About Lenard Audio
Lenard Audio is an electro-acoustic research, design and consulting company specialising in product development, audio standardisation and audio education. We are actively seeking partnership with those who share our vision of the potential future for the audio and music industries.
The Lenard Manifesto
We believe in the purity of sound and that nothing should come between the music and the listener. We believe that access to pure and undistorted amplified sound should be available to everyone.
We are driven by a passion for music and an innate respect for the foundational science and technology of amplified sound. It is from this passion and honouring of the science that we derive our purpose and design approach.
We aim to establish audio system design standards that will provide consistency of experience and seamless integration of sound and music across all platforms and environments.
We are dedicated to establishing an ethics based and sustainable model for the production of audio systems that will support local businesses and communities across the world.
It is through partnerships with those who share our goals and are driven to command their own business outcomes that the Lenard vision, and the opportunities it represents, can be realised.
Investment Opportunity
We are currently seeking partnership with the right person or organisation who shares our vision for the potential future of the audio and music industries and who wants to be at the forefront of leading the audio and music industries into that future.
The opportunity will: enable full-fidelity sound and music to be made available to everyone, everywhere; expand the audio market to finally include women and anyone who has so far been economically excluded; enable the integration of AI tech to maximise listener control which will provide new creative possibilities and open new markets and; inspire and facilitate the overdue evolution of music creativity and the music industry at large.
More information about investment opportunities can be provided on request.
Design Principles
We are Cleaning the Airwaves© and Removing Ear Pollution© with our range of integrated 4-way active sound systems that provide consistency and seamless integration across all audio platforms and applications.
All our systems are integrated and 4-way active, providing full-fidelity* sound. 4-Way active is the design function of a loudspeaker system where the signal is divided into 4 separate and dedicated registers by an electronic crossover prior to being sent to the amplifiers. This enables the system to be transparent.
A transparent sound system is devoid of colouration and distortion, and which gives the listener access to fully dynamic, clear and accurate sound and music. The listener is able to hear every instrument, every sound and every word of dialogue as they would in the natural world.
Many loudspeaker systems advertise to be active but are actually passive systems with 2 or more loudspeaker drivers. To be genuinely active, a system must divide the signal into 2 or more registers with an electronic crossover and those registers must be independently amplified. The most common active systems on the market today are 2-way, where only the sub bass is redirected from the rest of the signal. This provides some improvement over passive systems but still leaves the bulk of the frequency range functioning passively.
Transparency and accuracy are achieved by firstly providing the full spectrum of sound audible to the human ear (20Hz – 20kHz) and then by separating this spectrum into registers that cover a maximum of 3.32 octaves (or one decade) each, removing the clutter caused by inter-modulation.
Without a system being 4-way active the full scope of information cannot be achieved.
With the availability of 4-way active systems covering all applications, consistency and seamless integration is achieved across all audio platforms, maintaining creative integrity in all environments. This is the ultimate purpose of audio application standards and the Lenard system design principles.
The future of music is what will come when music creators are once again inspired. Our range of integrated 4-way active systems provide the infinite sound canvas needed to open up the creative potential of musicians and artists once again, bringing out the next music renaissance.
*Full-fidelity refers to a quality level for audio above what is typically expected from “high-fidelity”. We make this distinction with the aim to demonstrate the extent to which the full audible frequency spectrum is properly reproduced with 4-way active design. It is only by properly reproducing the full audible frequency spectrum that realism of sound can be genuinely achieved. Only from this position are we able to resole how sound is managed for everything that is reproduced through all sound amplifying devices.
Audio Standards
Lenard Audio proposes a code of Audio Application Standards to achieve consistency and seamless integration across all music reproduction platforms.
Until now the audio industry has operated without a structured set of standards or consistent approach from which to design systems to or apply to the sound and music recording process. This has resulted in the artists and creators losing control of the music and sound creation process and the audience being unable to experience what was truly intended. The Lenard Audio Application Standards©, aims to correct this by providing a defined set of attributes and methodology for all loudspeaker designs to achieve, therefore providing the long overdue standard for creator, consumer and audience expectation.
More information about the proposed standards can be found here: Standards
Audio Education
The Lenard Audio Institute (LAI) site is one of the world’s most comprehensive on-line open-source education platforms covering an extensive range of audio subjects.
The information covered in this site is the culmination of John Lenard Burnett’s, and other contributor’s knowledge across decades and all areas of the audio industry.
Our goal is to expand on this platform and to facilitate the combined education of sound, acoustics and electro-acoustics to become mainstream.
More information about the Lenard Audio Institute can be found here: Education
Audio Research
Continued research and development of audio designs is at the heart of everything we do and stand for. We believe that research is a continuous cycle and is critical to adapting and advancing as new technologies arise. Leveraging and integrating advancements in all areas of technology including materials, digital and AI provides great opportunity for the audio and music industries.
