"Across short sell cycles, most companies constantly introduce new products and models. Supposedly their market demands such speed to retain the novelty factor rather than redefine existing product. Hence much new product is never really 100% finished. It only represents a snap shot frozen in time past which the engineers already begin to develop the successor model. At AudioValve, we continually refine our existing products. This gives us a very different perspective. For us a product is never finished. The longer it is to market, the better it becomes because it now reflects the most current understanding of our art.


"It is for this reason that our amplifiers are never obsolete. For a small fee, the customer enjoys each and every update as it becomes available. This view talks of evolved model concepts and technical updates as the constant care and development toward musical perfection and unconditional circuit stability. That can go on for several decades. A very special reason for the ongoing success of our amplifiers is customer feedback which we incorporate into further R&D.


"Elsewhere this goes against established marketing rules. There things are short-lived and designed for built-in obsolescence. They quickly become 'old iron' that heads for the landfill. Because of our policy, AudioValve amplifiers are purchases for life. This passion and stewartship of our hardware flock around the world motivates us every day to do our best and learn more." [Power on/off processor board at right, driver stage below.]


The iron of power and output transformer below deck [these photos supplied by AudioValve].



When asked to detail out development of the Baldur 300, Helmut's pert reply was that "the Baldur story started 25 years ago with Baldur 100, was followed by Baldur 200 and 15 years ago further developed to today's Baldur 300+." The evolution of this model thus reflected power scaling as indicated by the nomenclature. "We only made the power and output transformers bigger and more precise but the circuit schematic remained the same and stable."


For further descriptions, we're directed here.