Lenard Audio is a consulting design company
specialising in high performance
Electo-acoustic Engineering
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Letter by John Lenard Burnett
Greetings The purpose of this site is to bring attention to the existence of Lenard Audio, its history and also to showcase a few of our current designs and concepts. However Lenard Audio has created over 100 product designs since 1965. The products listed below are designed to last a lifetime and therefore do not attain to faddish design trends or fashions. This is similar to musical instruments. A piano can only be a piano, a violin can only be a violin. A sound system that replicates the virtual reality of musical instruments can only be 4-way active, and scaled in similar structure to the musical instruments it replicates. Therefore its form is dictated by its function. Lenard Audio stands with those who create fine musical instruments. In previous generations many homes had a piano. But overnight this was replaced with television and small stereo systems that poorly mimic the sound created by real musical instruments, lacking the depth, richness, detail, and dynamic power of real instruments. I hope that Lenard Audio can offer to the world what has been lost, and return to our homes and entertainment venues the sound of the true nature of real musical instruments, played by the greatest musicians, for both live performance, and that which has been captured and remaining forever on the recorded mediums of vinyl and now our modern digital technology. In the past, the investment and purchase of our designs, education and consulting services has been through personal contact and referral. In an ideal world this is the only true way for outstanding products and services to be purchased. These product designs and the concepts behind them are available to individuals and larger investors. Presently Lenard Audio can only supply from our own small production capacity. We often have units of Sarabands available for individual purchase. If you wish to capitalise your own production of greater quantity this is welcomed. The Sarabands are designed for quantity production. Manufacturing runs are cost effective with minimum 60 units. The larger systems, Opals and the K4, are built by commission, however interested manufacturers are invited to participate. We will provide construction files and on-site production management support. All product designs comply with international regulatory requirements, including C tic certification. The team at Lenard Audio are also available within a consulting capacity to advise on acoustics, education and areas of specialised sound reinforcement, where the demand and requirements are of a higher standard than that readily accessed through the usual avenues. Products displayed on this page represent a larger range developed over 30 years. The history and background of Lenard Audio is at the bottom of this page. Regards 
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Present Designs
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Sarabands are beautiful aesthetically designed, 4 way active, integrated sound systems, for both domestic and professional application. Speakers are selected for market application. Audiophile speakers for domestic, or compression driver and horn, with hi-frequency ring radiator, for professional PA and Cinema.
Cabinet construction allows for any finish imaginable, decorative steels, powder coating, polyurethane, timber veneers. |
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The Opals are large, 4 way active, monitor sound systems. The Opal technology gives the highest fidelity performance, that is technically achievable, regardless of scale. Solid state amplification for high powered professional application, Cinema and PA. Valve amplification is optional, for studio monitoring and audiophiles.
The finish can be utilitarian or classical timber construction. The cabinets are modular for stack variation. |
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Opal UL Valve amplifiers Each vertical rack contains 5, 100 Watt ultra linear valve amplifiers, including power supply, and 4 way active crossover. The number of amplifier modules can be varied to application.
Each amplifier module has calibration for gain, valve bias, current monitoring and HV protection. |
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The Giant K4 is a very large-scale 4 way active, integrated professional sound system. Designed for minimal depth, enabling it to fit behind large cinema screens. Ideally suited to theme park application. The K4 is fully exponentially horn loaded, creating a plane wave front, for 3D virtual reality experience.
The K4 can be applied to any large entertainment environment, and scaled to any height, as a giant line-array. |
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K4 Concert system This versatile application of the giant K4 system, creates a traditional forward facing, very large scale, concert sound system.
The K4 delivers the depth and earth shaking experience, that is not obtainable from modern flown line-arrays. The K4 concert system is designed for floor standing, and scaled to any size imaginable. |
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| Cabinet Fabrication Designs can be adjusted to suit production management, unique to factory requirements, and machining assembly methodology. |
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Previous history designs
| Monitor valve amp Produced in the 1980s, this monitor valve amp, was designed for the highest level of technological performance, that valve amps could be taken to. The amp has an external 1200VA power supply. The application is for studio monitors, driving passive and active speakers. |
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| 100W per channel ultra linear valve amp Produced in the 1970s, this beautiful aesthetically designed audiophile valve amp, was produced in limited quantity for the AMW brand. The open extrusion construction is strong and unique, and allows for free air flow ventilation. |
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| 16 Channel Concert mixer Produced in the 1970s, was ahead of its time. Each channel had independent EQ, compression-limiting, led ramps etc. With 50 meter multi core, 16 ch stage mixer, junction box, inc talk back. Output sends for 4 way active systems. |
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| 8 Channel Stage mixer also produced in the 1970s. This very versatile and robust, extruded aluminium 8 ch mixer was designed for the hire industry. It could be external, battery, or phantom powered. |
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Moulded Systems Produced in the late 1970s, these fibreglass moulded cabinets were virtually indestructible and specifically designed for the entertainment hire industry.
The cabinets could be fitted with a variation of 15in speakers and horns and internally self powered with 200 Watt amplifiers. |
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Line array project Developed in the 1970s, for the concert entertainment hire industry. Fitted with 2 x 12in speakers, slot radiators, and internally powered with solid state 400 Watt amplifiers. These fibreglass moulded cabinets were the precursor of todays smaller line-arrays.
The international concert tour market became centred in the US, therefore concert systems from the US became favoured and development ceased. |
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Lenard GB 150 1965 to 1973. Manufactured in the 1000s. The GB150 valve amplifier produced 200 Watts, and was marketed with 2 quad boxes 8 x 12in speakers for guitar, or 2 boxes of 4 x 15in for bass. A specialist speaker manufacturing plant was set up to supply Lenard.
The GB150s were more expensive, and higher performance, than other mass produced instrument amps at that time, including Fender and Marshall. Lenard dominated the Australian market, supplying almost all rock groups, festivals and concerts. |
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History and background of Lenard Audio → Lenard Audio History
