sound. Its compact speakers and installation amplifiers can cover secondary areas around a larger listening system.

Belgium1 location

Amplifiers

Aries Cerat

Aries Cerat develops valve-based audio equipment in Cyprus. Its amplification is represented in a dedicated private listening room.

Cyprus1 location

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

Arup

Arup is an engineering and design consultancy with an acoustics practice. Its contribution to the directory is room design rather than equipment manufacture.

UK / global1 location

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

Audio Grail

Audio Grail specialises in restoring Garrard turntables. Its work returns vintage mechanisms to service within systems assembled from several independent makers.

UK1 location

Amplifiers / Components / Speakers / Turntables / Cartridges

Audio Note (UK)

Audio Note (UK) makes valve electronics and hi-fi components. Its amplifiers and preamplifiers were part of an early Los Angeles listening-bar installation.

UK1 location

Cartridges / Components

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica makes cartridges and other audio equipment in Japan. Its moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges are used with a wide variety of turntables in the featured rooms.

Japan4 locations

Accessories / Cables / Components

Auditorium 23

Auditorium 23 makes cables and analogue accessories in Germany. Its products connect and support components in a system built around vintage horns and a restored record deck.

Germany1 location

Amplifiers

Ayre

Ayre makes audio electronics. An amplifier at Hedge Coffee has been tentatively identified from a visible logo; the model remains unconfirmed.

USA1 location

Signal processing

BDS

BDS is the name attached to the PP-131 spectrum analyser at Equipment Room. Further manufacturer information has not been established.

Electronics / processing1 location

Headphones

Beyerdynamic

Beyerdynamic makes headphones and professional audio equipment in Germany. Its headphones are represented in a venue’s individual listening setup.

Germany1 location

Speakers

Bose

Bose’s contribution to this directory includes the vintage 901 loudspeaker. These older designs appear in rooms that assemble their systems from several generations of hi-fi.

USA1 location

Mixers

Bozak

Bozak is represented here by rotary DJ mixers. The name is closely associated with classic analogue mixing equipment used in record-led venues.

USA3 locations

Accessories / Cables / Components

Canare

Canare makes audio and video cabling in Japan. Its cables are represented both in a studio-monitor installation and in a restored vintage-speaker system.

Japan2 locations

Amplifiers

Cary Audio

Cary Audio makes audio electronics with a strong association with valve amplification. Vintage examples feature in the directory’s vinyl-focused systems.

USA1 location

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

Commune Design

Commune Design is an interior design studio. Its contribution to a featured venue is the room surrounding the sound system.

USA1 location

Speakers

Danley Sound Labs

Danley Sound Labs develops professional loudspeakers and subwoofers, including its Synergy Horn designs. Its cabinets also find a home in smaller venues built around close listening.

USA1 location

Speakers

DAS Audio

DAS Audio makes professional loudspeakers and subwoofers in Spain. Its equipment is represented here in a live-performance system.

Spain1 location

Amplifiers

Douk Audio

Douk Audio supplies compact audio electronics, including headphone amplifiers. Its products can support individual listening positions within a venue.

China1 location

Speakers

Dynaudio

Dynaudio is a Danish loudspeaker manufacturer with products for home and professional listening. Compact models can complement a venue’s main system by covering other parts of the room.

Denmark1 location

Mixers

E&S

E&S is credited with DJ electronics at Cornerstore. The available venue information does not identify the specific unit.

France1 location

Amplifiers

EAR Yoshino

EAR Yoshino is the valve-electronics company associated with designer Tim de Paravicini. Its amplifiers and preamplifiers have been used in curated listening programmes.

UK1 location

Mixers

Ecler

Ecler makes audio equipment in Spain. Its WARM2 rotary mixer is represented in the directory’s DJ systems.

Spain1 location

Amplifiers / Components

Elekit

Elekit supplies audio kits for assembly by enthusiasts and independent builders. A venue owner can build and modify its amplifier kits while remaining distinct from the original kit manufacturer.

