E42: A Conversation with Andrew Jones – the Infinity, Pioneer, & TAD years

Today, in my third conversation with the remarkable Andrew Jones, he takes us back through his time at Infinity, Pioneer, and TAD, a period covering the two decades from 1994 through 2014.

This was an especially fertile period for Andrew that, among other pursuits, allowed him to advance the development of the concentric driver designs that he had striven to improve upon since their introduction at KEF in the 1980s. He pioneered using self-amplified woofers in his designs, first with the Infinity Prelude in the mid 1990’s, then with the Pioneer TZ-F700, an exceptional loudspeaker of its era, and one that I sold and loved. His designs at EVERY level, from amazingly musical sub-one-hundred dollar a pair Pioneers, to the spectacular forty-two-thousand-dollar, stand-mounted Compact Reference 1 monitors and the staggering eighty-thousand-dollar Reference 1 floor-standers, for Technical Audio Devices Laboratories.

My C.E.S./T.H.E. Show 2003 Report – from The Stereo Times:
My First Day, Friday 01/28/03
My First Day Continues – er, more or less, Saturday 02/25/03
- includes the coverage of the TAD Model-1 Loudspeaker
Oases of Beautiful Music – Best Sounds of the Best  02/28/03

My C.E.S./T.H.E. Show 2008 Report – from Positive Feedback:
CES 2008 – Another One from the Road (or, 41 @ 52) – Issue 35 Jan/Feb 2008
- includes the coverage of the TAD Reference One, the Compact Reference One, and the as yet prototypical M600 monos…

A link to ALL my online Show & Event coverage

Ways to support the audio analyst©:

[jlutell]

at new york's show a few years ago when andrew was with TAD I sat thru 4 of his presentations and music demos lusting after those speakers and being enthralled by one of our hobby's greats. Thanks greg and andrew.

[marcus]

Interesting that Andrew said it was a mistake when the EX range were marketed as Pioneer instead of an entry level TAD design... I remember thinking the EXACT same thing back then!
Firmly into the Elac era with Andrew now
That story right at the end... Even knowing EXACTLY where it was heading.... So so VERY funny 😂😂...
Always great when you can say to someone
"Go and have a listen to some of those, they're affordable, within your budget
and you'll not be disappointed !"
Can't wait for part IV

[ninja_sound]

I’ve been fortunate enough to have lunch with Andrew and briefly tap in to his master mind.

He is a genius and his speakers have changed my relationship with recorded music.

I’m now a happy owner of TAD CR1 MKII speakers and they will leave my dead hands. 🔊🎶❤️

Thanks for a great interview! 👍

[paulstearns]

Not sure how to say this politely, so I'll just say it. I would really have like to hear more about what Andrew Jones did at Infinity. Being more of a technical person, knowing the personalities is OK, but learning about the products he developed and his thought processes would be more interesting for me. Hearing your interactions and how the speakers impacted you provides interesting color, but Andrew is the main attraction.

If you are going to continue these interviews, and I hope you do, please take a few moments to watch say Johnny Carson vs Jay Leno. Johnny would set up the guest, get out of the way and let them shine. Jay on the other hand always had(s) to be the center of attention.


Perhaps being an insider you know so much about these folks accomplishments, you assume everyone else does. I certainly don't know what products Andrew has been responsible for. What made the low cost speakers he developed such a good value? What speakers other than the towers with the built in subs did he help develop at Infinity? What speakers did he design at Pioneer? Of the products he developed at each company what is he the most proud of? What design problem(s) which he has overcome has given him the greatest satisfaction?

You may take the above in the manner in which it is meant which is "I like what you are doing, but there may be possible improvements." or "You suck." which is not what I said or mean.

[wanderlustdetailer]

Older video I know but question for anyone who may know. I know the TZ7/9 were a collab with TAD but were the ST100, 300, and especially 500’s series also a collab with them? I know they some different material used on the cones I believe but they resemble the TZ7’s quite a bit. I know things like the crossovers are probably different too.

[khunopie]

I just came across some of your VS reviews on Absolute Sound. I had no idea you wrote for them.
I used to be a frequent commenter on their Discus. The AS comment section was always good for a heated debate or a chuckle. Any idea why AS stopped using it?

[supremeboy]

Greg can you please interrupt bit less next time
I understand you have a lot questions and thoughts but it was a bit chaotic if Andrew could not answer a lot times without interruptions.
I have enjoyed listening all the episodes with him, so thanks for doing it :D

[carlosoliveira-rcxt]

Every Japanese company was manufacturing speakers in the late '90s.