The following excerpt from an article in The Absolute Sound (US) describes Opera's history & approach well :
“It's Not Called Opera Audio for Nothing”
…My final stop on the tour was The Opera Audio Company in Beijing . Opera is the oldest and largest of the audio manufacturers I visited, With a 13-year history and 55 employees. Under the Consonance name, Opera designs and manufactures products which enjoy wide distribution in more than 30 countries...
…Opera was founded in 1994 by Mr. (Eric) Shi Hui LIU, an optical-mechanical engineer whose real passion was for music (particularly European opera) and audio. His story is the classic "kitchen-table" start-up; he made a tubed amplifier for his own use, was asked to make another for sale, and decided to go into business. Significantly, Opera was the first turntable manufacturer in China and has demonstrated with analog at every show since the company's founding. Even with more than 100 products in the line (including technical and cosmetic variations of products), Mr. Liu still creates all the designs himself. The product range includes both solid-state and tubed integrated amplifiers, preamps, power amps, CD players, and turntables. Opera even makes its own tone arms…
…Opera employs a marketing approach that is unique, both in China and in the West. It regularly holds a "music night" in which its best customers, customers' friends, and top executives from local firms are invited to an Italian restaurant for dinner, a live performance of classical music by well-known musicians, and discussion of music and musical culture...
…Everything about Opera Audio was impressive, from the fundamental design ethic to the build-quality to the sound. |
