TO CARDAS WITH LOVE
In 1987, George Cardas ventured into Cardas Audio, and yours truly created Audiofreaks. I met George and his wife Darcy at Audiofreaks' first outing during the Hi-Fi News London Heathrow Penta Hotel show in September 1988. George loaned me the (then) flagship Golden Hexlink Five-C interconnect cable, which helped the system perform far better than it would have otherwise. After the event, we stayed in touch. Audiofreaks began to find its feet within the world of high-end audio distribution, and just a couple of years later (I believe it was the Summer of 1990), it became the Cardas Audio representative for the UK & Ireland.
That became one of the most precious and enjoyable personal and working relationships in my audio journey and that of the history of Audiofreaks. Sadly, as the title of this story may suggest, that part of the journey has come to an end. As of early April, Cardas Audio has a new representative for the UK market, and I hope and wish their achievements will outperform my modest contribution over 30+ years. The contemporary world (including high-end audio) is not the most elegant environment for continued business and sales revenue increase. Consequently, new types of 'strategic considerations' (read: alliances of brands with the aim of global collective exposure accentuating product quality and synergy) are becoming more of a necessity. And necessity often means a change.
My personal loyalty to the Cardas Audio brand remains unperturbed, as does that of Audiofreaks. The musicality and naturalness of the Cardas Audio sonic signature are unparalleled, in my opinion. As such, there will be no alternative cable brand to replace Cardas Audio either in my system or in Audiofreaks’ product portfolio.
A substantial inventory of new Cardas Audio products remains available. All products are current, fully supported and here for existing and new clients should they wish to acquire them. I also hope to be able have the opportunity to work with the new distributor, allowing Audiofreaks to continue providing Cardas Audio products.
As the (possibly) longest-standing international Cardas Audio distributor so far, I have been privileged to have befriended and worked with all members of the Cardas family, as well as their most loyal and ever-present company executives. George and Darcy were superlative good hosts for decades at CES events in the US, but also great company whenever we met elsewhere.
I have also enjoyed working with all three of George and Darcy’s daughters over the years: the formidable and kind Mary, the radical yet supportive Colleen, and, most recently, Angela (and her husband, Josh Meredith). Angela has been running the family business for a number of years now and is the nicest, kindest and warmest supplier I could have ever wished to have known! Without her generous support and care over the years, I could not and would not have achieved what has been done with Cardas Audio in the UK.
The list of credits must include Darla Dyer (who has been with the firm 'forever' and is the chief caretaker of all that matters) and Brian von Bork (the international sales manager), who has been always a true oracle of product knowledge and is a masterful customer relations wizard.
In short, everyone at Cardas Audio made this long journey a most gratifying, rewarding and joyful experience to cherish and remember.
Working directly with Cardas Audio, as I have for almost half my lifetime, may have ended in its 'standard' form. But, life must go on, and I shall be hoping for many more social moments to take place whenever possible—something I very much look forward to. At all other times, my music will continue to sound even more like music with the best Cardas Audio cables and other products fully engaged. With fingers crossed, many even better ones will happen in the future.
Cardas Audio, thank you from the heart.
