Founded in Australia in 1966 by John Lenard Burnett, Lenard Audio designs and develops integrated four-way active sound systems, alongside audio standards, education and specialist consulting. The company’s work grew from high-powered instrument amplifiers and concert PA systems into reference systems for studios, venues, cinemas and domestic listening, with its Black Opal serving as the benchmark for the wider range. John’s daughter Phaenelagh Burnett has worked with the company for more than 30 years as co-founder and owner, making Lenard a distinctly multigenerational audio enterprise.
Antipodes AudioFounded in Auckland in 2004 by Mark and Sonia Jenkins, Antipodes Audio makes specialised digital audio source components for high-end music systems. The New Zealand company moved to Ōtaki on the Kapiti Coast in 2020 and remains solely owned and actively run by its original founders. Its eight-person team distributes digital audio sources through partners in 40 countries, while its newer Oladra brand extends the company’s work into the ultra-high-end market.New York, NY
Ashly Audio, IncFounded in 1974 by engineer Billy Thompson, Ashly Audio designs and builds professional audio systems and amplification for installed sound and live applications. Still based in Webster, New York, the company blends modern DSP, networking and Dante capabilities with a reputation for durable equipment—some Ashly amplifiers remain in service after 30 or 40 years. Many employees have stayed for 30 years or more, and Ashly continues to support older products with parts and service.WEBSTER, NY
McIntosh Laboratory, IncFounded by Frank McIntosh in 1949, McIntosh Laboratory crafts high-end home audio systems and has designed and handcrafted its products at its Binghamton, New York factory since 1951. The company is recognized for its illuminated blue Watt output meters, enduring product designs, and a place in music history that includes powering Woodstock and the Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound.”BINGHAMTON, NY
MarantzFor nearly 70 years, Marantz has designed and made high-fidelity audio equipment, from amplifiers to home-theater components, with a distinctive blend of artisanal craftsmanship and modern networked sound. Founded around Saul Marantz’s pioneering work in Hi-Fi amplification, the brand has maintained a manufacturing home at Shirakawa Audio Works since 2002 and now operates under Harman International.CARLSBAD, CA