The analysis from one of the world’s biggest loudspeaker companies was both pragmatic and insightful, suggesting that Covid had affected the audio industry – just not quite as one might have thought. Those of its rivals that found themselves struggling were not those who’d seen their sales tumble during all the lockdowns and uncertainty – in fact, many saw a boom, as we all stayed home and hunkered down – but rather those who’d seen sales rise, and expected them to keep on going up when restrictions were lifted.

Its own sales had reduced in the past couple of years, but only from the ‘can’t make it fast enough’ pandemic peak, and were now recovering nicely to something approaching ‘normal’ levels. It was reaping the benefits of not investing hugely to meet what turned out to be a relatively short blip. Now back to the age-old question of how to grow the market, or at least reduce the age profile of the typical hi-fi buyer in the face of ageing populations and seemingly a lessening of interest in good music, reproduced well. That’s one that’s been hanging around for as long as I have been writing about these things, and I suspect will still be going strong even after I’ve hung up my headphones.

However, the uncertainty is offset by some positive moves to ensure the future. At the time of writing speculation was still rife about the future of the Sound United group as part of Masimo, the medical technology company which acquired brands including Denon, Marantz and Bowers & Wilkins just two years ago for somewhere just north of a billion dollars. It seems the Masimo investors have already fallen out of love with hi-fi, and are looking to offload the consumer division – but to whom, and whether piecemeal or as individual brands, has been the source of considerable speculation.

Back here in Britain, some recent moves have marked attempts to shore up the audio business and bring stability. I’d state famous British brand Audiolab working with Hong Kong manufacturer Lumin to incorporate a superior streaming solution into its 9000N network player but then its parent company IAG builds most of its excellent products rather closer to Lumin’s base than its UK headquarters address.

Definitely ‘made in Britain’ is the line-up from Rega Research, which make everything from turntables to amplifiers and speakers in Southend, Essex, the home of its steadily expanded production facilities since it was founded over 40 years ago. Company founder Roy Gandy, who is still very much hands-on even at an age where many would be considering retirement, recently announced he had ‘gifted 100% of his shares (full ownership) of the company to a Trust to protect Rega long into the future. This has allowed Rega to become an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), the main reason [being] to protect our culture and decades of hard work.’

It’s an interesting move, though not unprecedented in the hi-fi industry – retailers Richer Sounds and Sevenoaks Sound and Vision operate in a similar way – and while Gandy remains the sole Director and will continue to work in R&D and sales, all the company’s employees become beneficiaries of the trust.

And the effect of this? Rega says that ‘these big changes ensure nothing will change and we can continue designing and manufacturing world beating, affordable hi-fi products by hand, here in the UK, safe in the knowledge Rega is protected for years to come.’

Finally, news comes from elsewhere in the UK of a new hi-fi brand, not only making sensibly-priced audio components, but making them in Britain, too. Fell Audio is the name, and it’s an offshoot of retailer Peter Tyson, which has shops in Carlisle and Newcastle, and a thriving online retail presence.

Two products launch the range, which has apparently been in development for three years: the £599 Fell Amp is an 89W per channel device using Class D technology, and with analogue and digital inputs. Touch-buttons select the inputs, which are labelled with user-friendly tags such as ‘Stream’, ‘Vinyl’ and ‘Bluetooth’, and a remote control is supplied. There’s a partnering £499 CD player, the Fell Disc, and the Fell Stream network player is on the way, the company saying that everything from the population of the circuitboards happens in the UK.

It remains to be seen how the Fell Audio products perform, but this definitely looks like one to watch …