What we do
If you can't take the artist home; clone the artist! ArtistCloner; cloning audio experiences!
ArtistCloner manufactures high end audio reproduction equipment and devices made available since 2014 to the public.
Where it all started....
When I was young (under 20) my dad (may he rest in peace) used to buy stereo equipment from Radio Shack and that was the best that I knew for audio reproduction at home. Dating brought me into an other type of audio environment where equipment was bought from specialty shops. This girl's father also had Radio Shack equipment but was upgrading from specialty shops. I remember seeing for the first time an amplifier (that wasn't hooked up) with only an on/off switch and a price tag close to $1000 that he had bought. Being accustomed to integrated amplifiers that cost $275 in the early 80's, this was very disconcerting to say the least. "How do we adjust volume, balance or switch inputs?" I asked. I was told that you need a preamp to do this work! Why go through all this trouble? His two way 10 inch speakers sounded better than anything else I had heard and he was using a Radio Shack integrated amp. He was talking about changing his speakers and adding a sub and on and on just like an audiophile would. Back then I didn't even know that word: audiophile.
I knew the sound of his system very well as I would be spending lots time at their house (Basement Dweller was my name). I would walk in ( I couldn't see the system when you stepped into the house) and something would be playing on the sound system at all times. I wasn't searching for superior sound as I didn't know any better but something interesting happened to me. One day I stepped in the house and the sound had changed dramatically! I asked if he had changed his speakers and he said "no, I bought the preamp (on/off switch, volume and 3 input selections) and installed my amp that has only the on/off switch". I had to see this with my own eyes! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I was under the conviction that every amplifier sounded the same. Unknowingly this was my first blind test. That's the day my journey began (thank-you
Terrence).
I learned about quality audio equipment and I started modifying speakers and then amplifiers. In the 90's the first preamp was created and it beat a commercial preamp from a well regarded brand. I bought other highly regarded brands but after a while I got the desire to make something different. I wanted the highest quality with the simplest audio paths with the intention of having the least interference from the equipment on the signal. More preamps where built with different topologies and then came the experiments in amplifiers.
Friends were buying the stuff and the need to build more followed. Then one day two friends asked why don't I make speakers? My response was ''There are more than enough speakers being made so why make another one?'' Not satisfied with this answer they showed up with drivers and asked what could be done with them. After many speakers built the final version was a two way stand mount that is now known as the Rebel Reference.
30+ years later ArtistCloner is born. What a trip its been and now you have an opportunity to hear what has been accomplished.
If you can't bring the artist home; clone the experience! Welcome to ArtistCloner.
Sylvio Comtois
President & CEO
ArtistCloners' philosophy; Keep it direct and fresh.
When I was young (under 20) my dad (may he rest in peace) used to buy stereo equipment from Radio Shack and that was the best that I knew for audio reproduction at home. Dating brought me into an other type of audio environment where equipment was bought from specialty shops. This girl's father also had Radio Shack equipment but was upgrading from specialty shops. I remember seeing for the first time an amplifier (that wasn't hooked up) with only an on/off switch and a price tag close to $1000 that he had bought. Being accustomed to integrated amplifiers that cost $275 in the early 80's, this was very disconcerting to say the least. "How do we adjust volume, balance or switch inputs?" I asked. I was told that you need a preamp to do this work! Why go through all this trouble? His two way 10 inch speakers sounded better than anything else I had heard and he was using a Radio Shack integrated amp. He was talking about changing his speakers and adding a sub and on and on just like an audiophile would. Back then I didn't even know that word: audiophile.
I knew the sound of his system very well as I would be spending lots time at their house (Basement Dweller was my name). I would walk in ( I couldn't see the system when you stepped into the house) and something would be playing on the sound system at all times. I wasn't searching for superior sound as I didn't know any better but something interesting happened to me. One day I stepped in the house and the sound had changed dramatically! I asked if he had changed his speakers and he said "no, I bought the preamp (on/off switch, volume and 3 input selections) and installed my amp that has only the on/off switch". I had to see this with my own eyes! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I was under the conviction that every amplifier sounded the same. Unknowingly this was my first blind test. That's the day my journey began (thank-you
Terrence).
I learned about quality audio equipment and I started modifying speakers and then amplifiers. In the 90's the first preamp was created and it beat a commercial preamp from a well regarded brand. I bought other highly regarded brands but after a while I got the desire to make something different. I wanted the highest quality with the simplest audio paths with the intention of having the least interference from the equipment on the signal. More preamps where built with different topologies and then came the experiments in amplifiers.
Friends were buying the stuff and the need to build more followed. Then one day two friends asked why don't I make speakers? My response was ''There are more than enough speakers being made so why make another one?'' Not satisfied with this answer they showed up with drivers and asked what could be done with them. After many speakers built the final version was a two way stand mount that is now known as the Rebel Reference.
30+ years later ArtistCloner is born. What a trip its been and now you have an opportunity to hear what has been accomplished.
If you can't bring the artist home; clone the experience! Welcome to ArtistCloner.
Sylvio Comtois
President & CEO
ArtistCloners' philosophy; Keep it direct and fresh.
- Simplicity
- Minimum components count
- Lowest parts count in the signal path
- Keep signal paths as uncluttered as possible
- High quality parts and when possible no capacitors in the signal path
- Natural, organic, engaging sound is the goal
- Use of the best materials or parts for audio reproduction
- Implementation and layout is key to amazing sound
- Silver/copper solder where critical
- Stiff power supplies
- Resonance control is always considered
- Fine tuning by listening tests
- Sound grounding practices
- Short signal paths
- Anything that will not degrade the audio signal is considered and explored (keeping it real)
- Built to last (not a throw away product)