Company Profile
Wathen Audiophile exists to provide elite products for the music industry while restoring the value and quality of American engineering. Wathen's mission is to design, engineer and craft products that exceed expectations and give our fans the sound quality that was intended when the original recording was made. Every enclosure at Wathen is made in America, and handcrafted with wood in Houston Texas. In addition, Wathen has developed, trademarked and introduced to the market a proprietary method of cryogenically treating vacuum tubes.
Quick Facts
History
Don Thomas began designing and building his dream speakers in 2004, while maintaining a full time job in IT infrastructure. Over the years he developed prototypes of several components and began development of new ways to bring vacuum tubes to a level of sound quality. In April 2014 Wathen Audiophile, LLC was born and production began.
Don's family along with other wonderful contributors stepped into the business in various roles and they began marketing the products to Recording Studios, boutique shops and selected professional recording artists. In addition Wathen gave sample tubes to many attenders at summer NAMM 2014 as well as NAMM 2015. The feedback from those testing the tubes was phenomenal.
Wathen Speakers and components
The patent pending high-tension rod construction maximizes the integrity and density of the uniquely carved enclosure. The Wathen design provides a superior sound quality with extraordinary impact and imaging. Wathen uses the highest quality drivers and crossover components available. As a result of rigorous testing they have been selected to provide an artful blend of technology.
Wathen utilizes the fewest necessary electronic components between the amplifier and driver. We believe excessive components both rob the impact and life from the original source material and decrease the expected life span of the system
Wathen speakers offer a selection of wood and painted finishes that capitalize the magnificence of Wathen speakers. Beyond the beauty lies a world of unbelievable sound reproduction. Therein is a unique curved design that exemplifies the reproduction of sound while complimenting the room with a beautiful piece of furniture. Hand crafted and finished with a patent pending design gives you the best product on the market with personal detailed quality attention.
Wathen CryoTone™ Tubes
Wathen utilizes an extreme cryogenic treatment process that is specifically designed to
maximize sonic performance in tubes, Developed in conjunction with leading OEMs
and VARs, the proprietary formula is the result of extensive experimentation and
testing.
Stock audio components contain internal stresses that degrade sonic performance. Not only is the raw stock subject to residual stresses from fabrication, but additional steps in the manufacturing process produce added stress lines.
Wathen’s unique cryogenic treatment modifies the granular structure in critical electronic components by reducing or eliminating voids and imperfections in the material. This process also relieves stresses and normalizes (or stabilizes) welded and soldered areas.
Wathen Audiophile exists to provide elite products for the music industry while restoring the value and quality of American engineering. Wathen's mission is to design, engineer and craft products that exceed expectations and give our fans the sound quality that was intended when the original recording was made. Every enclosure at Wathen is made in America, and handcrafted with wood in Houston Texas. In addition, Wathen has developed, trademarked and introduced to the market a proprietary method of cryogenically treating vacuum tubes.
Quick Facts
- Wathen speaker series began creation in 2004
- Wathen Audiophile, LLC was established in 2014
- Wathen is owned and operated by Don Thomas
- Wathen enclosures are designed and handcrafted in Houston , TX
- Both speaker and amplifier series are produced and handcrafted with wood, not vinyl
- Wathen CryoTone™ Tubes were introduced at Summer NAMM 2014
- QuarterWave 2.0™ was introduced November 2014
- January 2015 NAMM was a large market introduction to Wathen speakers and CryoTone™ Tubes and resulted in great professional reviews
History
Don Thomas began designing and building his dream speakers in 2004, while maintaining a full time job in IT infrastructure. Over the years he developed prototypes of several components and began development of new ways to bring vacuum tubes to a level of sound quality. In April 2014 Wathen Audiophile, LLC was born and production began.
Don's family along with other wonderful contributors stepped into the business in various roles and they began marketing the products to Recording Studios, boutique shops and selected professional recording artists. In addition Wathen gave sample tubes to many attenders at summer NAMM 2014 as well as NAMM 2015. The feedback from those testing the tubes was phenomenal.
Wathen Speakers and components
The patent pending high-tension rod construction maximizes the integrity and density of the uniquely carved enclosure. The Wathen design provides a superior sound quality with extraordinary impact and imaging. Wathen uses the highest quality drivers and crossover components available. As a result of rigorous testing they have been selected to provide an artful blend of technology.
Wathen utilizes the fewest necessary electronic components between the amplifier and driver. We believe excessive components both rob the impact and life from the original source material and decrease the expected life span of the system
Wathen speakers offer a selection of wood and painted finishes that capitalize the magnificence of Wathen speakers. Beyond the beauty lies a world of unbelievable sound reproduction. Therein is a unique curved design that exemplifies the reproduction of sound while complimenting the room with a beautiful piece of furniture. Hand crafted and finished with a patent pending design gives you the best product on the market with personal detailed quality attention.
Wathen CryoTone™ Tubes
Wathen utilizes an extreme cryogenic treatment process that is specifically designed to
maximize sonic performance in tubes, Developed in conjunction with leading OEMs
and VARs, the proprietary formula is the result of extensive experimentation and
testing.
Stock audio components contain internal stresses that degrade sonic performance. Not only is the raw stock subject to residual stresses from fabrication, but additional steps in the manufacturing process produce added stress lines.
Wathen’s unique cryogenic treatment modifies the granular structure in critical electronic components by reducing or eliminating voids and imperfections in the material. This process also relieves stresses and normalizes (or stabilizes) welded and soldered areas.
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