Japan1 location

Turntables

EMT

EMT is associated with broadcast turntables and analogue playback equipment. Vintage 930-series decks appear in venue lists and in some tentative visual identifications.

Germany3 locations

Custom systems / Speakers

Éric Buy

Éric Buy is credited as a specialist subwoofer builder. His contribution here is a custom bass system used alongside another maker’s horn loudspeakers.

France1 location

Amplifiers

FFA

FFA is named in Hidden Grooves’ bass-amplification chain. The available equipment record does not identify the amplifier model.

UK1 location

Components / Speakers

Fostex

Fostex makes loudspeaker drivers and audio equipment in Japan. Its high-frequency units can extend the top end of systems built around larger vintage horns.

Japan1 location

Custom systems / Speakers

Friendly Pressure

Friendly Pressure is a London loudspeaker studio creating systems for particular rooms. Its projects bring speaker engineering into close collaboration with furniture and interior design.

UK1 location

Turntables

Garrard

Garrard’s 301 and 401 idler-drive turntables often return to service through specialist restoration. New plinths, tonearms and cartridges can form part of those rebuilt installations.

UK5 locations

Speakers

Genelec

Genelec makes active studio monitors in Finland. Their built-in amplification allows a venue to use a monitoring approach familiar from recording and production rooms.

Finland1 location

Custom systems

Giorgio Di Salvo

Giorgio Di Salvo is credited with the custom sound design at Oblicuo Hi-Fi. His contribution spans the main horn loudspeakers and the supporting equipment that serves the room.

Spain / Italy1 location

Components / Speakers

GR-Research

GR-Research develops speaker kits, proprietary drivers and crossover components in Texas. It also offers loudspeaker design and upgrade services for independent builders.

USA1 location

Headphones

Grado Labs

Grado Labs makes headphones and cartridges in Brooklyn. Its open-back headphones appear at private listening stations within a larger venue.

USA1 location

Speakers

Graham Audio

Graham Audio builds BBC-licensed monitor designs in Britain. Its studio-derived loudspeakers have also been used for public listening programmes.

UK1 location

Custom systems

H.A.N.D. HiFi

H.A.N.D. HiFi creates bespoke systems intended to suit the spaces around them. The Berlin workshop’s name stands for Have A Nice Day, and its work includes custom horn installations.

Germany3 locations

Custom systems / Speakers

Hark Audio

HARK brings together loudspeaker building, record culture and equipment repair in Paris. Its speakers are handcrafted in-house.

France1 location

Amplifiers

Harman Kardon

Harman Kardon’s vintage receivers are represented in the directory. These integrated radio and amplifier units sit alongside separate electronics in mixed-era systems.

USA1 location

Custom systems

Hatchett

Toby Hatchett designs and builds custom sound systems. His Dublin work includes semi-active four-way monitors at Fidelity and The Big Romance, with bespoke furniture and treatment also credited at the latter.

Ireland2 locations

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

House Under Magic

House Under Magic is Danny Taylor’s design studio. Its work at Eavesdrop treats the sound system, acoustics, furniture and room as connected parts of one project.

USA1 location

Amplifiers / Components

Hypex

Hypex makes amplification products. Its equipment is credited in the semi-active system at The Big Romance, although individual models are not named.

Netherlands1 location

Custom systems / Speakers

IFAUDIO

Argentine studio IFAUDIO designs hi-fi systems around the architecture and identity of each space. Its work combines custom loudspeakers, its own designs and selected existing equipment.

Argentina1 location

Isolation & acoustics / Mixers

Isonoe

Isonoe makes isolation products, rotary mixers and specialist audio electronics in London. Its work ranges from turntable modifications to custom mixing systems.

UK6 locations

Speakers

KEF

KEF develops loudspeakers using its Uni-Q coincident-driver technology. Its catalogue extends from compact listening systems to architectural products and the large MUON design.

