Full Transcript for Crafting A Legacy

the cabinetry of the the loudspeakers, and of course that grounds us here in Essex. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:26.560 And more recently, Monitor Audio has become a group, and we've added two further brands. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.439 We've got Roxanne and we've got Block. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:37.120 Now, Roxanne, um, but well perhaps you can, Michael, tell us tell us more, tell our audience a little bit more about Roxanne and Block if you don't mind. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:45.040 Yeah, so um we added Roxanne to our group of uh companies um what about seven, eight years ago now, six years ago? 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:46.240 2016. 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:52.240 2016 and it's been you know a journey of integrating that into the monitor audio team. 00:05:52.399 --> 00:06:04.319 We're one team though, so you know we have a team of electronics engineers and software engineers that develop those products along with our mechanical engineering and industrial design, uh, all under one roof in one in one office. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.720 Um and that's in the the the the relatively new creative studio now, isn't it? 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:29.040 So as part of the the the facilities here in Essex, we have you know our back end HQ office, our sales administration procurement um operations, we've got warehousing here, um, we've got a small production line, and we'll touch on that with a bit more of a focus uh later on in the discussion. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:33.279 And um we've got obviously marketing, sales administration. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:40.319 Yeah, everything everything's in-house, Michael, as you know, and and um we pride ourselves on that. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:51.600 Um we have 30 to 40 staff working across RD, across all disciplines, you know, and and what's quite unique for us is is we don't outsource anything, you know. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:07:02.079 So all of the products, everything you see, everything you touch, everything you hear, is designed by Michael's team in the UK from our Pumble home here in Rain Essex. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:06.399 Yeah, and and that's obviously something that we're naturally very proud of. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:14.240 And that, um, as as Michael touched on, is something that we've extended to the likes of Roxanne and Block. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:21.120 So essentially the the ethos behind our product development is the same across all brands. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:37.279 I mean, could you expand slightly on that, um, Michael, and just explain sort of maybe let's let's let's explain sort of the the process of product development and you know some of the timescales and the things that are involved in that because it's it it is quite complex. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:41.360 We've established that we do everything in-house, which is um which is great. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:43.519 We've touched on a little bit of the production. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.360 Let's talk about the development side of things. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:49.040 Yeah, so I mean developing products is a complicated business. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:55.680 There's a lot of moving parts that you've got to make sure all come together at the end to make a reliable product that people love for life, really. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:00.079 So we do that in a quite methodical way. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.920 We've got a number of teams here. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:12.720 We've got an industrial design team, mechanical engineering, electronic software, acoustic engineering, and we've got production engineers and product engineers in China that support us with our manufacturers. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:19.279 That all comes together to give us uh a project plan effectively that takes us from that first concept. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:28.000 You've touched on a really good point here, because I'm gonna go to like what consumers say about manufacturing in China, because we see a lot of negativity around that, don't we? 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:35.519 I mean, we've we've you know, we've we've said earlier on that that monitor audio, if we focus on that brand, is very well known for its cabinetry, its quality of its cabinets. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:45.679 I would say actually, I mean, it's easy for me to say because I work in a company that that is that uh uh uh better than it's ever been and still being manufactured in in China. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:55.679 So can perhaps we could just sort of talk about that a little bit more because I think our consumers shouldn't be afraid that we manufacture in China. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:59.519 Um we have a team of what is it, eight or ten people out there in China at the moment? 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:01.759 Yeah, including QC and engineering staff, yes. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:07.360 So we've got full continuity in terms of RD with a team over in China. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:22.879 We can ensure that we meet that that stringent and very tight quality control that we that we have in place by having that uh relationship with with the team in China, with the team, the R and uh the RD team here as well in the UK. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:33.200 Um and I mean obviously we have started to to to make some products here in the UK, um, which is a lovely story. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:37.279 And you know, there there is a there is something very nice about that. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:46.159 But could you explain perhaps, Michael, the the the the things that we do to ensure that we can continue that that that quality? 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:53.759 Yeah, I mean first of all, we design everything in the UK with our industrial design team here, and we specify exactly what we want. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:56.000 And that's really the start of that journey. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:04.240 Uh, we go through a lengthy concept process, which I'm sure we'll talk about uh later today, uh, to make sure that that design is really hitting what the customer needs. 00:10:04.480

