Famous defections

[Bill Hart]

What about the guy that made the Ampzilla?

 

[Mosin]

I'm sure there is some story as to why John Curl gave Vendetta Research its name. That always intrigued me. Don't forget PS Audio. It stays PS Audio, but it has stopped and started a few times. Then, there is the ex-wife syndrome. Bob Carver has it. Every time he has acquired an ex-wife he has had to start a new company.

Then, there are the notorious ones. IMF comes to mind.

 

[puroagave]

What about the guy that made the Ampzilla?

james bongiorno. he founded GAS, worked for dynaco, marantz, SAE among others. he's also listed on constellation audios roster of contributing engineers along with john curl and demian martin. he also founded SUMO were jason stoddard of schiit started - lots of six degrees of separation or this is a very incestuous industry

 

[rbbert]

In Bob Carver's and Jim Bongiorno's (GAS Ampzilla, Sumo, now SSR) cases, like Nelson Pass', they sold their companies and after a period of time were allowed to start new ones. Bongiorno was with SAE before he left to form GAS; I can't remember if Carver worked for anyone before Phase Linear.

The story of Vendetta Research has been posted in a number of places; I wouldn't be surprised if it were in Wikipedia.

 

[mep]

Then, there is the ex-wife syndrome. Bob Carver has it. Every time he has acquired an ex-wife he has had to start a new company.

How do you acquire an "ex-wife?"

 

[MylesBAstor]

I think that the founder of Aesthetix came from Theta.

Yes, Jim White.

 

[MylesBAstor]

How do you acquire an "ex-wife?"

Sounds like James Cameron!

 

[Mosin]

How do you acquire an "ex-wife?"

It's easier that you might think. Trust me!

 

[cjfrbw]

KS Park, designed for Silvaweld, then formed his own company Allnic.

 

[Bill Hart]

Ah, Manley. But i'm not sure you'd call that a 'defection.' Sorta more like a realignment of family interests.

 

[Bill Hart]

KS Park, designed for Silvaweld, then formed his own company Allnic.

Carl, there are 6 of us that know this, right?

 

[Robh3606]

James B Lansing broke from Altec and formed JBL

Rob

 

[JackD201]

John Ulrich from Infinity to Spectron. Everybody knows where Arnie went.

Franco Serblin from Sonus Faber to self named Franco Serblin.

Kondo from Audio Note also to self named Kondo.

From Japan a lot of TOs have come from Luxman.

 

[Gregadd]

How do you acquire an "ex-wife?"

Divorce your current wife.

 

[Gregadd]

There was actually a pretty interesting trademark litigation that came out of that, in which, if memory serves, the district court judge, after saying he really wasn't very interested in trademark law, and could basically care less, ruled against ML in his quest to continue to use his name professionally after it was purchased as part of the acquisition of the ML company. On appeal, after the 2d Circuit excoriated the district judge for his attitude toward his job, the appeals court allowed ML to continue to use his name, although not as a 'brand' (e.g. 'Cello by Mark Levinson'). Anybody with access to Lexis can find this, it was a published decision.

Very Good. The company name was Cello Muisc and Film Systems. I was discussing his inability to name his company Mark Levinson. It was a thrilling ride.
Thanks for the background.
gregadd

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Andreas Koch left EMM Labs and co-formed Playback Design.