Audio Note founder Kondo-San passes away at CES 2006

[RGA]

This just in from Steve Klein of Sounds of Silence, the US importer for Audio Note Japan.

We regret to inform that on January 8th 2006, Hiroyasu Kondo, founder of
Audio Note Japan, passed away peacefully in his sleep while attending the
CES audio show in Las Vegas. He is survived by his wife, Kazuko; his son, Yuji; and his daughter, Hisae.

Hiroyasu Kondo, the second son of a Buddhist priest, was a professor of
electronic engineering and molecular metallurgy. He founded Audio Note in
Japan in 1976, facilitating his desire to develop audio equipment capable of
reproducing the essence of artistic performance captured in recorded music.
He was often referred to as the "silver smith" for his revolutionary use of
age annealed silver in his audio equipment. The Kondo ONGAKU amplifier will
forever be a symbol of his success. He was the Picasso of contemporary audio design.

Kondo San had suffered ill health for some time. In order to ensure that
the Kondo standard would flourish, he appointed his close colleague Masaki Ashizawa as President of Audio Note Japan six months ago. Ashizawa San has worked with Kondo San for the past 16 years and shared Kondo San's passion for creating “perfect sound."

On behalf of Kondo San’s family, we would like to thank all those people
from around the world who have sent tributes expressing their affection for
Kondo San and acknowledging his place in audio history.
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/gen...es/418239.html

[Florian]

My deepest sympathies to his family and friends around the world. Eventough some disagree with the electronics and phylosophies we should not forget that they are only a hobby and that nothing stands higher then friendship and the respect for other human beeings.

-Florian W.

[Smokey]

Eventough some disagree with the electronics and phylosophies we should not forget that they are only a hobby and that nothing stands higher then friendship and the respect for other human beeings.

-Florian W.

I wish you practice what you preach

Rant of the week to all you so called knowledgeable guys

[noddin0ff]

Hmmm, a flame war in an obit thread...

[Florian]

I wish you practice what you preach

Rant of the week to all you so called knowledgeable guys

Well that person made musical equipment and not some cheesy 500$ boxes and preached the axiom bible up and down

[Bernd]

An original and a great loss to the art of musical reproduction.R.I.P.

Bernd