--> 00:10:11.679 But then from an engineering point of view, we take that to our own team in China, uh, who we have, a product engineering team out there. 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:15.039 They go to some of the best suppliers in the world for wood cabinets. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:28.080 We're sourcing some of the best wood veneers for those cabinets, and we're making sure that the engineering processes used to deliver the quality there are refined and optimized to give us really, really consistent cabinet. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.799 So it's hard to make one cabinet really well. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:34.000 It's really hard to make a thousand cabinets the same. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:39.679 And so, really, there's a massive focus on how do we not just make one, but how do we make many. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:44.559 And that's what our QC team here, both in the UK and in China, enable us to do. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:53.200 And that's what our engineering teams are helping us engineer the products for quality and then check the products, meet that engineered for quality standard that we have. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:59.360 And we we constantly get told out there, you know, we've got some of the hardest QC standards in the industry to meet. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:04.240 Um, it does make it a challenge, but we're just not willing to bend and buckle on those. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:19.600 We really do think you know our product is seen as being a piece of craftsmanship, and we have to maintain that, and you only maintain that by keep pushing, uh keep pushing suppliers to be to be better and keep your quality control standards as high as you possibly can make them. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:29.919 And and and that's also echoed with the facilities that we have here on site in in Essex, but also in China, where you actually have the same anachoic chambers, don't we? 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:36.080 They are exactly the same, so that we can keep that level of continuity in terms of driver development and testing and things like that. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.000 Yeah, it's really important at every level. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:42.559 Whether it's checking something that's the right colour, so use a colorometer that's been calibrated to check it. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:48.240 You can do that in the UK through to light rooms where you can put a product in it and you can look at it. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:51.120 Um, that you have that continuity between the UK and China. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:12:02.240 So you can check something in the UK, you can check it in China, we can communicate really easily that what we're seeing is the same thing, and then we can make changes in data-driven steps moving forwards. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:15.759 So, you know, we're constantly moving forwards, and we're not making sort of subjective assessments on things, but we're giving quantifiable evidence as to why what we're seeing in the UK may be different to what is being seen by the other team. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:22.720 And uh that helps us drive development forward in really incremental steps, moving forwards to better and better things all the time. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:26.080 Well, we we went slightly in detail then, slightly off base. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:29.519 So we were going to talk about sort of Roxanne and and block brand. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.720 So let's go back to that. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.960 So tell us a little bit about Roxanne. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:35.039 You know, either you know, let's let's go on there. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:38.559 I mean, Roxanne is coming up to its 40th anniversary. 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:51.919 Um, it was um came available uh as an acquisition back in 2016, and we saw that as a perfect synergy with Monitor Audio, and which which evidently then created the Monet Audio Group and in its current form. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:55.039 Um, and you know, it's perfect synergy for us. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:13:07.120 It's got a rich history, um, very much known for turntables back in the day, and it's being modernised now into uh more of a uh electronics brand for the connected consumer and the modern consumer. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:16.080 Um, with with with our relationship with Blue Sound and obviously more people streaming and consuming high-res audio. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.759 But but what we want to do is keep the integrity of the brand. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:26.399 So it's it is about high fidelity two-channel audio, and um, but it's about having fun. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:34.720 You know, there's a lot of things in in the electronics world which sort of restrict that thumb you get from an amplifier now. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:14:02.639 And um through John Green, our electronics design director has a rich history and working on you know in a number of um uh uh uh competitive brands, um uh he he's bringing um sort of the freedom autonomy to be able to design really cool, great sound in fun, vibrant boxes, and um that's been reflected in the reviews, certain, certainly around the Tessa and most recently in the um the recent launch of the new Caspian range. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.679 That's really interesting. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:09.600 You touched on personality there because you could think, actually, how can there be a personality in a load of electronics? 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:30.159 But certainly from a marketing perspective, which is the era that I'm involved in, one of the things that I could tell from the Roxanne brand was that there was quite a significant brand personality there, you know, like from their historic advertising, from the way that they named their products and you know, some of the finishes on the products, it was quite out there, it was quite rich gained. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:34.720 The Persian heritage as well, which which comes through in the mailing and the branding. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:46.799 And I remember us having a

