February 2022
ertonline.co.uk
Klipsch The Fives
SP: I don’t think there’s a product in our portfolio that we wouldn’t have in our own homes. Our brands definitely feel the responsibility to offer true quality but also something that looks great. Pro-Ject’s matte finishes are just beautiful and such a lift from the past. In recent years we have also launched the Artist
Collection and we’ve had collaborations with The Beatles to do limited edition turntables designed by Ringo Starr, some with artwork of George Harrison and even a Yellow Submarine one! Other designs include the Rolling Stones, Parov Stelar and Hard Rock Café. NF: The product that we all have the most love for, however, is the Debut turntable because it is the icon of the Pro-Ject story; it was created by Laurence [Armstrong] and I visiting the brand in 1998 and introduced almost as an add-on purchase! The dealer makes their sale and says to the customer “have you got any records left in your loft? You can play them on one of these”. Since then lots of people have said that without
the Debut there wouldn’t have even been a vinyl revival, and that means a lot to us!
SP: Of course, other people are driven by other factors and requirements so we also offer Pro-Ject turntables under a sister brand called TONE Factory, which is all about affordable design still for the fashion-conscious vinyl lover. They have automatic speed control built in, Bluetooth transmission and there’s no setup required to make them as accessible as possible. They are really cool products.
Q: Arguably Henley Audio is more than just a distributor? What would you say makes you unique these days? SP: We always try and run our business to the benefit of others, not just ourselves, and when we take on new kit it has to be functional and practical for everyone. NF: We make investments in people as well as product. We are very lucky that everyone here takes an enormous amount of pride in their work and they are genuinely passionate about the sector as well. The pandemic has certainly pushed us along
much quicker than expected. This current building still has headroom for expansion, which shows that it was the right investment for us when we moved here in 2016. And we installed the mezzanine floor a few months ago to give us extra capacity. But we have realised that before too long it might not be big enough for everything. SP: We have to be balanced in terms of growth; we want to run a sustainable business that people can rely on for many years to come. There may come a time where we look at a different company structure – perhaps a high-end division and separating the DJ brands slightly. There are lots of moves available. We represent our suppliers in the UK as if
they were here themselves so we have to act with the utmost respect – and that drives everything we do. We wouldn’t be here today without their incredible support so there is no point moving at a rampant pace if it doesn’t suit
them and our dealers; they are our lifeblood and the key to our success.
Q: So how will you move the company forward in the next five years? NF: Historically, if Henley already had one particular amplifier brand then we wouldn’t take on another amplifier brand. But we have matured in recent years and we now have three amplifier brands, as an example, but they all offer something totally, and tonally, different! We’re not on a massive quest towards brand
acquisitions but there are so many areas we could move into in categories that we don’t currently have a footprint in. It’s an exciting prospect for the future!
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Pro-Ject Audio’s Debut Carbon EVO turntable
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