UK3 locations

Custom systems / Speakers

KIKUNO

Yuji Tsutsumida’s KIKUNO builds handcrafted loudspeakers. At Café Wu, its Orbiter design uses reflectors above and below a two-way floating cabinet, finished in Yeddo Hawthorn.

Netherlands1 location

Speakers

Klipsch

Klipsch is closely associated with horn loudspeakers. Klipschorn, La Scala, Cornwall and Heresy models appear across the directory in both vintage and contemporary installations.

USA16 locations

Speakers

KOON

KOON is named in Spincoaster’s Shinjuku equipment information alongside a 400NT loudspeaker. Its identity and relationship to that equipment need further confirmation.

Japan1 location

Turntables

Kuzma

Kuzma makes turntables and tonearms in Slovenia. Its larger decks are used for dedicated album listening as well as domestic hi-fi.

Slovenia1 location

Speakers

L-Acoustics

L-Acoustics makes professional sound systems for performance spaces. Its presence here is in concert-room reinforcement rather than a venue’s separate domestic hi-fi system.

France1 location

Amplifiers

Leak

Leak is a British hi-fi name represented here by the Stereo 130. Its compact electronics can anchor a private headphone listening station.

UK1 location

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

Lewis Kemmenoe

Lewis Kemmenoe is a furniture designer and maker. His contribution to the directory is cabinetry made in collaboration with a loudspeaker studio.

UK1 location

Amplifiers

Linea Research

Linea Research develops professional amplification and signal-processing equipment. Its amplification is listed with Hatchett’s custom system at Fidelity.

UK1 location

Amplifiers

Luxman

Luxman makes high-end audio electronics in Japan. Both vintage power amplifiers and newer integrated designs appear in the directory.

Japan5 locations

Amplifiers

Marantz

Marantz is represented here by a vintage stereo receiver. The equipment forms part of a venue’s rotating selection of amplification.

Japan / USA2 locations

Mixers / Speakers

MasterSounds

MasterSounds develops rotary mixers and has worked on modified Technics turntables. Its equipment appears in both DJ booths and listening-bar playback chains.

UK5 locations

Signal processing

miniDSP

miniDSP supplies digital signal-processing hardware. Its equipment can help tune a playback system to the acoustic behaviour of a particular room.

Hong Kong1 location

Cartridges / Components

Nagaoka

Nagaoka makes phono cartridges in Japan. Its MP-110 appears in a modified turntable installation.

Japan1 location

Amplifiers

Naim

Naim makes hi-fi electronics. Shibuya Hi-Fi’s earlier bar-system record identifies a NAC72 preamplifier and NAP140 power amplifier.

UK1 location

Digital players & DACs / Tape & recording

Nakamichi (historic)

Nakamichi’s vintage cassette decks are represented by a 700 II. This historical tape equipment should be distinguished from current consumer products using the brand name.

Japan1 location

Loudspeakers / Subwoofers / Installed sound

New Fidelity

New Fidelity designs and builds loudspeakers and installed sound systems. Its Taberna Martha installation uses Reference 12 monitors, a custom subwoofer and Ref 6 satellites.

Germany1 location

Speakers

NNNN

NNNN is a Norwegian professional-audio company making loudspeakers and subwoofers. Its collaboration with OJAS connects large-scale sound-system engineering with bespoke listening installations.

Norway2 locations

Signal processing

NST

NST is credited with DSP crossover and time-alignment processing in the Hidden Grooves bass system. The precise processor model is unspecified.

Signal processing1 location

Custom systems / Speakers

OJAS (Devon Turnbull)

OJAS is Devon Turnbull’s audio practice. Horn loudspeakers, valve electronics and collaborations with specialist builders connect its work to the traditions of cinema and Japanese listening rooms.

USA / Japan5 locations

Cartridges / Components

Ortofon

Ortofon makes cartridges and analogue playback components in Denmark. The directory includes both current-style moving-magnet equipment and reported vintage SPU use.