conversation that that a lot a lot of the electronics brands, when when you look at them on on paper or in print or how to advertise were very black, white, silvers, a lot of tech specs. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:15:00.879 And with that Persian heritage, I I sort of said to you, why don't we funk funk this up and do something different and put a bit of colour around it and and and and make it stand out because it it stands out in its performance, so why shouldn't it stand out in its image? 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:08.720 It does, and actually, John was really robust, and I'm sure you're you can go a bit deeper on this, Michael. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:48.000 I remember having a discussion with him, and he was like, actually, I spent a lot of time with Caspian listening, the previous ranges, and there were parts of that product that he has maintained to ensure that that signature, if you want, the the performance of that particular product in the products that we're now making as part of our group are retained because there is a lot of global customers that love their Roxanne products, and we didn't want to dilute what was special about those original products, but we wanted to bring them up to date and into products that were, you know, that we that we were happy with. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:58.399 I mean, perhaps you could say a f a few words on that because I think that's that's really interesting, the fact that you could have something that you know it's not like driving a car that you but but is it actually? 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:00.559 Because it's the performance element, isn't it? 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.879 It's it's the playback of music in a certain way. 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:08.639 So maybe you can I think the key thing, we'll we'll touch into sort of like the transparent design philosophy a little bit later. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:16.799 But the key thing is that uh when we look at brands that were you know, adding them to the group, that Roxanne already shared all that DNA. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:21.279 So we're not like changing um Roxanne to try and m move it into. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:30.320 And it had a series of very key technologies that may not have been um fully marketed out and needed updating for a modern product. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:46.639 But we've taken, for example, the Caspian M2's power amplifier stage, and John, with his experience in the over the years, has been able to eke more performance out of it, but while but while maintaining its character and personality, and that's become Euphoria. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:17:03.840 And now this is a technology fit for the future that's been named and has a defined set of characteristics to it that we will now take on to new product and be able to use uh you know at different power levels and different levels of quality, but um, it's a scalable uh element. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:07.039 And euphoria is the amplification platform, yeah. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:18.720 Yes, it's the

name we've given to our power amplifier architecture, um and it's an amazing, amazing um sounding uh power amplifier, especially in its its Caspian guise. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:24.480 Um but you'll see that come into future products, and um yeah, it's really just building on that heritage. 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:35.920 Roxanne's been known for really, really good analog integrated amplifiers, and the heart of those analog integrated amplifiers was effectively Euphoria, power amplifier architecture. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:42.960 Yes, we've we've taken it to the future, but really we haven't we're not we're not breaking it, and that's the key. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:53.200 So it's and you're just constantly coming back to making sure that we take what are great products, bringing them up fresh for the future for the new, you mentioned it earlier, the new connector consumer. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:18:04.880 Um giving them the tools, the keys that they need to enjoy their products and um and delivering that sound performance that we're all craving for as audio, you know, passionate audio people. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:16.400 It's also also, I mean, if you look at how consumers are consuming music, obviously streaming is now massive, um, but you're seeing a resurgent synonym, even CDs, even the old tape deck. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:20.640 And Rock Sands, not forgetting its history there, as Michael mentioned, it's an analogue. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:24.480 Um it was always analogue first, you know, back in the day. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.519 And um it's but we're still delivering that. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:35.920 If you look at the the the Otessa range, which only launched two or three years ago, you've got a CD transport and an integrated amp plus a streamer, so it caters for all. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.839 And it's the same in the new Caspian range. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.960 There's an integrated, there's a um there's a streamer in there. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:49.119 So so it it it's trying to continue to stay true to its roots, giving people that those hybrid options to be able to consume their music. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:19:05.119 One of the things that has come up a lot in the forums, particularly the the the owner forums of Roxanne, is the fact that we've potentially moved away from the the first product, the turntable, the Xerxes turntable, the thing that started the brand. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.880 And we we we have ceased production of turntables, haven't we? 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:16.720 I mean, we're not beating around the bush because we're focusing on getting the electronics platforms right for today's connected consumer, as you rightly say. 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:26.319 You know, that I think can we can we maybe discuss a little bit about the strategy around this? 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:33.920 Because I think there's a lot of fans out there of the Xerxes of the Roxanne brand that are sort of questioning why we've done that.

