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Thread: A totally new British amplifier.. A challenge?

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  1. #1
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: Derbyshire

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    I'm Josie.

    Default A totally new British amplifier.. A challenge?

    Hi all.

    This has been a question I've been thinking about for some time. In these days of china manufacturing almost everything is it still possible to make an amplifier which is constructed from components made and sourced in the UK.

    I guess this could be a challenge for someone but if it was to be a challenge NOS materials would be accepted.

    From the smallest component to the case work it would all have to be from and made in the UK.

    So, is this possible? If so, what kind of quality would it reach in the grand scheme of things?

    What are the main problematic areas one would face?




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  2. #2
    Join Date: Sep 2013

    Location: North Island New Zealand

    Posts: 1,757
    I'm Chris.

    Default

    That's a great challenge, but could get complex as to exactly what is a British manufacturer

    Would Zetex for instance to supply the transistors, qualify ?
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zetex_Semiconductors

    As they are UK based but were acquired by Diodes incorporated Dallas USA in 2008
    but have a listing on the London Stock Exchange.

  3. #3
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Birmingham

    Posts: 6,772
    I'm James.

    Default

    Designed and assembled in Britain would be a good start?
    Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702

    Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2

  4. #4
    Join Date: Sep 2013

    Location: North Island New Zealand

    Posts: 1,757
    I'm Chris.

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    Sugden appear as at least one remaining, entirely British based manufacturer of amplifiers.

    https://www.sugdenaudio.com/current

  5. #5
    Bigman80 Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by The Black Adder View Post
    Hi all.

    This has been a question I've been thinking about for some time. In these days of china manufacturing almost everything is it still possible to make an amplifier which is constructed from components made and sourced in the UK.

    I guess this could be a challenge for someone but if it was to be a challenge NOS materials would be accepted.

    From the smallest component to the case work it would all have to be from and made in the UK.

    So, is this possible? If so, what kind of quality would it reach in the grand scheme of things?

    What are the main problematic areas one would face?




    Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K
    Everything you need for an amplifier is already available in the UK and made by British companies.

    The biggest issue they face, or that amp builder face, is the fact China can do it so mucv cheaper than we can. Including postage.

    Most likely because the chinese companys don't pay a living wage but also as important is the fact most British made items Include a high premium for being..... British made.

    I recently went to buy an insert Stove. The company that designs them is in Dudley. The design them, get them fabricated of site and then assemble them back in Dudley.

    The stove is £700.

    I went to a fireplace shop the other days to pick a new fireplace and the guy won't install our stove because it's "made in China". I explained, he didn't care.

    Instead he offered us a British one of exactly the same spec. The price.... £1400. Yes, double.

    Why anyone would buy British for the fact its British is beyond me.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: Derbyshire

    Posts: 9,228
    I'm Josie.

    Default

    Okay, interesting.

    I guess a caveat would be that it would need to be designed and assembled here too.

    I guess there is quite a lot of confusion to what is made in the UK and assembled in the UK.

    Do sugden use components made in China?

    Also, price wise I guess that would be another interesting factor but for this it's not important. The question is can it be done?

    As for bought out companies. I'd not include them at them moment.

    Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K
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  7. #7
    Join Date: Sep 2013

    Location: North Island New Zealand

    Posts: 1,757
    I'm Chris.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by The Black Adder View Post
    Okay, interesting.

    I guess a caveat would be that it would need to be designed and assembled here too.

    I guess there is quite a lot of confusion to what is made in the UK and assembled in the UK.

    Do sugden use components made in China?

    Also, price wise I guess that would be another interesting factor but for this it's not important. The question is can it be done?

    As for bought out companies. I'd not include them at them moment.

    Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K
    Hi Josie
    I have written to Sugden to hopefully reply directly to the forum- if they meet the challenge.
    I will relay what they say, if their reply is instead direct to me.

    Cheers / Chris

  8. #8
    Join Date: Jan 2009

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    I'm Deleted.

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    Nobody makes an electronic component that is absolutely 100% manufactured in the UK. The biggest single stumbling blocks are the electronic components and I very much doubt it is even possible to source every component from a UK manufacturer (and certainly not a UK owned and UK based manufacturer).
    Account Deleted

  9. #9
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: Derbyshire

    Posts: 9,228
    I'm Josie.

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    Quote Originally Posted by YNWaN View Post
    Nobody makes an electronic component that is absolutely 100% manufactured in the UK. The biggest single stumbling blocks are the electronic components and I very much doubt it is even possible to source every component from a UK manufacturer (and certainly not a UK owned and UK based manufacturer).
    I agree in regards to base materials, some materials are only found in certain parts of the globe.

    But surely they manufacture parts here? And are proud to do so too? For example, charcroft, claritycap...?


    Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K
    Ultrafide U500DC power amplifier - Croft Vitale )highly modified) - TRIO L-07D Turntable - Denon DL103C1 - Funk Firm Houdini - Lentek MC head amp - 15" Tannoy Monitor Gold Loudspeakers in Lockwood Major cabinets (From Trident Studios) - Tannoyista SPEC 3 Custom Crossovers - VanDamme Black Speaker Cable


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  10. #10
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: South Wales

    Posts: 9,151
    I'm NotTakingLifeTooSeriouslyTheseDays.

    Default

    Hi Josie,
    As others have said, its very difficult to find components manufactured in the UK, but its very posible to manufacture a completed product with everything sourced in and from the UK, and its something i have always Believed in since i started producing Amplifiers over 20 years ago now. Cost play's a big part in being able to make products competetive, however; that has never bothered me, for me the finnished product costs what it does, because of what's gone into making it, and the ethics behind the whole process.
    I hope this helps.
    A...
    Quote Originally Posted by The Black Adder View Post
    I agree in regards to base materials, some materials are only found in certain parts of the globe.

    But surely they manufacture parts here? And are proud to do so too? For example, charcroft, claritycap...?


    Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K
    "Today scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality"
    Nikola Tesla



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