In 1975 I met a highly opinionated, yet likeable engineer/audio enthusiast named Richard Hardesty. Dick had built his first three-tube radio kit when he was eight years old. By the time he was eleven, Dick had assembled a complete hi-fi system. Dick was very knowledgeable from both a technical and a practical hands-on experiential point of view. At that time Dick's home system included original Quads, sitting on top of a pair of Dick's self-designed subwoofers. I remember the midrange and the blending of the subwoofers was extraordinary. Dick and I formed a partnership after realizing that we tracked very closely on business philosophies and sound perception. Later on we changed the name to Havens & Hardesty Audio Systems.
Dick was kind enough to write a companion article for my web site that segues into what Dick is currently doing. Drawing from a vast well of practical and technical expertise, Dick stands alone as the best informed independent thinking audio journalist in the business today. You will find some very valuable insights and useful information from his web site. I wholeheartedly support Dick's current efforts at bringing accurate reliable information to consumers, instead of the useless dribble of misinformation that seems so prevalent today. I recommend that you subscribe to the Audio Perfectionist Journal at www.audioperfectionist.com.
Advancements & Benchmarks The mid-seventies were very exciting times in the audio industry. That was a time when we were modifying (mirror imaging) Dahlquist DQ-10's to sound even better, modifying B & O tangential tracking tone arms to accommodate different cartridges, discovering the virtues of better interconnects and speaker wire like the "Fulton Gold", and working closely with Julius Siksnias, lending our ears to his preamp and amplifier designs. We learned a lot about room acoustics and setting up systems in customer's homes.
“One of the nicest things about the hi-fi business is that it has given me the chance to travel around and meet wonderful people who are united by their love of music and are prepared to work long and hard in the pursuit of a high quality result that gives their customers lasting pleasure. The hi-fi industry has provided me with joy from friendships with these special people that have stood the test of time all around the world.
I first met Curtis Havens around 1975 when he was in partnership with Richard Hardesty, and I have enjoyed the pleasure of his counsel, the joy of his friendship and the honor of doing business with him since that time. It is without hesitation whatsoever that I warmly commend visitors to his site to arrange to stop by his shop and hear what his lifetime's experience and love of audio--coupled to meticulous attention to set-up details--can achieve when it comes to delivering high fidelity sound in the home.”
Ivor Tiefenbrun
Linn Products Inc.