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:37.599 So perhaps we could just put a little bit of meat on that particular bone. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:45.440 Yeah, I think um now, whilst we discontinue turntables today, I mean the the the options and future is always open. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:54.720 Um the Xerxes platforms, whilst they were they're amazing, they're incredibly engineered products, um, had come to the end of their lifespan. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:20:01.519 And um developing and distributing turntables globally is a big challenge. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:13.839 You know, there's a lot of moving mechanical parts and turntables which make it difficult difficult, especially in the US in particular, where boxes may not be as cared for from our friendly couriers. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.599 Um so it does make it a challenge. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:17.759 Um, and there's some great companies out there. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:23.200 We we you know, Riga's the projects, the LINS, they're amazing companies producing amazing touch. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:31.680 And it and it there's also this um uh group of sort of hobbyists who are who are doing very, very good high-end turntables. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:48.480 Um so what we've decided at this point in term time where we're going to invest our money, and and electronics is not cheap, is to focus on the the new modern kinetic consumers, bringing that um history and and heritage of Roxanne into a new way of listening to music. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:59.359 Um longer term, once we've got all of our ranges up and and to spec, we we we continue to look at our roadmap and it might be something that we reconsider, but we wouldn't want to do it and not do it justice. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:07.039 I think if if if Roxanne has a turntable in it, it needs to perform and and improve on what we had before. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:12.559 And and at this point, we we we felt that the investment would be wiser elsewhere in the short term. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.480 I think that's what I was gonna add, really. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.480 You kind of covered it there, Rob was you know, if we're gonna do something, we're gonna do it really, really well. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.079 Um, and um that's really, really important to us. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:30.240 It drives every decision that we make through product development um and through the commercial aspects of looking at what products to do next and where to put our investment. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:33.440 We're gonna make sure we do products well if we do them. 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.240 Yeah, yeah. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:38.160 Oh, and that's a a brilliant segue into Block. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:41.039 So tell everyone about Block. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.240 What is it? 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:52.160 Well, Block's high-fired uh furniture, let's say to uh two channel furniture at currently, it might may evolve over over the years. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:59.599 It

was a a business we we picked up from a a local guy called called Dan Dan Quill uh back in 2019, so just pre co. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:09.359 David and he he'd managed to set up and design a range of furniture and had reasonable success. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:24.400 Dan got to the point where where it it it needed to go to the next level, and um we acquired the business in in 2019, and obviously that that enables us to to sell it in the hundred plus countries which we sell in now. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.480 So it it opened block up. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:36.240 Um what's been great, and I'll let Michael come in on this bit next because it's his team who have designed the latest range, which launched in July this year. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.200 I think it was July, wasn't it? 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:47.680 Um was to put our industrial design team uh around around what is actually a very, very um good platform to work off. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:56.720 Yeah, I mean that's the exciting thing that you know loudspeakers are partly furniture, but they also partly have another function, the sound quality. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.720 And we get all excited about sound quality. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:06.720 And there's no difference really with block, it's partly furniture and it's partly the system that brings this or shelves that brings the rest of your system together. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:18.079 It has a sound quality effect, it needs to hold your equipment securely and robustly, but it's also from an industrial design point of view an area where we can innovate. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:28.000 And you'll see on Stacks uh 2G, there's a a whole host of little innovations that just make it easier to use when it comes to levelling it, the special tools we've implemented. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.240 No, it's not that. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.039 Yeah, absolutely. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:50.240 And it but it but it has, but but it also provides a lifestyle element, and I think that's really important because you know, if you look at the market for hi-fi racks, they they can be a a bit of an ISO. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:24:02.319 Um, and I think you know, a lot of our homes are quite precious to us, post-COVID in particular, and we've invested lots of money in them, and it's they're supposed to be safe, nice spaces, and and and enjoyable spaces. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:07.519 So hi-fi can in a way be quite scary for some because it can look quite. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:14.559 Well, it takes up quite a lot of real estate in in the people's lounges, spaces wherever they they they want to put it. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.599 And I think so. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:19.680 Going back to the industrial design element, um you're right. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:25.519 It had we we we looked at Stax 2G very much with two hats on, didn't we? 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:47.119 We we looked at the acoustic performance element because we're a performance-first brand,

