I integrate the very best (arguably) drivers in acoustically correct cabinets to provide an ear opening audio experience for the refined newcomer and veteran audiophile. My products recreate the live event without the retail brick and mortar markup, $50/hr shop fees, glossy advertising, or grotesque half-truth rhetoric prevalent in the marketplace. My products are founded on firm science, solid craftsmanship, and many hours of listening.
I have three solid assets in this endeavor. I have excellent woodworking background, a good electronics background, and am married to an encouraging CPA who also has very good ears. I was blessed with a step-father who was a cabinet maker/finish carpenter for my woodworking education. He was a true craftsman with a keen eye, sharp tools, and spiritual approach to his work. I have seen multi-million $ homes and have only seen door trim/cabinetry as good in one place – my oldest step-brothers home. I watched my step-father often and wish I could have learned more from him before he died – even though I did learn a good amount. At age 13 I started using the tools in the basement (i.e. miter box, table saw, drills, joiner…). We had a respectable woodworking shop in our home during my teen years. I made some tables, shelves, and speakers too (bad ones).
I never learned how to make a good speaker in my youth. I couldn’t seem to find anything better than Radio Shack information. This has changed dramatically. Texts from Vance Dickason, F. Alton Everest, and Speaker Builder magazine provide very solid information. And a good measurement setup will cost about $1500. After several thousand hours of education I can build a speaker that decimates the commercial competition at equivalent prices because my time is fun/free and my parts are better. . I still enjoy making sawdust. The creation of sawdust and beautiful music is sublime! Also, my wife likes the smell of sawdust better than 75w90 gear oil. Hence, she is very encouraging of my hobby and accepts the thousands of hours I have spent learning about speaker building.
I am also fairly adept with electronics. From 1985 to 1989 I worked as a Patriot Missile System Technician in the Army. Initially I was quite inept. At the end of those 4 years I was reasonably competent. A few college electronics courses followed. Electricity is just like water. It goes from high pressure to low pressure. The flow of electricity has a systemic purpose. Troubleshooting and design is quite logical after reasoning through the basic concepts.
My wife is my most important asset. She keeps me “in line” with all of the business rules and has incredible ears. Most businesses fail because their leaders don’t know anything about business. In the year 2000 a wonderful speaker designer (Paul Hales) based in California went under. He produced an excellent product. He had excellent design principles, innovation, but he failed financially. I don’t have to worry about this. First, as noted above, this is primarily a hobby for me. Second, my wife Julie is a darn good CPA. She keeps me straight. She also has phenomenal ears. Julie can sit before a full orchestra and hear the French Horn playing slightly flat. She can do the same with a set of speakers. My wife is a blessing more precious than rubies – for this and many other reasons too.
My hobby is inspired by, well… God. My wife has the CPA and I have fun, but all good things come from the Lord. As long as God gives me motivation and fascination I will continue to make sawdust, and beautiful music.