History of Wharfedale

One of my greatest passions in life is to find time to sit down in my room, with a warm cup of coffee in my hand, and listening to a CD from my favorite all-time 80's band; a-ha. And thanks to a great pair of Wharfedale loudspeakers, these guys seem to be performing "live concerts in my room" on a daily basis, if you know what I mean. These loudspeakers communicate not just the music as it was recorded, but also the very essence of the performance! This inspired me to finally sit down and write a post on the History of Wharfedale.

Wharfedale was in fact founded in 1932, by Gilbert Briggs who built his first loudspeakers in the cellar of his home in Ilkley in Yorkshire, England. This quiet market town was located in the valley of the river 'Wharfe', hence 'Wharfedale', the unlikely setting for the birth of a brand that was to become synonymous with quality and technology wherever hi-fi was used throughout the world.

In 1933, a small factory was established in nearby Bradford in order to build the increasingly popular loudspeaker drive units. In the same year the Wharfedale Wireless Works won both first and second prizes in a national competition organized by the Bradford Radio Society. These were but the first of many awards that the company has since received. From this time, Wharfedale went from strength to strength, and, following a move to a larger factory, production reached 9,000 speakers in the year 1939.

During the war years the company concentrated on the production of transformers for military equipment, but in 1945 a new factory was found and loudspeaker production restarted with a staff of over 20. Production levels grew dramatically with loudspeakers being shipped across the world and in 1956 Wharfedale formed its own subsidiary company in the USA and the following year opened a massive new automated cabinet factory in Bradford.

Gilbert has built quite a reputation for himself for pioneering a hifi industry. His popularity extends to the books he has written which led him to stage an audacious series of concerts to compare live vs. recorded music. These concert demonstrations became very famous, using Wharfedale loudspeakers with either Quad or Leak electronics. It also led to the very close working relationship between Gilbert and Peter Walker of Quad that led to the next major development for Wharfedale.

In 1958 Gilbert Briggs, by then over 68 years old, sold the company to the Rank Organization; a major UK industrial group which also owned the audio electronics company Leak and also Heco; a German loudspeaker company. Rank made major investments in R&D and in marketing and distribution. Wharfedale continued to lead the loudspeaker world in technological developments with the introduction in 1960 of roll-surround suspensions and in 1961 the first use of ceramic magnets.

By 1988 Wharfedale Loudspeakers plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange and in 1992 the company changed its name to the Verity Group plc and purchased a number of other companies including Mission; Cyrus; Quad (all British hi-fi companies) and Premier Musical Instruments. The then managing director of Wharfedale led a management buyout and formed a new company; the International Audio Group which incorporated Wharfedale loudspeakers; Quad audio electronics; Leak high-end audio electronics and Airedale loudspeakers.

As for the man who started it all, Gilbert Briggs died in 1978 but his legacy and enthusiasm lives on in his products. Today Wharfedale is a truly international company with its Marketing and Design departments headquarters in Huntingdon, England.

So the next time you have a look at a Wharfedale loudspeaker, remember, you're getting a product which has a 75 year experience, one of the most advanced research and development programmes, and high quality control processes in the industry.

Pavarotti Has Passed Away

Today marks a day filled with sorrow, as the greatest celebrated opera singer to have lived - Luciano Pavarotti, has passed away in his home at 5am, local Italian time. This is indeed a huge loss for the music world.

Pavarotti was born in the outskirts of Modena, Italy on October 12th, 1935, and had captivated the opera world till his dying age of 71. Mention Pavarotti, and I imagine, charcoal black beard and seeing him in his famous tuxedo suit. To me, I shall remember him as a entertainer for his charismatic performances and ebullient showmanship.

The great Italian tenor, Pavarotti was indeed a talented singer renown for his vocal capabilities and humanitarian efforts along the way, when he received a medal (UN High Commission for Refugees) relating to works surrounding issues related to refugees. It is said that Pavarotti began showing his singing capabilities at a tender age of nine, when he used to sing alongside his father in their small local church choir. Pavarotti made his initial opera debut back in 1961 in his home front and it was not until February 1965, that he made his presence felt in the American shores through the Greater Miami Opera. Throughout his career, Luciano Pavarotti has released numerous musical DVD's that were outsold in weeks of their availability.

It was not till late last year when the Maestro was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer - said to be one of the most dangerous forms of the disease, which he fought all along. Pavarotti had supposedly undergone further treatments to suppress the effects of the cancer, but to no avail and finally succumbing to his illness early this morning.

