Julian Vereker
Julian Vereker | |
|---|---|
 Vereker appearing in a publicity shoot for the Naim Label | |
| Born | 7 May 1945 Oxford, England |
| Died | 14 January 2000 (aged 54) |
| Occupation | electronics designer |
| Known for | founder of Naim Audio |
Julian Charles Prendergast Vereker
Biography
Family and education
Julian Vereker was born in
Professional life
He co-founded Coburn Improvements, a company that custom modified sports and racing cars.[1] He then made improvements to a Mini 850 S, which he raced for several seasons. In 1967, he participated in 23 races, of which he won 16 and placed in the rest. After that successful season, he decided to sell his car: it realised about £650 – a small fortune at the time. Vereker worked briefly for Downton Engineering and Janspeed but lost interest in cars.[2] Pursuing his interest in reproduction of sound with 8 mm film, Vereker found that prices were high due to a dearth of supply, and built a machine to perforate recording tape capable of making 6 million feet a year.[1]
Vereker founded
Vereker loved making recordings of his friends but was unsatisfied with the results. Prevailing wisdom at the time was that all amplifiers sounded alike. However, he found this not to be true. Experimentation with pieces of equipment in the sound reproduction chain led him to conclude that amplifying equipment available at the time was of unsatisfactory quality: he could not distinguish different performers, or different kinds of guitar.[2][1]
Working on building mixers based on other peoples' designs, he found that distortion – already visible in oscilloscope traces – and set out to eliminate it through better design.
In 1973 Vereker won a contract to supply the nascent Capital Radio with 24 single cabinets containing the Naim amplifier and speaker drive units.[2] That July, the company was incorporated as Naim Audio; and in 1974 the firm moved from a basement in Salisbury to a 16th-century shop in the city.
A pivotal event that same year was Vereker's introduction to a Scot, Ivor Tiefenbrun, who had been developing turntables. Impressed with Vereker's product, Ivor began firmly recommending Vereker's amplifiers when he promoted his turntable.[2][3] Together, they challenged the perceived wisdom at the time within the industry, proving by demonstration alone that indeed all products were not the same. The Linn turntable, partnered with Naim amplifiers, proved to be an unbeatable combination, with sales greatly assisted by Vereker's and Tiefenbrun's confident pitch to potential customers: "If you can't hear the difference, it's not worth talking to you".
In the 1990s and right up to his death, the Naim record label was close to Vereker's heart, and he devoted his time to coming up with improved techniques for CD mastering. The roster featured many of his friends from the music world.[4]
Other achievements
For some years Vereker was chairman of the Federation of British Audio.
He was appointed an MBE in the 1995 Birthday Honours for services to British export.[5]
Interests and personal life
In addition to hi-fi, Vereker worked on cars, boats, computers and lighting systems.
He was an enthusiast for bicycle design, and assisted
Vereker died from cancer on 14 January 2000, aged 54. He was twice married, and had a son and two daughters.
References
- ^ a b c d "What's in a Naim?". c. 1978 (courtesy link by Tomtom Club) Archives
- ^ a b c d e f Stewart, Malcolm (April 1989) "Naim supremo Julian Vereker talks with Malcolm Steward about his company’s past, present and future". Hi-fi Review. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Julian Vereker's Last Interview". c. 1999 (courtesy link by Tomtom Club) Archived from the original on 11 September 2013.
- ^ "A naim of note". Sound on Sound. June 2001. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
- ^ "No. 54066". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 16 June 1995. p. 24.
- ^ Laurance, Ben (7 August 2005). "The bicycle that turned into folding money". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
- ^ Perry, Robert H. "Perry on Design". Sailing. Archived from the original on 10 May 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2007.