but we also are very design focused and and we want to essentially make our products suitable to be sat in people's spaces and ideally blend, not not not not too much. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.960 It gives you a compromise, doesn't it? 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.440 Yeah. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:57.759 Well you know, you can go very hard on performance, but it could may look slightly um unappeasing to the eye. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.200 And that will suit some, for sure. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:13.680 There'll there'll be people out there that that want to have the best sounding system, and they're not too worried about what that looks like because you know, for for for the hobbyists, the audio files out there, they are more interested in in the total performance of that system. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:16.000 And and and and that's that's wonderful. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:37.680 Um, but we've we've come from you know, with the design element of the block, very much in this this finding this this middle ground, if you will, this this nice, clean designs that will suit an interior, because I think consumers are more concerned with the presentation of, let's say, products in general in their in their in their spaces. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:53.759 They want it to look and feel how they but when when you spend serious money on a system, and when we are talking even at even at our um earliest range, those at lowest ranges, if we say bronze, you know, you're spending significant money on a system, so you want that to perform and get the best performance out. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:26:05.039 So this just gives you the opportunities to to still have a great looking product and a great looking system, but but you know, not compromise on that performance. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:13.599 I think just taking it on, you know, Stax 2G is the first piece of block furniture designed by Monitor Audio's industrial design team. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:20.240 With that, look at take look at the speakers, the full system, the speakers, the rack, the electronics in mind. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:22.559 But we've got more projects on the roadmap. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:47.279 We you know we're gonna be looking at how we can do furniture for hi-fi, and we're we're very, very focused on it's furniture for hi-fi, it's not home furniture, but um, we're gonna be focused on furniture for hi-fi and how we deliver those really unique bits of furniture that uh lift the audio experience, are there for people who are you know purchasing in this environment and support the rest of our products? 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:49.440 So it's it's a really exciting little brand. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:59.680 And um I know the the industrial design team absolutely love working on a block product because it's it's something unique, and there isn't a huge amount of innovation in that market. 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:08.000 You know, a stand is a stand, a shelf is a shelf, but it's not because it's treated

like that, it people see it as a bit of a dead end, but it really isn't. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:11.119 When you actually open it up and you go, what could this be? 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.599 Yeah, my goodness, there's a lot of scope in there. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:15.039 And so that's what I'm excited about. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:21.920 In the next 10 years for furniture, audio furniture, it's gonna be really exciting, it's gonna be really interesting, and there's I think a lot to do. 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.680 Yeah, that's very interesting. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:32.000 And this again nicely segues into the transparent design philosophy that we have here as an organization. 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:42.640 Um we we we call it that because we when I first started back at the organisation a couple of years ago, we were talking around this subject a lot. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:56.640 And for me, I got quite excited about hang on, there must be a way that we can kind of distill this this excitement, this energy that's and the way that we do things here into a sort of a phrase that could explain it. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:02.960 And we discussed, didn't we, at length this and we uh eventually ended up with transparent design philosophy. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:15.519 Tell us uh what that is, uh, because it's so important, it's the DNA that glues everything together from a product perspective, but it also runs through the entire organization, doesn't it? 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.559 Really, essentially. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:20.079 So let's let's let's talk about that a little bit in a bit more detail. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:27.119 At its most fundamental level, it's about getting as close to the artistic intent as possible, really giving you an emotional connection to the music. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:39.119 But that emotional connection isn't just the listening, it encompasses every aspect of it, it encompasses the appearance of the product, how it sits within your room, uh it in the delivery, the support afterwards. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:41.839 And that's really why it becomes this holistic thing. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:54.960 Um, but it also is something that um because of the aim is so north star about it, it doesn't also tie us down to necessarily following our history all the time. 00:28:55.119 --> 00:29:02.480 So we are agile, we can look at new technologies that maybe get us closer to that intent and we can adopt them. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:10.160 Now we are known as being the Metal Cone Loudspeaker Company, the Morish Audio brand, and we have a massive uh history of that. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:17.599 And we we really are experts in delivering loudspeakers with metal cones, and it really is the best technology to use for loudspeakers. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:26.960 Um but what we what we're doing there is using the technology to get us to, or as close as we possibly can, to the artistic intent, that emotional connection to the music.

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:30.640 We want you to sit down in front of your audio system and connect. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.920 And if we're not doing that, we've done something wrong. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:36.640 So everything we do is about that connection. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:44.319 From the visual impact, how it sits in your room, the speaker, uh the audio quality, how you connect it up. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.640 The whole process is about connecting. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:53.440 And and how do you see it, Rob, from a uh as of a business commercial kind of proposition? 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:58.640 Because I think it comes back to the music again. 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:01.359 I mean, a lot a lot of brands talk about their sound. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:08.000 Um manufacturers talk about their sound, and I think there's a maybe a bit of arrogance to that. