An Engineer with a Dream
The story of Purist Audio Design began with Jim Aud. For some time, Jim served humbly in the United States Air Force. At the time, someone would bring a Marantz or other system to him, knowing his background in electronics, and ask if he might repair it. Never one to turn down a challenge, and having an interest in music as well as helping others, Jim would set to work.
At his workbench, Jim began to experiment. He would experiment with different conductors and different forms of shielding. He added directionality, something almost unknown at the time. As his missions for the Air Force and eventually NASA continued, Jim found he could improve audio quality significantly through upgrading the cables, bringing forward until then, unheard music and detail. Until Jim, no one had thought to elevate cables, the technology that carries the music from one part of the system to the other. For this reason, he's been called one of the founding fathers of high end audio.
That simple act, of helping others achieve better, more quality sound became the basis for Purist Audio Design.
The First Line
Fast forward to 1986 and Jim would take to his garage to create something wonderful. Armed with military training and an engineering degree, alongside techniques learned from NASA, Jim would create the first, shielded, high-end audio cable. He was proud to share his discovery with his family, and from there, the world.
Inspired by a love of music, art, and engineering, Jim sought to not just tell the world of his discovery, but to let them experience it. Placing the cables around his shoulders, the enterprising Aud would attend audio shows and conventions. He offered to let them try his cables, to hear for themselves.
They liked what they heard.
To hear Jim tell it, the first cable, the Aqueous, used a liquid jacket covering the interconnect and speaker cable. This sort of insulation was revolutionary to high-end audio, and the cable did what Jim had set out to do, originally: it improved the listening experience. Freed from outside interference, from the machinations of an increasingly noisy world, music sounded better, more pure.
Revision A
With memories of touring shows with cables across his shoulders behind him, Jim developed Aqueous cable into Purist's first, full line. The timing could not be more perfect: audio was becoming ever more popular, and so was electronic interference. Those who knew demanded greater quality audio cables. They would demand better filtration systems, quality engineering, a better product for a new and busier era.
Revision A saw the first expansion of Purist Audio Design from an audiophile's dedicated garage, to a proper shop with a handful of artisans, who Jim would train, himself. Excited at this new era, everyone at the shop was involved, most of all his family. His daughter, Kim, participated in this research even at a young age! He inspired her by taking her to the ballet, where she experienced not only the wonder of dance, but the beauty of a live orchestra. He made music part of his family, and company, from the very beginning.
As a result, Kim proved instrumental in Purist's first revision. Kim and Jim would spend time not just listening, but traveling to audio shows across the world. Together, they continued his tradition of letting others hear the difference for themselves.
From the Aud family collaboration, the Aqueous was born, the first in the line of Revision A cables.
Revision B
After a long day of hand-soldering and crafting cables, Jim and his artisans at Purist Audio fell into discussion. Excited about the latest advancements in metallurgy, he sought to convey their importance to his team. The group talked late into the evening, then agreed to pick it up the next day. Eventually, they came to realize it was time to refine what they knew. Engineers first and foremost, they named this revision, simply, Revision B. They would let the quality stand on its own, and in the ears of listeners, and it did.
Revision B saw remarkable improvements in construction, metallurgy, and an increased listening experience!
Revision C
Jim looked with anticipation towards the future. With new technology booming, he would take these advancements to his listening room, where he and his family would test them on discerning audio setups. Everything was for the music.
From these listening sessions, Revision C was born. Revision C examined how technology would influence our listening future and saw the introduction, and initial development, of Purist Audio Design's patented Ferox shielding.
With Ferox, Purist expanded their previous, Fluid-based shielding to provide alternative filtering options. Fluid and Ferox sought to preserve the sanctity of the listening experience; using technology to reveal the true presence of sound, yet not allowing it to be hindered by an increasingly noisy world.
Praesto
There is something to experience, to refinement over time. Built upon the foundation of three previous revisions, the Praesto. Praesto shone with the maturation of Purist Audio Design.
By now, Purist artisans possessed over a decades' worth of hand-taught experience, and Jim saw his daughter, Kim, taking a ever-increasing interest in the family business. Father and daughter would spend many a long hour, testing designs and discussing the engineering principles that, combined with the artistry of musicians and performers, sought to bring the most beautiful of concerts and performances to the listener. Together, they would develop Praesto with a balanced approach towards the symphony of technology and visual aesthetic. With the Praesto, Purist sought to let the music come alive as never before!
Everything is for the music!
Luminist
During an audio show, Jim and his daughter were overcome by some of America's greatest artisans. Inspired by Luminist artists, who themselves sought to reveal the beauty of nature through fine, invisible brush strokes and the evolution of light, in addition to Kim's lifelong love of orchestra, the Aud family sought to honor the beauty and revealing nature of art through enhanced, refined construction and design. The Luminist Revision built further upon Praesto's concepts, ensuring designs were more flexible, allowing cables to fit more easily into changing and more dynamic audio setups. Like the painters of a classic era, the Luminist Revision sought to bring light to the detail and lush tapestry of sound. Purist Audio Design focused on tightening our audio engineering and craftsmanship as a foundation for an illuminated listening experience!
Diamond
For the Diamond Revision, the Auds would surprise Purist's artisans with a new, refined build. Built initially in secret after-hours, they surprised their staff by inviting them into the listening room. As music played over the system, the Diamond Revision proved its worth, and they would set about, together, to improve this dream. Today, the Diamond Revision offers a transcendent musical experience founded on a solid 40' years experience in high-end audio engineering and craftsmanship. The Diamond Revision seeks to reveal the inner, core beauty of music, with sound as revealing and as clear as these precious stones.