Denmark2 locations

Custom systems / Speakers

Palladium Audio

Palladium Audio makes loudspeakers by hand in France. Its Cube, Heritage and Sub ranges can be adapted, installed and calibrated for hospitality spaces and private listening rooms.

France4 locations

Amplifiers

Parasound

Parasound makes audio electronics, including power amplifiers. Its equipment appears in venues using separate amplification for their loudspeakers.

USA3 locations

Custom systems / Speakers

Pitt & Giblin

Based in Hobart, Pitt & Giblin makes loudspeakers in small batches. Jack Pitt and Ross Giblin combine cabinet craftsmanship with audio engineering. The workshop uses veneered birch-plywood cabinets and locally cast bronze waveguides.

Australia1 location

Speakers

Polk Audio

Polk Audio makes home loudspeakers. Its vintage RTA12C towers are represented in the directory as part of a system assembled from several classic brands.

USA1 location

Amplifiers

Powersoft

Powersoft develops professional amplification and processing in Italy. Its Unica platform is used to drive multiple parts of a large listening-bar installation.

Italy1 location

Turntables

Reloop

Reloop makes DJ equipment, including direct-drive turntables. Its decks appear in rooms that combine record selection with bar service.

Germany2 locations

Mixers

Resør

Resør makes discrete Class-A rotary mixers. Its 2525FX is represented in a venue system built around a modified vintage turntable.

Mixers1 location

Digital players & DACs / Tape & recording

Revox

Revox makes audio equipment with a long association with reel-to-reel tape. Its B77 is represented in a venue offering several playback formats.

Switzerland1 location

Amplifiers

Sansui

Sansui’s historic Japanese hi-fi electronics remain in use in vintage systems. The examples here concern older amplifiers rather than current consumer products sold under the name.

Japan (historic / revived brand)1 location

Speakers

Seaton Sound

Seaton Sound specialises in subwoofers. Its products provide low-frequency reinforcement alongside another manufacturer’s main loudspeakers.

USA1 location

Cartridges / Components

Shelter

Shelter makes phono cartridges and related accessories in Japan. Its contribution here includes a headshell on a modified record deck.

Japan1 location

Microphones / Cartridges

Shure

Shure makes microphones and other professional audio equipment. Its SM58 is represented here in a venue’s live-performance setup.

USA1 location

Headphones

SIVGA

SIVGA makes headphones in China. Its SV021 is represented in a venue that offers headphone listening alongside the room system.

China1 location

Turntables

SME

SME makes precision turntables and tonearms in Britain. Its record-playing equipment is used in systems assembled from specialist analogue components.

UK1 location

Signal processing

SMSL

SMSL makes compact digital converters and amplifiers. Its desktop equipment appears in a venue’s rotating headphone setup.

China1 location

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

SOLUM Studio

SOLUM Studio works on interiors in Milan. Its contribution here includes the materials and architectural elements surrounding a vintage loudspeaker system.

Italy1 location

Digital players & DACs

Sony

Sony makes consumer and professional electronics. Its HAP-Z1ES digital music player is represented in a Tokyo listening-room installation.

Japan1 location

Turntables

Soulines

Soulines makes turntables. A Kubrick deck is reported in the private listening-room setup at Listeners.

Turntables1 location

Design & installation / Signal processing

Sound Metaphors

Sound Metaphors is a Berlin music business associated with custom sound-system work. It is credited alongside H.A.N.D. HiFi on a featured installation.

Germany1 location

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

Soundlux Audio

Soundlux Audio is a Miami hi-fi business involved in system selection and design. Its venue work includes collaboration with specialist speaker and acoustic designers.

USA1 location

Digital players & DACs / Tape & recording

Studer

Studer is associated with professional recording and broadcast equipment. A vintage A730 CD player is the unit represented in this directory.

Switzerland1 location

Design & installation / Isolation & acoustics

Studio Kos

Studio Kos is credited as a room-design collaborator at Public Records. Its role is presented separately from the makers of the equipment installed there.