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:27.759 I think um the artist is what the sound is about, you know, or or or from on the movie side, it it's the directors and and the producers who are carefully putting the soundtrack together to um hear that loud um explosion or or or hear those small little gunshots. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:34.000 It's um our job is to is to replicate that in its true truest possible form. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:36.799 And that's what the transparent design philosophy does. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:40.480 Um so it takes that sort of middleman arrogance. 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:42.319 We are we are a facilitator of that. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:44.880 We are there to project that. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:58.559 And um how better than to do that to be transparent about and have a philosophy which has the full intent of achieving that, and give the respect to actually the artists and and the people who are actually really creating the content. 00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:18.400 And understanding that within the organization, actually, I think it's really it's been quite interesting to see the adoption and the understanding of that philosophy because now within operations, within product procurement, even within you know, even the finance team, you know, whilst these people actually practically don't touch a product, let's face it. 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:20.720 You know, not well, not in their day-to-day. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:23.119 You know, they're dealing with numbers of the products we produce. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.640 They do. 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:36.880 But yeah, understanding it, kind of having that transparency within the organization of understanding that sort of that principle, then all of a sudden, actually, we're it it helps us all row in the right direction, doesn't it? 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:40.480 I mean it improves a lot of things because it makes you incredibly efficient, you know. 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:47.440 When everybody's pointing towards the same objective and have the same understanding, yes, you you can go off peace slightly and you pull people back in. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:32:01.839 But but you know, in the last two and a half years in particular, certainly since since since since I took over the reins, um we've seen all of the teams working a lot more tighter together, but with that one direction, we're under this philosophy. 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:07.279 And um we work very much as a as a unit, we we win or lose together. 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:13.359 Um, but you could ask all 80 to 90 employees what monitor audio is, and it all give you the same answer. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:17.119 While well, if we go back three or four years, you might get different answers. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:29.920 And but that all centres towards the experience for the customer, you know, and it's not just the experience of obviously um listening to the products and having that immersive experience. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:40.559 It's if you're a professional integrator, for example, um, you're getting a product range which makes sense, which is easier for you to install because you're a customer at that level. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:44.000 Um, so we have levels of customers which we have to adhere to as well. 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:50.400 You know, it's it's our distribution partners, it's the retailers, it's the end consumer, of course, is the most important. 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:52.160 It's the professional integrators. 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:56.480 So we are very clear, and you you see that in how we've structured our ranges. 00:32:56.559 --> 00:33:09.279 I think we had, well, eight years ago, I think we might have had nine or ten passive speaker ranges, which has been brought down into a more concise package which makes sense for this brand and it makes sense to the consumer. 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:13.920 Well, before it could be a little bit too confusing because we were trying to do a bit too much for everybody. 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:19.680 And the same on the CI side, we've very much focused on and that's custom integration for those that may not know. 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:31.680 Yeah, yeah, we focused on um having the most amount of solutions and the most amount of architectural solutions to be able to create that environment in any space. 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:43.119 And we're we're talking about integrated audio solutions within the home that are speakers that go into ceilings, walls, that are virtually invisible, where people can can benefit from like a smart home type of setting. 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:49.039 Yeah, which is now making up 40 to 50% of our business, and it's the market which is actually really, really buoyant and booming, you know. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:34:03.359 Certainly from sort of the Netflix streaming streaming booms we've seen post-COVID with people wanting cinemas in their home and and having that surround sound experience and and and and taking advantage of um things like Dolby Atmos and bits and pieces. 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:08.079 But but yeah, I mean we took 45 models, I

think it was 45, Michael, wasn't it? 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:12.000 45 models into yeah, it's just a bit more, yeah, but including including trims and stuff. 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.199 It was about 70, yeah. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:24.719 Yeah, into 19 models on a very clear system so that the integrator and the customer can actually understand you know the levels of performance um and and how we fill that space with sound. 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:31.920 Um, so um, and that's all come about because of of this one-way transparent design philosophy and one way of thinking. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.599 That's very interesting. 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:39.840 Um, this one's gonna be a bit more testing for us to answer. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:43.119 Because, you know, we don't want to give too much away. 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:55.920 But what sort of trends, Michael, do we see shaping the audio industry and and how is Monitor Audio Group across our three brands kind of approaching that? 00:34:56.159 --> 00:35:01.280 We might touch on new product, that gets exciting, but you know, let's Yeah. 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:09.360 I mean, we've got a number of different branches to our business, some of those are different brands, but you know, there is a strong and consistent hi-fi business there. 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:15.440 We make amazing passive loudspeakers that connect to two-channel electronics from RockSun. 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:18.880 Um, and and the performance there is just unsurpassed. 