THE BFA IS PROUD TO REPRESENT

Creek Audio Ltd.
12 Avebury Court
Mark Road
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 7TA
Tel: +44 (0) 1442 260146
Fax: +44 (0) 1442 243766

Email:
info@creekaudio.com
Web:
www.creekaudio.com

Creek Audio Ltd is renowned for high quality, performance products able to deliver true high fidelity sound at very competitive prices.

Creek products are designed by company founder, Mike Creek and a team of electronic engineers employing the latest CAD technology and sophisticated test equipment to achieve the innovative and cunning designs with which Creek is associated.

The first Creek amplifier, the £99 CAS4040, was launched in the UK in 1982 to praise for its sound quality alongside disbelief that a fledgling British Hi-Fi company could be successful taking on the established brands and undercutting their prices. However, what was not known by the reviewer of Creek’s first product was that, Michael Creek already had a long experience in the audio industry.

Prior to forming Creek Audio, Michael Creek had spent 12 years working for his father’s audio company Wyndsor Recording Co. Ltd, where he gained a broad understanding of how to run an electronics company from the shop floor upwards.

1976 Mike Creek left Wyndsor to form his own company - M.R.Creek Ltd - trading as a design consultant to the audio industry. He concentrated mostly on product development, but also bought and sold parts to audio manufacturing companies. He designed a range of high-end audio kits for Ambit International that were published in UK electronics magazines and demonstrated by Ambit at exhibitions in London in 1979 - 1981.

In 1981 Mike started manufacturing products to his own design. He based his first product on the Wyndsor philosophy of high quality at a low price. The 30 Watt CAS4040 integrated amplifier was built in a metal case with a wooden cover, which was fashionable at the time. One year later, Creek launched a matching tuner CAS3040, also at £99, which soon became as a benchmark in radio design. The initial success was achieved, working from an unused room in his home and space in his garage.

In 1983 when the demand exceeded 100 pieces per week, it became necessary to move to bigger and more professional premises. The new factory space and the use of a sub-contractor, enabled the company to grow very rapidly.

In 1985 Creek Audio was selling up to 1200 CAS4040 amplifiers and 350 CAS3040 tuners per month. In 1985 Creek introduced the more expensive 4140 integrated amplifier that excluded tone controls but was slightly more powerful. During that time the market became much more competitive, with up to six UK companies in fierce competition with Creek. However, Creek remained the market leader. Export demand came very soon after good press coverage in UK magazines, the export market developed and the 4040, 4140 and 3040 (later to become the 3130 and then T40) eventually sold to 20 different countries.

1988 Mordaunt Short (which was acquired the previous year by TGI PLC group, Goodmans and Tannoy) bought Creek Audio Systems to add an electronics capability to its loudspeaker sales. Mike Creek carried on working for them as chief engineer, helping to introduce the 5050 and 6060 integrated amps. He also designed a series 2 and 3 versions of the 4040 amp, which had a radically different circuitry. Creek also successfully launched a loudspeaker, called the CLS-20 and later its first CD player, the CD60 and the matching DAC60. After his three year contract expired Mike left TGI to start a new company.

In 1991 he formed EMF Audio and started manufacturing in a small way back at the family factory premises in north London. EMF made a 50W integrated amplifier and a Delta Sigma D to A converter, called Sequel and Crystal. These were more expensive products than those sold by Creek and new markets were established for them in Europe and the Hi-Fi hungry Far-East. The recession in the UK made home market sales more difficult.

In 1993 TGI decided to sell Creek Audio. With partners from Switzerland, USA and Germany, Mike purchased the rights to use the name Creek Audio. A new company - Creek Audio Ltd - was formed and new products were designed. The first of these, launched in 1993, were the 4240 40-Watt integrated amplifier, the A42 50-Watt power amp and the P42 Pre-Amp. The CD42 took longer to develop and started production in 1995.

In 1995 the USA distributor - Music Hall - ordered a miniature vinyl disc amplifier to be made in a small case. Music Hall’s, Roy Hall, christened it the OBH-8 and from there the OBH range has increased to include phono pre-amps, headphone amps, remote controlled pre-amps, a 24 bit D to A converter and soon there will be a mono power amp, all in the original sizes case.

In 1997 Mike Creek, together with his American and his Swiss partner, bought-out their German partner's shares, and Mike Creek now owns half of Creek Audio Ltd.

At the beginning of 1997, Creek Audio started introducing the very successful 43 series products and the higher-end 52 series. The 4330 integrated amp, was voted ‘Budget component of 1998’ by Stereophile in the USA. The novel T43 AM/FM Tuner also received What Hi-Fi’s ‘Best Buy’ award in August 1998. In France, the CD43 CD Player, with 24 Bit DAC, received the ‘Diapason D’Or’ award for the best CD player of 1998. The P43, A52SE and OBH-12 all received 5 Star reviews in Hi-Fi Choice and What Hi-Fi.

Interest in Creek has significantly increased and product is now is great demand. This has necessitated finding a way to increase the production while maintaining the high levels of quality. Existing production facilities proved to be inadequate and therefore a decision was made to move it to a subcontractor in Kent. The subcontractor already had 15 years experience of assembling the circuit boards for Creek and after moving to bigger premises themselves, have now increased capacity for growth.

The introduction of the award winning 53 series in 2001 highlighted Creek’s international success with the amplifier winning the coveted Stereophile Component of the Year award in the U.S.A. But it was in 2003 where the biggest change in Creek’s history became evident when the 43 series was phased out and the 50 series introduced. Gone was the familiar black and green front panel, being replaced by new sleek styling featuring a solid 10mm brushed silver anodised aluminium front panel.

The products are now sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, being complemented by Mike Creek’s 1999 purchase of the legendary Epos loudspeaker brand.