Column

MI: Recently, you reached out again with distribution to Europe and the UK. Why?

BH: It is all the same market for Hajdinjak Labs either inside of our country or anywhere in the world. Slovenia is now in EU, but in the same time, we are familiar with the Balkan market. Now, it is under lucky circumstances that Kibry (distributor for north EU) has the vision to distribute HL Equipment in north EU. We were on the German and Austrian market in the past. With time, the market changes and today is the same where we work. We had to lower production capacity for selling worldwide. EU in this moment is far too big of a market for HL. For the future, we want to work only with a few distributors in the world combining direct selling outside of distributor areas.

MI: Which products are most wanted and why?

BH: The Jubal integrated amplifier. It simple to use, very reliable, with reference sounding capacity and people need and demand such tube amplifiers for clever prices. But in the future, I think some other components will be the most wanted. The market is hungry for really good CD players, phono stages, good sounding solid state amps, high efficiency and good sounding loudspeakers, custom made, non-plus, ultra audio equipment with some exotic 300Bs etc.  

MI: Do you think high end is getting matured?

BH: High End, as we know it from the public market, isn’t something sonically special. High end prices, and sometimes mechanically created [are common] but sonically good audio equipment is something very rare. I think High End audio like we used to know it is coming to an end, but there is something new, fresh and  better on the way. In a few years, we will see big changes on the world's audio market. High End [will] become more “custom made” with much [more] influence of real audio designers with wide knowledge in all areas of extreme audio.

MI: How do you see the high end audio scene in the present?

BH: It is based too much on fetishism. The most problematic situations for customers is the systematic method of setting audio systems into a great sounding rig. Manufacturers who make just one kind of products (like loudspeakers) don’t know much about designing other audio components (like amplification). So, customers have ongoing problems finding an ideal setup for serious listening. [The] idea was that dealers will do this, but dealers are only sellers. Some manufacturers have whole audio chains in their production range, but this doesn’t mean that they are really capable of producing a system with reference [to] sonic capabilities.  So, end users have a BIG problem to match proper audio setups at home. To find ideal setups in those circumstances is like winning the lottery.

OHS: Do people even know what they want or do they just trust the magazines too much?

BH: Depends on the magazine. The Internet is the best place because of its interactive character and because of the lower expenses. Internet magazines and forums are not so interdependent with manufacturers and distributors like print magazines. Print magazines must make a lot of compromises for living. We have to find audio truth between the lines. There is a strong DIY (do it yourself) lobby.

MI: Do you feel threatened by them and does this make your work better and harder?

BH: The underground scene is strong and some of the best audio designers came from DIY. If some audio designer is depended for living with audio its not the best way to produce non compromise equipment. Out of DIY project came a lot of good ideas and many of professional audio designers use research information from DIY audio forums. 

MI: What is the ultimate audio for you?

BH: Something that is capable pf reproducing audio drama on a room level that involves the listener and is capable of reproducing lifelike music- as much as you would experience in a live performance. If some loudspeaker isn’t capable of reproducing electric guitar like an electric guitar loudspeaker, that isn’t something ultimate.

MI:What would be your dream audio setup?

BH: Active audio amplification. A tube based system with real good 300B and real good push, pull tube amplifiers with enough good and efficient loudspeakers with many drivers. A good turntable and all in all, an excellent setup in a perfect listening room.

MI: Do you believe in analog?

BH: Yes, of course. But, with a combination [of] digital. For high end, analog is must.


MI: What do you think about digital era and digital recoding?

BH: All the best. Everyday things become better. Great digital is good enough for all of us. I think analog recording is [of the] past.

MI: What will audio media hold the future?

BH: Some kind of digital.


MI: Is red book CD dead?

BH:No. Not yet .


MI: How about vinyl?

BH: It will stay for a small market. [There is a] niche, but stable market [for] vinyl lovers and audio enthusiasts. There will always be a demand for vinyl.


MI: Who are your favorite album and artists?

BH: I have no favorite artist or music. Whatever is real good is good enough for me.


MI: What project would you do if you had unlimited resources and time at your hand?

BH: Universal active tube crossovers and ultimate analogue turntables, active non plus ultra amplification and a real good and nice listening room. And maybe, vacuum tube car audio amplifiers, non plus, ultra AD converter, etc. Now, I work on something similar. "The machine" turntable and reference [are] custom made CD players, custom made Head amps, etc. Something from my dreams is becoming reality.


MI: You have had many classical and legendary audiophile equipment. Which ones would you recognize as real good quality components?

BH: Some was good, some was interesting. The Klipsch Heresy is interesting . Some McIntosh's were good. There was Electro Voice Sentry III, Well Tempered Turntables, some JBLs, Dynavector or Lyra cartridges, Sun Audio interconnect cables, Nestorovich amps (but were unreliable), etc. There is too much to mention them all.


MI: What is the future of high end audio?

BH: The market will become smaller and users are getting cleverer. In the future it will come down to real high end [products] with lesser, but better, audio designers like in the past. This market will be only for real connoisseurs.

MI: Do you see yourself in it?

BH: Yes, of course. But, not like [a] manufacturer, more like [an] artist who makes products out of passion and not for a living.


MI: Any last words for our readers?

BH:Whatever will come in the future will be better for all of us.


-Matej Isak