I drove up to Moorpark, California today to drop off my Aesthetix Io phono preamp with volume controls for upgrading to full Eclipse status with two power supplies. I have met Jim White twice before: first with Brian Berdan at Audio Element and second at T.H.E. Show in Irvine.
Jim was incredibly gracious with his time and began the visit by giving me a full tour of Aesthetix. You never know what you are going to find (a living room with circuit boards strewn around, a mad scientist's laboratory, something which looks like a textiles sweatshop or an organized production facility) when you visit a manufacturer. Jim has a very large, clean, well-designed, multi-room facility in a suburban area. He introduced me to five of his colleagues, and showed me each of the development and engineering, parts inventory, listening area, testing area, production management and component construction rooms.
Cleverly, Jim has a dedicated construction room for every product: there is a dedicated Io room, a dedicated Romulus room, a dedicated Atlas room, etc. I think it makes a lot of organizational sense to put all of the parts for each component in one room and then build only that component in that dedicated room.
In addition to continuing to refine his signature products Jim is working on several interesting new designs.
Jim could not have been warmer, friendlier, more open or more generous with his time. One of the joys of this truly unique hobby of ours is the way in which us consumers can get to know and befriend the talented designers of the equipment through which we experience the music we love. It was a privilege to spend more time today with the gentleman who designed a beloved piece of equipment I have enjoyed since 1996, and which I will have for literally the rest of my life.
Jim was incredibly gracious with his time and began the visit by giving me a full tour of Aesthetix. You never know what you are going to find (a living room with circuit boards strewn around, a mad scientist's laboratory, something which looks like a textiles sweatshop or an organized production facility) when you visit a manufacturer. Jim has a very large, clean, well-designed, multi-room facility in a suburban area. He introduced me to five of his colleagues, and showed me each of the development and engineering, parts inventory, listening area, testing area, production management and component construction rooms.
Cleverly, Jim has a dedicated construction room for every product: there is a dedicated Io room, a dedicated Romulus room, a dedicated Atlas room, etc. I think it makes a lot of organizational sense to put all of the parts for each component in one room and then build only that component in that dedicated room.
In addition to continuing to refine his signature products Jim is working on several interesting new designs.
Jim could not have been warmer, friendlier, more open or more generous with his time. One of the joys of this truly unique hobby of ours is the way in which us consumers can get to know and befriend the talented designers of the equipment through which we experience the music we love. It was a privilege to spend more time today with the gentleman who designed a beloved piece of equipment I have enjoyed since 1996, and which I will have for literally the rest of my life.
This is some 12-13 years ago. It was my buddy's first high-end system and first taste of this hobby which ultimately saw me follow suit a few years later. I listened to his rig in NYC many a time over adult bevies and had a blast so that always left me with a soft spot for Aestheitx although I have never owned any of the gear myself. Thanks for sharing your visit with the folks at Aesthetix.
