Enjoy the Music is reporting that J Gordon Holt, founder of Stereophile has passed away.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/news/

Enjoy the Music is reporting that J Gordon Holt, founder of Stereophile has passed away.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/news/


I'll never forget the image of him wandering around the audio shows in those canvas deck sneakers.

RIP.

I had the privilege of partaking with him for 3 days during our exibit in Stereophile 1994 were we had a 4 meter wide 4 way drop down Stewart (the first) and the Barco BarcoVision HD-1200 (this is where Sam, that attended my presentation 5 times got the idea of signing these projectors Exclusively for his flagship oem), which Barco later dropped all of us Home Dealers :(.

I had a second gen betacam tape of Water Gift of life By Al Guidings narrated by Gregory Peck, that was the very first time a component video signal feeding a Faroudja was shown at a Consumer show. JGH loved the oversized underwater imagery matted down to 1.66 ar and would come, sit there and watch it for hours. He did declare afterward our ballroom display the "home theater sensation of the show". I also attended with him the very first ISF class with Joe and Joel, Gary Reber was there, the day after the show.

I will remember most fondly the old man, and I am proud to have turned him on to these then video delicacies. I have recently been asked to design a cinema booth for inclusion at CEDIA, I will try my very best to keep to the same standards that so much mesmerized Mr. Holt, and I will dedicate my efforts to his memory.

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

I am saddened by this news. Over the 20 years I knew him, he was always a frail, witty, extraordinarily pleasant man who was the ultimate pragmatist. He dismissed audio bullcrap and he was more interested in accuracy than anything else. He was always the first to point out the emporer's new clothes did not exist. And he loved our hobby. Let's all remember what a peach he was.

His review--of all things--of the JBL Performance Series was what finally gave me courage to purchase a set for myself. I knew I liked them, but was hesitant to face the shunning that came with buying "junk but loud" speakers for serious listening. With one of the gods (small "g") bolstering my resolve, I followed through.

I've happily spent a lot of money on more costly JBL gear since then, but have to credit him with priming the pump.

I still have a copy of that review, and whenever I listen to that system, he always comes to mind.

His work will be missed.

Rip