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For Immediate Release January 7, 2013 Date: January 7, 2012 The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, is pleased to announce that the 2013 Founder’s Award, the highest honor of the society, will be awarded to important author, renowned reviewer, and The Absolute Sound’s Editor-in-Chief Robert Harley.
Robert Harley's books, The Complete Guide to High-End Audio and Introductory Guide to High-Performance Audio Systems are unmatched in scope and authenticity. His more than 1000 published equipment reviews and articles on high-quality music reproduction have helped thousands of consumers improve their audio systems. Robert began his audio-reviewing career in May, 1989 when he joined Stereophile as Technical Editor. At Stereophile, Robert set up and ran the magazine’s testing laboratory and became that publication’s most prolific writer. Realizing that high-end audio had no reference book, Robert wrote and self-published The Complete Guide to High-End Audio in 1994. Now in a fourth edition, the book has sold more than 150,000 copies in four languages. He has also written and published Home Theater for Everyone (1997) and Introductory Guide to High-Performance Audio Systems (2007). Robert left Stereophile in 1997 to join Fi: The Magazine of Music and Sound as Technical Editor. When Fi ceased publication in 1999, Robert joined The Absolute Sound as a Contributing Writer and worked on TAS’ sister publication, The Perfect Vision, as Audio Technical Editor. A year later he was named Editor-in-Chief of The Perfect Vision and in 2001 became Editor-in-Chief of The Absolute Sound. In 2012, TAS had its best year in the magazine’s 39-year history. Before becoming an audio writer, Robert worked his way through college selling hi-fi and earning a degree in recording engineering. He later taught the recording program at his alma mater (which featured a fully equipped 24-track studio) for more than a year while the program director was on sabbatical. Robert designed, built, and operated a recording studio in Anaheim, California beginning in 1981 before moving into the emerging field of digital audio in 1986 when he joined LaserVideo (later Disctronics). He worked in the company’s mastering lab where he performed a wide range of technical duties, including contributing to building from scratch a CD laser-mastering machine and writing the machine’s operation and service manuals. He has written or co-written three Audio Engineering Society papers. The Founder's Award will be presented to Robert Harley at the 20th Annual Society Gala and Awards Banquet on December 8, 2013, in Los Angeles. Major reviewers on the staff of TAS will give Pre-note, Introduction, and Keynote Speeches. Richard Beers, President of THE SHOW Newport will also speak. Robert H. (Bob) Levi, now in his 10th year as President of the Society, will be the Master of Ceremonies. The Founder's Award is awarded annually by the Society's Board of Directors to those professionals in the high-end who continue to advance fine musical reproduction in the home and distinguish themselves as the best in their profession. The 2012 Founder's Award went to Tim de Paravicini, President of E.A.R. of Great Britain. The 2011 Founder's Award went to Richard Vandersteen, President of Vandersteen Audio. The 2010 Founder's Award went to Keith Johnson, Executive Producer of Reference Recordings, and the 2009 Founder's Award went to EveAnna Manley, President of Manley Labs. Previous winners include Harry Pearson, Founder Absolute Sound, Dave Clark, Editor Positive Feedback Online, Dennis Had, Founder Cary Audio, David Robinson, Editor in Chief Positive Feedback Online, and Ray Kimber, President Kimber Kable. The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society now celebrates its 20th year serving top audiophiles in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The largest audio society in the world with over 1200 members, the non-profit organization provides up to 14 major events per year in Greater Los Angeles and showcases and promotes the very best in great gear and recordings worldwide. Though the majority of members hail from Southern California, the Society boasts members from fourteen states and nine countries. The Society, in conjunction with T.H.E. Show Newport Beach and Richard Beers, will again co-produce the largest home entertainment show in North America at the Newport Hilton and Atrium Hotels on MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, CA, May 30 - June 2, 2013. Contact: The Absolute Sound LAOCAS Contact: Bob Levi |
