Made in Canada! Part 1 of 3
When one thinks of consumer electronics products, one country generally comes to mind: Japan. Home to industry giants such as Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic and Sharp, chances are you have several A/V devices from a Japanese manufacturer somewhere in your home. While most Canadian A/V manufacturers can’t compete on a quantity level with their Japanese counterparts, our country is home to several companies who regularly turn out products near or at the top of their class in terms of quality, workmanship and reliability. Whether it’s an amp from Bryston or a set of speakers from Athena Technologies, Canadian made gear occupies many spots in the racks and homes of A/V enthusiasts around the world. Unfortunately, due to the smaller size of some of these companies, the average consumer might not have heard of them. To remedy this, we present to you CANADA HiFi’s first ever “Made in Canada” spotlight.
Components
Bryston www.bryston.com
Leading off in the component category is heavy hitter Bryston. Located in Peterborough, ON, Bryston has been manufacturing handcrafted audio gear for over 25 years. Best known for their exquisite amplifiers, Bryston has offerings ranging from the simple 2×100 watt 2B-SST (MSRP $2650) right up to the monstrous 28B SST (MSRP $8000), which measures over 8 inches tall and is capable of cranking out over 1000 watts of power. Bryston also manufactures D/A converters, CD players, crossovers, and other assorted processors, including pre-amplifiers and phono amplifiers. All Bryston products are manufactured exclusively by hand, and their reputation for build quality and durability is second to none. Bryston is so confident in their product that they offer a 20-year parts and labour warranty on their analogue audio circuits.
Simaudio www.simaudio.com
Simaudio is another company best known for their amplifiers, having turned out such classics over the years as the PW 3000, an affordable integrated amp (a power amplifier with an onboard preamp) that performed considerably above its modest price tag and was feted by the Canadian press at the time. In business since 1980 and based just outside of Montreal, Simaudio’s current flagship line is the Moon Evolution Series, with the CP-8 pre/pro and the MC-8 power amplifier leading the charge. The CP-8 is an ultra-high end pre/pro capable of processing and passing along up to 7.1 discrete channels of audio to the MC-8, which can drive a 2 ohm load with a staggering 1000 watts of power. Not content with satisfying only audiophiles with deep pockets, Simaudio also makes a range of amplifiers to suit almost any budget. The very affordable Moon i-1 delivers audiophile quality sound at a suggested retail of only $1499.
Classé Audio www.classeaudio.com
Also in business since 1980 is Classé Audio, another Quebec-based company specializing in power amplifiers, pre/pros and integrated amps. With offerings available ranging from the CA-M400 an 800 watt (2 Ohm) monoaural power amp (MSRP $5500) right through to the 2×100 watt integrated CAP-2100, Classé has a product to meet your needs. Be warned though, this level of quality doesn’t come cheap. The CAP-2100 will set you back $5500. In addition to their renowned amplifiers and pre/pros, Classé also manufactures a series of CD and DVD players and a series of surround sound processors. Speaker giant B&W has been involved with Classé since 2001, lending them the necessary clout to take their brand to the next level globally.
Anthem www.anthemav.com
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