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:23.679 Uh, and really that that gives you this sort of really strong North Star position. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:28.960 But we're seeing, like Rob mentioned, you know, a big move towards integrated audio. 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:40.079 Uh professional installers coming into your home and saying, How can I install for you the best audio system, media room, you know, kitchen audio, uh, cinema room in your basement. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.280 Even outside room. 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.559 And even outside, yeah. 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:47.519 You might have an outside space, and we just have amazing weatherproof speakers to really deliver that audio. 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:53.760 So we're seeing a real sort of surge in that area, and we're delivering those performance products into those. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:36:09.920 Because actually, this is this is quite interesting because custom install main, you know, many customers that could listen to this podcast may not understand or know about those types of products, but they could have a hi-fi system. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:35.679 But the thing that excites me most about this, let's call it segment, is that you could easily have your two-channel hi-fi system in your listening room that could integrate within a wider custom installed speaker integrated home where you could have speakers dotted around in the kitchen, in the bedrooms, in open spaces, and even outside. 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:37.760 And it could all work seamlessly together. 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:55.519 And you know, that's that's amazing because the technology has now got us to the point where that seamless move into the home, it's not just audio, it could be lighting, it could be um automation of curtains, blinds, um, heating, all sorts of stuff. 00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:59.440 I mean, that's a really amazing place to be working in right now, isn't it? 00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:05.920 And I think for a long time, custom install architectural loudspeakers might have been seen as a compromise, but they're really not anymore. 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:10.480 Uh, our in-wall series within the creator series is a really strong performance. 00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:15.920 It goes toe-to-toe with our passive box loudspeakers that are in the room. 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:19.280 And and so we don't think about anything in isolation, do we? 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:19.760 Not really. 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:20.719 Not anymore. 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:28.239 I mean, before when I I guess hi-fi was hi-fi in its most traditional sense of speakers, separate boxes, hi-fi rack. 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:33.920 But we actually think of it as part of a wider audio solution, don't we? 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:34.400 Yeah. 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:34.639 Yeah. 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:49.599 I mean, it's possible to have a set of creator W3Ms that are in-wall, high-performance loudspeakers that are almost transparent to the aesthetic of the room, that deliver, you know, gold series level hi-fi performance within that room. 00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:58.000 And so for that customer that's they're really, really into audio, but for constraints, they can't have loudspeakers out in the room. 00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:00.079 They can still be delivered that performance. 00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:02.000 And I think that's what gets us up. 00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:26.159 You know, it's it's constantly delivering for different people's requirements, and that there's a vast majority, you know, set of requirements, those audio experiences, whether that is a cinema room, whether it is a beautifully clean, minimalist uh list you know, living room, or outdoor on the veranda, we're delivering those audio performances, connecting in people with the artist, you know, and wherever they are in their kind of space, I guess. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:28.000 Making that emotional connection. 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:45.760 Uh and we've put more and more and more RD in uh you know over the last 10 years into those um custom-installed products as architectural speakers, and uh those technologies are seen throughout our whole range, you know, whether it's in wall or box landspeakers, you're getting that performance. 00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:51.199 Yeah, and we talk with we're not gonna obviously disclose what's coming. 00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:56.079 Um I think you as our marketing um manager might might have a few words to say about that. 00:38:56.239 -->

00:39:00.159 But we we but we have a we have a strong roadmap. 00:39:00.320 --> 00:39:06.239 Um we're producing across the three brands anywhere between six to ten projects a year. 00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:11.679 Um, some of that is obviously um refreshing current ranges, some of that's bringing new product to market. 00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:17.760 And um but but really we talked about those connected consumers and convenience uh and bits and pieces. 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:25.360 Obviously, we want to try and um bring more people um and certainly some of the younger generations into the brand. 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:29.599 So expect to see see some product maybe in that space. 00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:42.559 Um and and of course, through our connections, we we work and have a have a very strong relationship as a partner with with Blue Sound, um, which is an incredible uh hopefully we'll be talking to those guys independently on another episode. 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:42.960 Absolutely. 00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:44.159 So that's something to look forward to. 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:47.599 So specifically Blue OS, yeah, the streaming platform. 00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:59.280 And so look, you know, if if you want to get excited about things, look that I think that there could be some things coming in that space, um, across across the Roxana and and monitor audio brands, maybe. 00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:04.480 And uh and then we have um more furniture as as as Michael suggested as well. 00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:14.000 So um, and of course on the on the CI side, we we we want to lead and we want to be seen as um uh a lead innovator in in custom install. 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:22.000 Um we work in a number of um markets which are which are growing massively across the globe on CI. 00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:29.840 Um and you know we have our new crater range, which is fantastic and very high performance. 