USA1 location

Amplifiers

Sugden Audio

Sugden Audio makes hi-fi electronics in Britain and is associated with Class-A amplification. It is named among the suppliers to Spiritland’s system.

UK1 location

Cartridges / Components

Sumiko

Sumiko supplies phono cartridges. One of its cartridges is paired with a Pro-Ject listening turntable in the directory.

USA1 location

Design & installation

SYMU Systems

SYMU Systems works on sound-system integration and tuning. A sign at Hedge Coffee credits its work alongside loudspeaker builder PHYSM Industrial.

USA1 location

Speakers

Tannoy

Tannoy is known for Dual Concentric loudspeakers. Its larger cabinets have become focal points in rooms built around vinyl playback.

UK5 locations

Digital players & DACs / Tape & recording

Tascam (TEAC)

Tascam, part of TEAC, makes recording and playback equipment. Its DA-3000 appears alongside analogue sources in a listening-bar system.

Japan1 location

Mixers

Taula

Taula is the mixer name credited at La Analógica HIFI. The room’s equipment list identifies a 4MR rotary unit.

Mixers1 location

Accessories / Components / Tonearms

Thomas Schick

Thomas Schick makes tonearms in Berlin. His 12-inch arms are paired with restored Garrard turntables in several featured rooms.

Germany3 locations

Turntables

Thorens

Thorens is a long-established turntable name. Its record players appear here in a Japanese listening room, although the model is not specified.

Switzerland / Germany1 location

Amplifiers

Thöress

Thöress builds valve audio electronics. Its F2a11 amplifier is identified in the Rhinoçéros system.

Germany1 location

Amplifiers

Threshold Audio

Threshold is associated with US high-end power amplifiers, including Nelson Pass-era designs. The units featured here are vintage equipment maintained in active use.

USA1 location

Accessories / Components / Isolation & acoustics

Townshend Audio

Townshend Audio develops hi-fi equipment and isolation products. Its supports can reduce mechanical coupling between large loudspeakers and the building around them.

UK1 location

Speakers

TPI

TPI supplies the low-frequency cabinets described at Hidden Grooves. Four UC15G units are positioned beneath the venue’s large Tannoy speakers.

Subwoofers1 location

Speakers

Tune Audio

Tune Audio builds horn loudspeakers in Greece. Its large designs are represented in a private listening room associated with the directory.

Greece1 location

Design & installation / Turntables

Vinylista

Vinylista is credited with custom turntable plinths. These bases form part of restored Garrard installations alongside separately chosen arms and cartridges.

USA1 location

Components / Speakers

Vitavox

Vitavox has a long association with horn loudspeakers and professional drivers. Its components have also been incorporated into systems built by other specialist manufacturers.

UK1 location

Accessories / Components / Tonearms

Viv Labs

Viv Labs is a Japanese tonearm maker. Its equipment has been reported in Spiritland’s album-listening playback chain.

Japan1 location

Speakers

Void Acoustics

Void Acoustics makes loudspeakers, subwoofers and amplification for installed and performance sound. Its equipment can work alongside custom cabinets in a larger venue system.

UK1 location

Design & installation

Vunktion

Vunktion works on sound-system installation and integration. New Fidelity credits Vunktion as the installation partner for Taberna Martha in Madrid.

Europe1 location

Components / Custom systems

Werner Jagusch

Werner Jagusch builds specialist loudspeaker crossovers in Germany. His autoformer-based work is associated with vintage Altec and OJAS installations.

Germany2 locations

Components / Speakers

Western Electric

Western Electric’s current audio work includes 300B valves. Vintage cabinets bearing the name belong to an earlier cinema-sound history and should be distinguished from current production.

USA1 location

Speakers

Yamaha

Yamaha makes musical instruments and professional audio equipment. In this directory, its portable PA serves live performances within a music venue.

Japan1 location