Darren James
Active Member
Three examples of the work Ed May and Bart Locanthi produced during their time at the top as the head designers of their day.......
JBL 4310
Around the same time, Ed developed the compact 4310 monitor. This, and it's domestic conversion, the L100, would become the most successful loudspeakers yet produced by JBL. The 4310 was developed at the request of Bob Fine, an influential New York studio operator and engineer. Bob had just acquired a new Ampex 8-track recorder that was a significant advance on the previous, standard 3-track recorders. Bob's first thoughts in implementing this new technology was to have 8 studio monitors in the control room, or one speaker for each track
Pioneer HPM 100 / Bart Locanthi
It was under his tenure that the JBL L-100 Century, the world’s most popular loudspeaker in its day, was manufactured.[8] In 1975, he was named a Vice President of Pioneer North America Development. While at Pioneer, he and his team of engineers designed the HPM-100 loudspeaker as an "improved" JBL L-100 Century. It was also at Pioneer that he was deeply involved in digital development during the early years of the compact disc.[9]
Marantz HD88
In 1976, Edmund (Ed) May, one of the most respected speaker designers at JBL, joined Marantz and was given the charge of developing a speaker line to complement the company’s other high end offerings. Superscope built a new R&D facility for May to work in. The resulting “HD” speakers were highly praised and enhanced the brand’s reputation substantially. Unfortunately, May died in 1980 and later design efforts met with considerably less success and all efforts to design and market loudspeakers ceased.
JBL 4310
Around the same time, Ed developed the compact 4310 monitor. This, and it's domestic conversion, the L100, would become the most successful loudspeakers yet produced by JBL. The 4310 was developed at the request of Bob Fine, an influential New York studio operator and engineer. Bob had just acquired a new Ampex 8-track recorder that was a significant advance on the previous, standard 3-track recorders. Bob's first thoughts in implementing this new technology was to have 8 studio monitors in the control room, or one speaker for each track
Pioneer HPM 100 / Bart Locanthi
It was under his tenure that the JBL L-100 Century, the world’s most popular loudspeaker in its day, was manufactured.[8] In 1975, he was named a Vice President of Pioneer North America Development. While at Pioneer, he and his team of engineers designed the HPM-100 loudspeaker as an "improved" JBL L-100 Century. It was also at Pioneer that he was deeply involved in digital development during the early years of the compact disc.[9]
Marantz HD88
In 1976, Edmund (Ed) May, one of the most respected speaker designers at JBL, joined Marantz and was given the charge of developing a speaker line to complement the company’s other high end offerings. Superscope built a new R&D facility for May to work in. The resulting “HD” speakers were highly praised and enhanced the brand’s reputation substantially. Unfortunately, May died in 1980 and later design efforts met with considerably less success and all efforts to design and market loudspeakers ceased.
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