"My first system was the clincher - in grade 7 I had a dynaco pat 4 preamp, a stereo 80 power amp, a pair of psb 40r's, and my front end was a technics disc player. I was hooked, and it was this that would be my gateway into hi-fi and the recording industry. By 2001 I had a great project studio in the basement. Cutting local demos really helped me build a solid background in sound, and got my feet wet for what was about to come. I began scouring the audio market, every mag, website, and press release that I could get my eyes on. That was it, I was addicted. I absolutely loved the industry in every way; the music, studio work, and the technology. Yet, it was the unattainable goal of creating the perfect loudspeaker that truly captivated me.
"2005 came around and I was getting picky about what I was hearing at home and developed a little more refined taste in music, primarily due to the mixing and mastering work I had been involved in. By this time I had given up running my own studio, and moved around to do engineering work for other studios. I was also working retail, something I had to get out of. A colleague of mine, addicted to all things film, approved the idea of starting a hi fi business. Some long and exciting chats gave me the serious drive to learn acoustics from a transducer standpoint (I'm still doing it, but I've got a pretty good feeling that I cant, and wont, reach the end).
"So it began. The studio background was helping as it does for others in this field, so did growing up with an electrical engineer. I knew I was in for it. Fast forward two years and I had this prototype, the first one that I thought was worth listening to that I called the coaster; it's always been related to coffee. Its highly admired and it doesn't stay around for long before its sold. I run into an old school friend, the kind that left a good impression. (laughs) Ross heard the coasters and wanted his own pair, so we set about to work on two subsequent pairs. The coasters were sprayed by Ross; one in a gorgeous met blue enamel, and the other gloss black. Ross took his piano black pair and the blue jaw-droppers found a home soon after. The coasters were stunners for sure.
"I continued designing, all the while mixing, mastering, and doing the odd car audio install on the side. I also started trying my hand with amplifiers. My knowledge base grew along with my musical tastes, so I cooked up this shape (similar to that of the grinders), build the prototypes, and they perform! Especially with the class-a mono blocks and ac filters that I built in front of them. After almost daily sessions in the listening room, Ross and I realized this is what we had to be doing for a living.
"Having a sit one evening, in one of our highly attentive caffeinated states, we do the math and create the light roast. Our little gem and claim to fame. Already having created a buzz as well as selling numerous pairs was ‘ARE’ collective door, and now we are going to bring it to you. There is no end to the design, the technology, or the learning. That was only the beginning, and the rest is history in the making."
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