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• 1946
  "Scale Model Equipment" Ltd founded; will later be known as SME, manufacturer of the world’s most successful tonearm
• 1947
   Der erste Transistor wird bereits 1947 in den BELL Laboratories erfunden
• 1948-49
  Columbia Records announces the microgroove 12" (mono) LP with 33 1/3 rpm playing speed
• 1949
  - RCA introduces the microgroove 45rpm, large-hole, 7-in record (mono) and a dedicated record changer/adaptor
  - Ampex introduces its Model 300 professional studio recorder
  - Magnecord produces the first U.S.-made stereo tape recorder
  - McIntosh Laboratory is incorporated; its first product is the Unity Coupled 50W1 Power Amplifier
• 1951 (das ist leider falsch - war bereits 1947)
  Bell Laboratories develops the Germanium transistor
• 1952
  Marantz founded
  Emory Cook releases experimental two-channel ‘binaural’ discs
• =============== Ken Kessler born ====================
• 1953
  - Ampex provides a 4-track, 35mm magnetic film system for the feature film "The Robe", shown in "CinemaScope" with surround sound
  - Harman-Kardon introduces its first product, an FM tuner
• 1954
  - G. A. Briggs stages the first in a series of "live - versa - recorded" demos in London’s Royal Festival Hall
  - The first commercial 2-track stereo tapes are released
  - AR - Acoustic Research founded by Edgar Villchur
• 1955
  Dyna Company (Dynaco) founded by David Hafler and Ed Laurent
• 1956
  Les Paul makes the first 8-track recordings using the ‘Sel-Sync’ method
• 1957
  Westrex demonstrates the first commercial ‘45/45’ "stereo" cutter head
  Quad releases its first full-range electrostatic speaker
• 1958
  The first commercial microgroove 12" Stereo LP with 33 1/3 rpm playing speed appear
• 1959
  EMI fails to renew the Blumlein stereo patent, possibly the single stupidest move in the history of music or audio next to Decca failing to sign the Beatles contract
  SME produces its first tonearm, the 3009
• 1960
  Japanese microphone specialist Stax introduces its first ‘Earspeaker’, an electrostatic headphone
• 1961
  The FCC settles on (verfügt per Gesetz) an FM stereo broadcast format for the US
• 1962
  McIntosh issues the MC275 75W/ch Stereo power amplifier – the company’s most beloved and enduring design – and the C22 preamplifier
• 1963
  Philips introduces the Compact Cassette tape format and offers free  !!! licenses worldwide
• 1964
  The Beatles conquer the USA; Ken Kessler buys his first LP
• 1965
  The Dolby Type A noise reduction system is introduced
• 1968
  SAE founded by Morris Kessler and Ted Winchester
• Ken Kessler purchases first hi-fi system: Dual 1019 turntable, Scott 344C receiver, Scott speakers. Life changes forever. Audio world unaware of the pending threat
• 1969
  Dr. Thomas Stockham begins to experiment with digital tape recording
• 1970
  William Z. Johnson starts Audio Research
• 1971
  Denon demonstrates 18-bit PCM stereo recording using a helical-scan video recorder
• 1972
  Electro-Voice and CBS are licensed by Peter Scheiber to produce quadraphonic decoders using his patented matrixes
  Linn founded with launch of LP-12 turntable
  Introduction of Mark Levinson’s JC-1 preamplifier
• 1974
  DuPont introduces chromium dioxide (CrO2) cassette tape
• 1975
  Digital tape recording begins to take hold in professional audio studios
• 1976
  Dr. Thomas Stockham of Soundstream makes the first 16-bit digital recording in the United States at the Santa Fe Opera
  Tim de Paravicini returns to England from Japan, to set up his own company, E.A.R. (now EAR-Yoshino)
• 1977
  Meridian founded by Allen Boothroyd and Bob Stuart
  David A. Wilson and his wife, Sheryl Lee, launch Wilson Audio; it begins life as a record label
• 1978
  3M introduces metal-particle cassette tape
• 1979
  Oracle turntable introduced
  Ricardo Franassovici launches Absolute Sounds, to make real high-end equipment available to the British music lover
  Noel Lee founds Monster Cable, the most successful cable manufacturer ever; brings cable insanity to the masses
• 1980
  3M, Mitsubishi, Sony and Studer introduce multi-track digital recorders
  EMT introduces its Model 450 hard-disk digital recorder (yes, 27 years ago!)
  Sony’s pocket-sized Walkman stereo cassette player revolutionises listening habits forever
  Krell founded; first product is the KSA-100 stereo power amp
• 1981
  Philips demonstrates the Compact Disc (CD)
  IBM introduces a 16-bit personal computer
  Apogee founded
  Wilson Audio introduces the WAMM loudspeaker
• 1982
  Sony introduces the PCM-F1 Betamax digital audio recorder, intended for the consumer market; it is the first 14- and 16-bit digital adaptor for VCRs. Professionals love it
  Sony releases the first CD player, the Model CDP-101
  Apogee launches the Full-Range Ribbon loudspeaker
  Krell releases KSA-50 amp
  Martin-Logan exhibits for first time at CES in Chicago, with a full-range electrostatic speaker
• 1983
  Goldmund Reference turntable launched
  Jadis launched by André Calmettes
  Ken Kessler joins Hi-Fi News
• 1984
  The Apple Corporation markets the Macintosh computer
  Meridian launches what many regard as the world’s first audiophile CD player
• 1985
  Dolby introduces the “SR” Spectral Recording system
  Apogee introduces the Scintilla
• 1986
  Wilson Audio introduces the WATT speaker; the Puppy subwoofer will follow two years later – will go on to be one of the best-selling high-end speakers of all time
• 1989
  Chord Electronics Ltd established
• 1990
  Dolby proposes a 5-channel surround-sound scheme for home theatre systems
  The write-once CD-R becomes a commercial reality
• 1992
  Philips DCC and Sony’s MiniDisc, which uses digital audio data reduction, are offered to consumers as record/play hardware and software
• 1993
  Sonus faber releases the Guarneri
• 1996
  Record labels begin to add multimedia files to new releases, calling them ‘enhanced CDs’
  Experimental digital recordings are made at 24bits and 96kHz
• 1997
  DVD videodiscs and players are launched
• 1998
  MP3 players for audio downloaded from the internet first appear. And not from Apple
• 1999
  Audio DVD Standard 10 agreed upon by manufacturers
• 2002
  Leak shows signs of a possible revival with a prototype valve amp; it never materialises
• 2003
  Sonus faber Stradivari launched, completing the Homage series
• 2004
  Nagra launches its Pyramid amplifiers
  Sony demonstrates Blu-ray at the London hi-fi show
• 2006
  SME’s Alastair Robertson-Aikman passes away
• 2007
  Goldmund announces a limited run of the Reference turntable II: 25 only for the same money as a Ferrari
  KEF releases the Ross Lovegrove-designed £80,000 Muon loudspeaker

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