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What happened to the NZ audio manufacturing industry?

10/2/2012

11 Comments

 
A while ago I recently spied an old AWA amplifier on TradeMe. I was outbid but as it turned out I got hold of it anyway. I couldn't find any information on it at all, but it was built in the 1960s before AWA went a bit up-market with their Ortho-fidelity series in the 170s. I put it on a dummy load and found it has an output power of 25 W rms per channel into 4Ω. The thing that struck me about it is just how well the thing was made. It has a nice solid sheet steel chassis, and this was before consumer products started using aluminium (which was also when pressed steel got a bad name with el-cheapo brands using material no thicker than a backed bean can). An unusual feature is that the DIN input sockets are internal and all the cables enter through a large round hole in the back panel. Usually an amp of this vintage would have needed some work along the way, but not one solder joint has been touched on this one. The switches on the front panel are very robust, needing a firm press, and making a satisfying click as they engage. Overall, a good example of quality manufacture. So, what happened to our audio industry?
Maybe the oil shock of '73 didn't help, but serious competition came along at this time from the Japanese manufactures. Japanese consumer products were a bit of a joke in the 60s, but by the 70s they were able to export real quality. The reliability was excellent, they generally sounded good, and they were well marketed. On top of that they focused on mass production with excellent quality control. So, what did the NZ industry do? Well, instead of rising to the challenge, they just made inferior stuff. Examples such as Bell, Sonophone, Fountain and others exhibited all the hallmarks of 'quantity over quality'. Needless to say, this was not going to work for long, and the industry became extinct.
To be fair, some of the issues would have been considered 'outside our control' eg Tarrifs, Labour costs, but as they say 'adapt or die'. A handful of companies did adapt and continue to manufacture hi-end gear ( eg (eg Perreaux, Plinius). The professional industry suffered the same fate. There used to be guitar amps, power amps, mixers (large and small), and speakers made here. Now all these items are imported.
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11 Comments
Tony
21/9/2013 06:37:53 am

I am looking for a schematic for the Orthofidelity Stereo 45. If you can help some of us out with this we'd be ever grateful.!
Cheers
Tony

Reply
Steve
2/3/2020 07:03:35 pm

Hi Tony. Did you have any success finding circuit information for your Orthofidelity Stereo 45? I have a 60s AWA Orthophic High Fidelity Solid State Stereo 45 A Amplifier which I would love to restore but because both L&R Amps are cooked I really need a schematic. I have had no luck to date so I clutching at straws a little for answers. If you have any information, I would love to hear from you.

Cheers Steve

Reply
Steve link
31/3/2020 05:31:00 pm

Hi Steve

I wondered, how did you get on looking for circuit diagrams for your old AWA Amplifier. I have a rare AWA Orthophonic High Fidelity 40A which I would like to restore and desperately require a circuit diagram for. Are you able to help at all? Cheers Steve talent2000inc@xtra.co.nz

James Bonnefin
10/1/2021 03:16:49 pm

Hi Steve, I purchased a new AM3 tuner from AWA North Ryde in 1970. It came with schematics for ST45/95 as well. I also acquired later a used ST953 which I am about to revive. When we had 10kHz spacing in Australia, those tuners sounded terrific. Please advise if you need ST45 schematic.

