Sugden Audio at Cloney Audio

Based in Heckmondwicke West Yorkshire, Sugden Audio have been handcrafting fine audio amplifiers since 1967.

The company was founded by James Edward Sugden in 1967, as a division of Research Electronics. Research Electronics manufactured scientific instruments and test equipment designed by James Sugden for use in university labs. But soon, audio became the mainstay and Sugden Audio became a distinct company.

From the outset, James Sugden based his designs on Class A technology. While Class A operation is common in valve amplifiers, the original A21 was the world’s first production pure class A transistor amplifier and immediately achieved success.

So why Class A? Well in simple terms, an electronic signal in an amplifier has to swing from positive to negative to reproduce music. Most amplifiers use two sets of transistors: one to amplify the positive half of the signal and the other to amplify the negative. Class A amps on the other hand use only one set so there is no “crossover distortion” as the positive transistors switch off and the negative transistors switch on.

Of course, there are no free lunches in engineering. The downsides of Class A are more limited nominal power output and more heat generated, as Class A is inherently less efficient than the more common Class A/B configuration. But - and it’s a big but - the upside is supremely natural and non-fatiguing sound. So it’s no surprise that Sugden’s motto is “Rescuing music from Technology''.

Sugden prides itself on the handcrafted nature of its products, with each Sugden product being handmade by a single highly skilled team member and with a huge amount of the final product being made in-house. In this sense Sugden amplifiers are handcrafted in the best sense of the word and epitomised by attention to detail and superb quality, fit and finish. And while music comes first, the technology underlying the products is entirely up date - Class A in fact!

If you value authenticity in all its dimensions, whether in design and construction or quality of sound reproduction, you’ll find much to love in Sugden’s fine range of amplifiers.

For more info on Sudgen Audio, visit their website sugdenaudio.com or visit us for a demo!