The thought of losing someone special is hard to comprehend, and I am thankful to God, as HE has allowed my parents to share their love with me thus far, for I can't imagine the day, when I will face this same situation as Pavarotti's children; Lorenza, Giuliana, Cristina (from his first wife) and Alice (from his second wife), who would be feeling so much sorrow moaning the loss of their beloved father.

For the millions of his fans, the natural beauty and the vibrantly high C's of Pavarotti's voice will be greatly missed, for I have never seen another opera singer who reached out to 1.5 billion people.

May his soul rest in peace and may the heavens enjoy the beauty of his great voice.

Buying Plasma or LCD ?

Watching Television is one of my greatest hobby (if you could call it a hobby??) After a hard day at work, most of us would head home to unwind and enjoy activities such as watching some television with the family. We would naturally watch our favourite programs, the news or the latest movies on cable; maybe even catch a live football or golf tournament with our friends.

Therefore when the opportunity arises, consider to treat yourself to a new television set, (if you don't already own one??); especially since the prices have dropped drastically over the last couple of years. However, with many wide, varied style and technology available in the market, the search can be some-what quite daunting. Brands can be very personal to certain people and many diehards who had good or bad experience with a particular brand would have already made up their minds on this. Nonetheless, within any particular brand, you have decided or are open to compare; you still have the choice of technologies like LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or Plasma to choose from!

1. Is one better than the other?
2. What is the difference in their performances?
3. Cost difference?

They are two competing technologies, yet both have some similar features or designs and serve the same function of enabling you to watch High Definition Television (HDTV). In spite of this, Plasma and LCD TVs are very much different in terms of how they deliver the image or picture to the viewers.

What is HDTV?
High Definition Television is a set of digital television (DTV) standards in a television broadcasting system or TV Programmes that offer the highest resolution, sharpest film-like picture quality and finer detail. It provides an almost cinematic experience broad-casted with full 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. In the future, HDTV will allow the connectivity of computers, indeed, impressive!


Overview on LCD TVs
It has normally two sheets of polarized transparent material. In the spaces in between the two are liquid crystals. On each of this crystal, electric current passes through in response to the signal received and thereby helps create the right amount of light in order to emit in creating the image. LCD pixels are normally comprised of three sub-pixels in the elementary colour. And these crystals do not produce light, but fluorescent tubes/bulb that are used in illuminating the image inside. In this process, you find that less power is consumed for it to operate.

Overview on Plasma TVs
Plasma has a flat but characteristic lightweight surface that is covered with millions of tiny glass cells like little bubbles. Inside each of these glass cell, there is a gas-like substance, known as Plasma and is added with a phosphor coating. These are chemical compounds that emit light when energized. Each bubble is called a pixel (picture element) and pixels comprises three smaller bubbles in each of them, and they come in three colours green, red and blue inside them. And when a digitally controlled flow of electric voltage runs in the flat screen, the plasma gives off ultraviolet rays. It then emits a light to cause the coated phosphor to glow and thus form the image you see on the screen.


The key importance to a good buying decision, know the limitations and advantages of each technology and apply it to your specific needs. Quality-wise, in it's final function as a TV, there is not much difference between them in a normal family usage. Remember the price is not to be the end of all of your buying decisions. Whatever you choose, make sure you have picked out the most suitable type and of the right size which you could enjoy at home with your love ones.

DJ Tiesto

Mention Trance music and one name comes to my mind, DJ Tiesto! Since music has been my passion since school days, I'm actually okay with all kinds. In the beginning I fancied R&B as I worked in a club called 'Traqs' here in KL city. A visit to Melbourne in the early 90's changed all that for me, I began liking Trance music more.

This is a guy who, if he didn't become a DJ cum Producer, would have ended up being a Chef (he loves cooking as well). Tiesto is the first DJ in the world who played in front of 25,000 people in a sell-out two night solo stadium event.

Born in Holland, DJ Tiesto began producing his own music back in 1995. And two years down the road DJ Tiesto together with Arny Bink, formed Black Hole Recordings, the label that launched the hugely acclaimed Magik, In Search Of Sunrise and Nyana mix compilations that we have come to enjoy till date.

Most of the tracks that he uses in his sets are taken off his Magik Muzik label (another sub label of his). In the DJ'ing world Tiesto is known to be a pioneer contributor in the trance music scene, DJ Tiesto thus far remains grounded about his achievements and clearly loves making and playing music above the accolades it brings.

For me in the beginning it was more like an experiment, in my years of playing music I have seldom come across a DJ who had been voted the worlds No. 1 for three years, so I bought his Cd's to find out, this started my whole journey of trance with DJ Tiesto.