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:37.039 But we provide all of those architects with solutions and and expect to see some more because there's a lot of innovation and a lot of things to do in that space. 00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:42.000 Well, one of the things um thanks Rob, sorry, I don't didn't want to cut you off there. 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:47.440 But one of the things I'm I'm I'm sort of uh focused on mentioning, because we mentioned it right at the start. 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:56.400 We talked about hyphen and we talked about production going to China uh back in the sort of like mid to late 90s, but let's just touch on that before we wrap up. 00:40:56.639 --> 00:40:59.199 So hyphen is our statement loudspeaker, Michael. 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:01.599 Roxanne is our electronics brand. 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:09.760 Um, we have moved production back into the UK, which I think is really exciting, and it's a lovely thing to finish this discussion on. 00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:12.880 So, can you say a few bits and pieces around that before we wrap? 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:14.480 I think there became some synergies. 00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:26.719 Obviously, Monitor Audio moved its production to China in the early 2000s, late 90s, and that left us with um you know, without production facility here in the UK in the end, after shutting it all down. 00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:31.679 But the acquisition of Roxanne brought a production facility back into the Monitor Audio group. 00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:38.239 Roxanne's products, you know, known for British-made products, and Caspian is made here on the Roxanne production line. 00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:44.159 So we've been building since we acquired Roxanne the ability to produce products here in the UK. 00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:46.400 Hyphen was that next step. 00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:48.559 Okay, let's bring a loudspeaker back. 00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:52.880 Let's bring that passion of production of loudspeakers back to the UK. 00:41:53.280 --> 00:41:56.400 And why not be the statement loudspeaker? 00:41:56.559 --> 00:42:01.119 Uh so we have uh the ability here to build hyphen loudspeakers. 00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:05.519 We've got a bunch of UK suppliers that bring some of those parts into us here. 00:42:05.679 --> 00:42:09.920 They're tested on our Achoic chamber here in the UK, the same one we use for RD. 00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:16.400 So it's not really a production, it's like this uh more of a hybrid RD production uh sense. 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:24.400 That you know that the testing standards are not just a small little booth at the end of a production in a noisy environment, but really is an RD facility that's doing the final testing vibe. 00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:35.920 And so it's amazing that the levels of quality and consistency we can achieve with the dedicated um you know technicians that that build that product and just know it inside out. 00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:40.719 Um that's something that I think we all feel very, very proud of as well, isn't it? 00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:46.719 Really, to have production now back in Essex on some of our key and most important products. 00:42:46.800 --> 00:42:52.400 I mean, that's that's that's really something that you know we're we're very pleased about and proud of. 00:42:53.039 --> 00:43:11.440 Yeah, I think it it what what makes this business so enjoyable is you know coming up with a concept, which I'm not going to take credit for the concept, but but it was a we were trying to convince our our owner to to to allow us to do something really special in Monitor Audio back back during COVID. 00:43:11.760 --> 00:43:39.840 And um obviously our owner's fantastic and and and and was willing to invest, which really gave you and Charles and the rest of the team the opportunities to go and do something quite special and and to see that then come to fruition and then physically be made here, you know, um even like seeing the cabinet and the intricacy of the cabinet and that being being being built by our um uh our supplier cut and edge in the UK uh with material from the UK is quite fascinating. 00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:49.280 And then you put it all together and and and you listen to it and then you see those reviews come out and and and and consumers really enjoying the product and and all of the good content. 00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:51.039 And available globally, right? 00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:54.239 So, you know, that's that's a tremendous thing to to to see. 00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:59.599 And on that point, I mean for anyone who's looking at a career in an industry, my goodness, this is a fantastic career to have. 00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:04.480 Like we you're so tightly coupled to the product and the experience of the customer afterwards. 00:44:04.559 --> 00:44:17.840 You know, we spend ages, whether it's the finance team or the engineering team, designing these things, making sure everything's working, it's costed correctly, but then finally it lands with a customer and they smile and you think, that's it, job done. 00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:21.199 Yeah, so what what a job done. 00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:24.960 So I would encourage anyone that's listening to it that's thinking of a career, you know, what to do. 00:44:25.039 --> 00:44:34.480 If you're into engineering or any other area of business, business management, any of those areas, yeah, audio companies, yeah, what a place to spend your career. 00:44:34.800 --> 00:44:52.239 And it and it but but also from from a from a UK perspective, bringing manufacturing um back into your skill sets, which which uh you know I've been uh sort of lost in the UK to have that here and and be doing something here, even at the highest end, we sort of yes, it's low volume products. 00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:57.920 I mean, I I'd love to sell a thousand a year um at that price point, but but you know, let's be realistic. 00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:02.079 Um it's it's one of those aspirational products for people. 00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:10.719 Um but it's great to have manufacturing back in the UK and and seeing great businesses with good history like us working. 00:45:12.480 --> 00:45:19.840 But still respecting that that um other countries offer us um fantastic opportunities to produce products as well. 00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:20.639 Fantastic. 00:45:20.719 --> 00:45:21.280 Well, brilliant. 00:45:21.840 --> 00:45:24.480 Guys, um thank you so much for the discussion. 00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:26.559 I think we're gonna have to bring this one into land. 00:45:27.119 --> 00:45:30.800 Thanks so much for listening to the Monitor Audio Group Podcast. 00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:31.599 Listen again. 00:45:31.760 --> 00:45:38.480 If you liked it, please rate and comment and subscribe so that you can stay up to date with all the latest episodes.