Sheffield firm launches project to break "sound barrier"

SHEFFIELD audio expert Wilson Benesch is looking to re-invent the turntable some 20 years after it revolutionised the original design.

The firm, which is famed for its distinctively designed and high performance speakers and turntables, is embarking on a research and development project to bring a new turntable system to the market.

Co-founders Craig and Christina Milnes will be in familiar territory having developed the world’s first carbon fibre sub chassis turntable in 1989.

The project, which looked at the impact materials have on sound quality, found that the stiffer and lighter the material the better the performance.

Almost 20 years on the company is keen to bring something new to the market having resisted the pressure to release another “me too” turntable system similar to its first. Its efforts are to be boosted by a research and development grant from regional develoment agency (RDA) Yorkshire Forward.

Mr Milnes said: “The world simply does not need another re-hashed design, we want to re-invent it.

“But this can be time consuming, costly and demanding upon staff, so the Yorkshire Forward grant, along with our allocated research fund, will provide the opportunity to explore avenues that would be impossible otherwise. It underlines our commitment both to analogue replay and real innovation.”

He added that the research and development grant would help take their current knowledge in the field of advanced composites to a new level exploring the use of carbon allotropes molecules, known as buckyballs, in collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the University of Sheffield.

“We have maintained a design pedigree that is about bringing something new to the market that goes beyond what was previously possible. With this additional support we are very confident that we will push back the limitations of today’s technologies,” said Mr Milnes

Alex McWhirter, head of enterprise at Yorkshire Forward said, that the RDA was delighted to be supporting Wilson Benesch.

“We are committed to encouraging businesses in our region to innovate through a range of activities,” he said.

“Yorkshire Forward’s grants allow for the successful research and development of new products, which can open up a range of new markets for the region’s businesses.”