Currently his music style is a mixture of everything; trance, house, techno. Inputting different influences gained from his travels from around the world. To show his inner self Tiesto is also involved in charitable programmes where in 2006, he decides to become the worldwide ambassador for Dance4Life, collaborating with Faithless' Maxi Jazz on the anthem, which turned out to be a dynamic piece.

Another thing that caught my attention about DJ Tiesto is that he recently launched the brand new Reebok 'Run The DJ Tiesto' shoe line. This time around he was very much involved in the design, the choice of colours as well as the materials used. For the die-hard fans of Tiesto, like me, you are able to get a pair, complete with his signature.

a-ha

Do you remember the time 'ripped jeans' was a fashion statement back in the 80's. Who started it all? Morten Harket, lead vocalist of my ultimate 80's band.... a-ha! Someone told me that it got invented by accident actually, tore his jeans as he was running to the stage, hitting an amplifier on the way. After many years, it becomes 'the' hottest item in display windows throughout the world. What a way to start a fashion statement, don't you think so.

Even during my schooling days, there was always the three of us ; Vickie, James and Me, we were on 'our very own way the a-ha'. From the dressing, leather strips sling'ed on the wrist & even the hairstyle, all were part of our life's back then. And I always chose to be Morten (don't ask me why...) Maybe, because he looked like Elvis & James Dean put together. Those were really good times. I really miss my buddies!

Believe it or not, every time I listen to their hit single - Take On Me, it sends shivers all over my body, but definitely not like the ones that you get when you watch horror movies. This happens until today. It's got that special place in me. Simply put, this has to be my absolute favourite of all time.

In 1985, Take On Me became a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic. It was originally called 'Lesson One' which failed in its earlier releases. The single - Take On Me, sold 1.5 million copies worldwide in just one week.

Currently two concerts have been lined up for this year; Fredrikstad Stadium in Fredrikstad, Norway on Friday, August 17 and the other one at Alfheim Stadium in Tromsø, Norway on Saturday, August 25.

Albums :

1. Hunting High and Low (1985)
2. Scoundrel Days (1986)
3. Stay On These Roads (1988)
4. East of The Sun, West of The Moon (1990)
5. Headlines and Deadlines - The Hits of a-ha (1992)
   
6. Memorial Beach (1993)
7. Minor Earth Major Sky (2000)
8. Lifelines (2002)
9. How Can I Sleep With Your Voice In My Head (2003)
   
10. Singles 1984 - 2004 (2004)
    
11. Analogue (2005)
12. Cosy Prisons - CD Single (2006)
13. Trilogy Album (Box Set) * 1, 2 & 3 (2006)
    

Parting words......wish Malaysia 'exists' in their up-coming concert schedule??

Home Theatre Systems

Getting the right AV Equipment setup can be difficult at times. First of all it involves a lot of planning, in terms of where to install them, whether it's going to be a setup for audio solely or is it going to be added with visual equipment as well. Usually Home Theatre setups are as individual as the people who own them.

Nowadays, Home Theatre setups are becoming more and more common amongst homeowners throughout the world. Widely available, by not having one, some might even ask you if you're from the stone age. So nowadays people just walk into a store and grab a 'box set' and head back home to hook it up to their TV sets, to them their task is over," I have picture & I have sound, I'm happy". And there are people who would stretch their wallets way pass the ceiling, and end up getting the same thing, picture & sound. But there's more.... so much more difference.

To me, when you have a dedicated room for all this, you're able to enjoy the maximum viewing potential it's got to offer, in a bigger way. Imagine the whole family sitting together and catching that great movie, all in the comforts of their home. Bringing that movie theatre experience right into your home added with the right equipment, beats any theatre outing (for me that is).

Remember, there are people who go to extreme lengths just to ensure that everything is of the best quality. It can start from the carpets on the floor, the doors, the ceiling, wiring, bookshelfs or loudspeakers etc. Another thing you would have to look into is the Amplifier, make sure it's as powerful as the Speakers ' minimum input rating. This is to avoid distortions and in some extreme cases Speaker damage . If it's the other way around, then don't worry.

Another tip would be not to buy a one-brand system, a little bit of mixing and matching brands will go a long way. Some may have strengths and some may have weaknesses, that is i why the whole AV set-up in my home is based on that theory.

Tip number two, never crank up your system too loud, even though the temptation is there. By doing so many a times, you'll soon discover a flattening of the dynamics in the music. A good combination Amplifier & Speaker set, would enable it to play cleanly at realistic levels thus giving the power to the dynamics of the music more accurately.

