Peter Qvortrup

[southall-1998]

Who owned Audio Note before Peter?

S.

[hifi_dave]

There is the UK Audionote and the original Japanese Audionote.

[DSJR]

Beyond that, best not to venture methinks

[pure sound]

As Dave says there is Audio Note (UK) which started in about 1992 but originally there was Audio Note; a Japanese manufacturer of cartridges, transformers cables & electronics. PQ was the Danish & then UK distributor of Audio Note's products. In the late 80's the Japanese company decided to stop making the cartridges so it was arranged that the manufacture be transferred to the UK. PQ was also helping to finance the purchase of silver wire for interconnects, speaker cables & transformers so had contacts with the suppliers as he was paying them.

At some point PQ and the Japanese company fell out, there was some kind of legal case which resulted in PQ keeping the name and the Japanese company renaming itself as Kondo.

It was always a difficult separation. Audio Note in Japan were a tiny boutique audio company whose products only really began to be noticed on a world wide scale because of PQ's marketing effort in the UK, US and Scandinavia and because of the assistance offered in buying stock such as wire & other parts.

Fortunately both companies now co-exist and both make some interesting items.

[southall-1998]

Always did had a liking for AN UK gear.

The Oto SE is pretty nice!

S.

[hifinutt]

ah thanks to all for explaining these things . I never knew that about kondo