Frank Curulli
7/9/2019 10:29:44 pm

I actually worked for AWA in their Consumer Products division from 1969 - 1973. These amplifiers were produced in a special factory in Wellington NZ, along with marine radio telephones and military communications equipment. There was an original Orthofidelity amplifier produced In the mid 60's but it was an ugly gold colour and few were sold. It was replaced by the Stereo 40 with a plastic green panel. Later this became a revised model ST40B 25W and was joined by a more powerful ST90 36W. These had the dark grey front panel as per the photo. They were real high fidelity amplifier designs and very high quality. However they did not sell well as the inputs were difficult to access. These comprised DIN plugs mounted directly onto the circuit board and therefore required the amplifier to be slid out of its case to connect to them. Cables were run through a large hole in the back panel. Virtually all competitor amplifiers at that time comprised RCA connectors mounted on the rear panel so the AWA amplifiers were seen as somewhat oddball. Their specifications were very good, however they needed to be used with high quality speakers. They were described as lacking in bass but the tone control circuit featured the Baxandall design and this lifted the bass (and treble) at the extremes of the frequency range. Most Japanese amplifiers had tone circuits that lifted in the upper bass region and this sounded good on average speakers. I had an AWA ST90 amplifier, Garrard 401 transcription turntable with 12" SME arm and a pair of Goodmans 12" 301 speakers with KEF tweeters. The sound was amazing and ultra deep bass from the amplifier. The AWA ST40/90 range feature a smart looking acrylic front panel with quality push buttons. These amplifiers were replaced by the ST45/ST95 range which featured brushed aluminum with walnut timber sidecaps. Very stylish and sold much better. However they were expensive compared to Japanese amplifiers that were coming available. When teamed with a high quality turntable and speakers they were far superior to locally made Fountain, Sonophone, JG etc. AWA also offered German PE (Perpetuum Ebner) turntables and their own AWA Studio Monitor speakers as part of their range. There were three Series of these over the years and they were also excellent when teamed with these or other high quality amplifiers. Cabinet finish was superb. Series 1 used KEF units, Series 2 used Italian RCF units, Series 3 used Danish Peerless, MSP and Philips units. While AWA also produced mainstream stereo modular units, these were made at their main factory Allied Industries in Auckland. The Orthofidelity Hi Fi equipment was made in a dedicated factory in Wellington.

Reply
Steve
8/5/2020 07:11:22 pm

Hey Frank

As above, I have an AWA "Orthophonic High Fidelity" Model "Solid State Stereo 40A". This is the model with the acrylic green front panel and large round push button switches as you mention above. I am looking for a circuit diagram for this. Would you know of any archived information for these amplifiers? I have been in touch with a nice bloke in England who has the 40 model and we have discussed the differences which are basically that his model is older and uses germanium transistors and mine uses silicon so the circuits are clearly different. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers Steve.
talent2000inc@xtra.co.nz

Reply
Phil
9/9/2020 04:04:34 am

So I just picked up in perfect working order a Orthofidelity Stereo 25P Turntable and orginal speakers. It silver/metal with light tan wooden side panels. Does anyone know anything about them? I also want to take the speaker ends and connect to RCA and ergo my amp. Ok to do?

Reply
Grant Doughty
3/12/2020 02:48:10 pm

Interesting I picked up a Fountain mod 1550 from the hospice a few years ago, it works ecept it has those different plugs for speakers and input, I also picked up a Model 3040 tuner amp tuner AM only it has the usual inlet outlet plugs it works well I use another tuner on it for my FM, has anyone suggestions on changing the 1550 plugs to the modern ones

Reply
S A Holt
10/1/2021 06:47:34 pm

Hi James Bonnefin, sorry I can't seem to reply to you on this site. Anyway, if you see this message, I really would like a diagram for my old AWA Orthophonic High Fidelity 40A. Cheers mate. I look forward to hearing from you somehow?? Steve (talent2000inc@xtra.co.nz)

Reply
MckinneyVia link
31/3/2022 04:37:35 pm

I very much appreciate it. Thank you for this excellent article. Keep posting!

Reply
Gordon Campbell
22/8/2022 08:00:05 pm

Hi, not sure if this is the right forum, but can anyone tell me when the AWA TC-751, TC-757 and TC-775 car radios were on the market? I'm trying to date a couple of pages ripped from an 'NZ Car' magazine and one page has an advert for these radio/cassette units. Thanks.

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    Richard Hallum
    NZCE, MMusTech, Dip Tch (Ter).
    memberships: APRA, AES, 
    NZ Acoustical Society, ALMA.

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