Six Decades of Audio T

1966 was a remarkable year for music. The Beatles released Revolver, The Beach Boys gave us Pet Sounds and Bob Dylan unveiled Blonde on Blonde. It was also the year John Bartlett founded a small Hi-Fi business with a difference.

Originally called Audio Technica, the name was quickly shortened when it became apparent that a Japanese company had already beaten us to it. With that, Audio T was born.

The business began modestly, run part-time from John’s home and advertising “ex-demo” and “display” equipment in The Gramophone. The products were actually brand new, but describing them in this way allowed Audio T to offer discounts at a time when reducing the price of new equipment was not permitted. That rebellious streak, combined with an insistence on honest advice, would become an important part of the company’s character.

By 1968, Audio T had moved into its first proper premises at Dryden Chambers, just off Tottenham Court Road. Not many retailers can claim their first shop was housed in a former Victorian brothel that later appeared in an Alfred Hitchcock film, but Audio T has never had an entirely conventional history.

A Few Familiar Faces

Audio T’s independent, straight-talking approach attracted quite a following over the years, including more than a few familiar faces. Our stores have welcomed everyone from conductor Leopold Stokowski, Elton John, Keith Moon and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac to Johnny Rotten, Noel Gallagher, Bernard Sumner of New Order, Mani of The Stone Roses, Jay Kay of Jamiroquai and Emma Watson.

That would make for a fairly unlikely queue outside a demonstration room.

The full roll call is considerably longer and covers musicians, actors, composers, conductors, sportspeople and television personalities from several generations. Other notable customers have included Andrew Lloyd Webber, Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, Bonnie Tyler, Karl Hyde and Rick Smith of Underworld, Dr Karl Jenkins, Will Young, Russell Watson, Joe Jackson, Kevin Rowland, Colin Blunstone of The Zombies and Mark Potter of Elbow.

They came to Audio T for much the same reason as everyone else: knowledgeable advice, carefully chosen equipment and a shared enthusiasm for great sound. Celebrity or otherwise, the approach was exactly the same. Listen first, offer an honest opinion and find the system that best suits the person sitting in front of you.

An Industry That Refuses to Stand Still

The world of Hi-Fi has changed enormously since 1966. We have travelled from vinyl records, open-reel tape and radio through cassettes, CDs, home cinema, downloads and lossless streaming. Products that once appeared unstoppable have disappeared, while formats repeatedly declared dead have made extraordinary comebacks.

The way people discover and buy music has also changed beyond recognition. However, the desire to hear music reproduced properly has remained.

During those six decades, the Hi-Fi industry has endured recessions, changing fashions, the growth of internet shopping, pressure on the high street and the effects of a global pandemic. There have been plenty of predictions about the death of specialist Hi-Fi, yet the industry has continued to adapt, innovate and persevere.

That is because choosing a great system is about more than reading specifications or clicking an online recommendation. It is about understanding how equipment works together, listening carefully, asking questions and finding the right solution for the person in front of you. Technology changes, but knowledgeable and genuinely independent advice never goes out of date.

Independent Then. Independent Now.

Audio T has grown, changed shape and welcomed several respected regional retailers into the family over the years. In 1990, Audio T joined forces with Oxford retailer Absolute Sound and Video. The three Jeffries Hi-Fi stores followed in 2002, before Audio Excellence and Practical Hi-Fi became part of the business in 2008.

Stores have opened, moved and occasionally closed as the retail landscape has changed, but the principles behind Audio T have remained remarkably consistent.

Today, we have ten stores across England and Wales, each with its own character and team. We continue to offer demonstrations, home trials, part-exchange and straightforward advice from people who genuinely care about music, film and getting the best from every system.

We only recommend and stock products that we believe in. Sometimes that means challenging accepted wisdom or telling someone that a different product would suit them better. It may not always be the easiest way to sell Hi-Fi, but it is the way Audio T has operated for 60 years.

The People Behind the Name

No celebration of Audio T would be complete without recognising the many people who have worked here during the past six decades.

Our staff, both past and present, have contributed an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and experience. Much of that knowledge cannot be found in a manual. It has been gained through years of listening, installing equipment, matching systems, visiting customers’ homes, solving problems and sharing countless conversations about music.

Many colleagues have spent a substantial part of their working lives with Audio T. Their enthusiasm, honesty and willingness to share what they know have shaped the company every bit as much as any shopfront, product or logo.

To everyone who has worked under the Audio T name over the years, thank you. This anniversary belongs to you too.

Most Importantly, Thank You

Above all, we want to thank our customers.

Some of you have been visiting Audio T for decades, gradually building and improving systems as your music collections and lives have changed. Others may have discovered us only recently while looking for a first turntable, a better pair of headphones or some help making sense of streaming.

Whether you have trusted us with several generations of equipment, visited us for a demonstration, attended one of our events or simply called for advice, your support has kept Audio T going.

Independent retailers do not reach their 60th anniversary without loyal customers. Your recommendations, repeat visits, reviews, conversations and continued faith in what we do have allowed us to remain independent and continue doing the job we love.

If you have known us for years, thank you for staying with us. If you are new to Audio T, welcome. We hope this is the beginning of a long relationship.

Another Anniversary on the Horizon

The celebrations will not end here. In 2027, it will be 40 years since the first Bristol Hi-Fi Show was held in 1987.

The event has grown to become the UK’s largest and longest-running specialist Hi-Fi and home cinema show. The 2027 event will be our 38th Show and takes place from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th February. We will be marking its 40-year history properly, and we very much hope you will join us in Bristol for the celebrations.

For now, though, we raise a glass to Audio T, our staff, our industry and every customer who has helped us reach this milestone.

The equipment may have changed, but the reason we are here has not. We still believe in the power of music, the value of independent advice and the difference a properly chosen Hi-Fi system can make.

Born in 1966. Still obsessed with sound.

Here’s to the next 60 years.