Finally, once everything is decided and you want to make sure if you've got that successful system matching, don't worry because there's only two things you would need and they're made easily portable by being attached to both sides of your head.... ears. That's right, by you listening, it will not go wrong but then again, finding a good dealer to help you experiment , while at the same time guide you, will prove to be invaluable.

So remember, play by ear, if it sounds good to you, then you're doing it right!

DJ'ing

This is a story about how I got hooked up in the music world and learned everything about what is needed to be a reasonably good DJ, and the equipments you would necessarily need when it comes to DJ'ing. My younger days were filled with lots of fond memories (not to say that now it's not...). Growing up in the 70's era, we didn't have things like PS2's, so what was our favourite past time? House parties on most of the weekends!! I was lucky because I had brothers who practically organised parties, every other weekend. You should see the walls at our old place, cracks everywhere (due to loud music..) Thank God it's been torn down long ago for development in that area.

Couldn't get it out of my head, so, I picked it up where they left off. Slowly began mixing songs for private parties and after building enough courage decided to get involved in the club scene, the rest was history.

DJ'ing has evolved beyond it's humble beginnings. Back in those days DJ's were popular for being Radio Deejays/Announcers. Today, there are many different types of DJ's out there in the market due to different factors like : performance settings, choice of music, the intended audience etc.

Call it whatever you want, playing, mixing, scratching, but eventually everything boils down to skill. Now, that's powerful.

The whole idea in DJ'ing is to be able to seamlessly blend tracks together so that they become one huge never ending song (not to be confused with a broken record...). Nowadays everyone wants to be a DJ. If ever you dreamt about how the whole thing works and how they do it behind the decks, you gotta read on. Here's a couple of clues on how to get started because getting the right DJ Equipments is essential, unless you've got your hands on a pair of ipod DJ Mixer. I mean this has simply got to be the best invention till date . Imagine no more going into a club with boxes & boxes of records, coz everything you need, will be in your pockets!

DECKS
Get a minimum of two devices, which could either be a combination of a DJ CD Player or a Turntable set. This, would allow the user to alternate back & forth in between tracks to create a continuous flow. Every equipment is going digital age but you will still get complaints from the "Old Timers" 'cause digital sound will never be as good and punchy as the ones from vinyl. On the other hand, I personally, prefer to play with Cd's. Another reason is that I get to travel light (no more bulky vinyl boxes to carry around)

These modern day decks come fully equipped with extras, like BPM (beats per minute) Counters (trust me, it will come handy), Loop Controls, Multiple Cue Points etc.

For the die hard vinyl collector, if you still want that "feeling", go get yourself that direct drive turntable and you will be safe. Don't waste money on belt driven ones. Make sure your pitch control is located on your right, for easier control.

AUDIO MIXER
Besides having to own the two Decks, an Audio Mixer is the next big thing you should grab. The Audio Mixer plays an important part in a DJ set. This will allow you to change the sound/tracks without having a break in the melody or beats.

Look for a Two Channel Audio Mixer for starters. This unit should preferably be equipped with a Cross Fader, Individual Gain Controls, Individual Faders and Head Phone sockets etc.

Plug these two equipment together and you're off on your beat mixing/beat matching journey.

AMPLIFIER & SPEAKERS
This solely depends on individual. I wouldn't know where you would hook up your set, could be in your bedroom, maybe. If that was the case then plug in the cable from the mixer into the CD or AUX port at the back of your Hi-Fi.

A lot of research has to be done before you go get your Amplifier or Speaker Set, so, take your time, choose what you think will be the best for you. Getting an amplifier and speaker separately (as in brands) works for me; it may be more costly but this sort of set up would definitely produce better sound & performance.

ACCESSORIES
The rest of the things would be items like Headphones, Slipmats and Cartridges (for Turntables). If you plan to go further with all this, then probably you have to start thinking about other equipment as well that you should add into your list e.g. Effect Processors, Samplers, Computerised Performance Systems, Drum Machine etc. A lot of these technologies are being updated all the time. I've recently encountered a DJ Mixing Software to solve all your problems and will make life that much easier for any DJ, it's called Deckadance, it's from the makers of FL Studio (it's a Digital Audio Workstation for Windows PCs).

With all that said, it's time that you start listening to more than one genre of music. Create that magnetic body language (that's the secret I tell you...), get your wardrobe collection changed, have that ultra modern hand phone (helps to evaluate your status, even if you're nowhere...) and lastly, create & believe the hype!

Whether you do it for fame or fortune, let the music guide your fingers & pump that beat in your soul.