Consulting Services
Lenard Audio also provides consulting services for acoustics, system installation, audio education and areas of specialised sound reinforcement where the demand and requirements are of a higher standard than that readily accessible through the usual avenues.
Audio applications and environments where accuracy, realism and full dynamic range of sound is required are our speciality.
John Lenard Burnett
John Lenard Burnett is the founder and lead designer of Lenard Audio. He started his career at the age of 16 as an apprentice for a company making high-powered instrument amplifiers and PA systems for auditoriums.
By his early 20’s John had established his own company Lenard Audio. At the time, Lenard specialised in high-powered instrument amplifiers and PA systems and quickly became the dominant supplier for bands, concerts and festivals within the Australian market.
By the early 90’s, John was creating system designs focused on music recording, mastering and reproduction by the implementation of 4 way active technology. This included establishing a revolutionary approach to the way modern cinema and large professional systems are developed.
More recently, John has directed his attention to creating Audio Application Standards to enable sound systems of all sizes; domestic and professional to achieve consistent high quality reproduction of music for all sound system companies to adopt.
His passion and mission to “save the world from bad sound” has led him to dedicate his life to the improvement of the quality of music though reproduction mediums. John continues to develop new designs and innovations across all areas of the audio industry as well as maintaining the world’s largest audio information site education.lenardaudio.com
“Lenard Audio sound systems are for people who are passionate about music. The only thing that matters is the music. The music, the whole music and nothing but the music. The purpose of Lenard Audio is to serve those who create the music and to design sound systems that reproduce the music in the way the artists intended their music to be heard.”
- John Lenard Burnett
The Lenard Audio Team
Phaenelagh (Nel) Burnett
Co-Founder and Owner
Nel is the daughter of John and has dedicated her life to supporting and promoting the Lenard Audio vision, philosophies and designs.
Alongside her work with Lenard, Nel’s career has included entertainment production, event management, project and change management and consulting. Her specialised area of expertise is strategic and logistical projects related to the relocation and/or set up of complex facilities. As a consultant, Nel has provided specialised services to many high profile Australian and international companies and government agencies.
Nel has worked closely with John and the broader Lenard team for more than 30 years to refine the designs and ensure the integrity of the Lenard Audio vision is maintained. As Owner, Nel continues in her pursuit of making available to everyone, everywhere access to full-fidelity, accurate and dynamic sound and music in every environment.
phaenelagh@lenardaudio.com
John Lenard Burnett
Co-Founder and Lead Designer
All Lenard designs and philosophy are the result of decades of research and design led by John Lenard Burnett. John’s expertise and knowledge are the foundation on which Lenard is based.
John has dedicated his life to designing the highest quality sound equipment, starting with guitar amplifiers and concert PA’s in the 1960’s. Over his 60-year career (so far), John has expanded and refined his designs, focusing on the development of integrated 4-way active systems, the Lenard Audio Application Standards© and the Lenard Audio Institute knowledge base.
Having apprenticed in the most exciting and critical time of the development of the audio industry and modern music production (1960’s-1970’s), John brings into his design approach the foundational principles of what loudspeaker technology is intended to provide us. It is this attitude of honour and respect for the original creators of loudspeaker design and the musical artists that has enabled Lenard to maintain integrity of purpose and to achieve Full-Fidelity.
john@lenardardaudio.com
The broader Lenard team includes a number of experts and industry leaders in areas such as electrical & electro-acoustic engineering, acoustical design, industrial design, industrial engineering and audio engineering.
History Summary
1966 – 1976
“Lenard Sound” dominated the Australian professional audio market with fully active PA’s and tube guitar amplifiers.
1976 – 1990
The company expanded across audio research, design and education, resulting in a new era of professional hi-end system designs under the brand “Lenard Audio”.
The “Lenard Audio Institute” became the most comprehensive open source on-line audio educational platform of its era.
1985 – 1995
The flag-ship reference “Opal” systems were developed achieving “transparency” of sound and defining the baseline attributes for the Lenard Audio Application Standards©
1996 – 2010
The cinema and K4 concert systems are created, achieving a virtual 3D experience known as “Cinesthesia”. New retail designs are developed for large scale, cost effective production, enabling consistency across these music platforms.
2010 – 2022
The Lenard Professional range is expanded to include mid-sized venue systems, studio monitors and mastering systems, completing the range covering all music platforms.
2023 onwards
Lenard Audio continues research and development of the design range across all applications including PA, smaller domestic, car, portable and personal equipment.
More information about the history of Lenard can be found here: Lenard History Detail.
Reviews
Australian Hi-Fi reviews the Canberra Opals
The art of loudspeaker design is the art of compromise. What size enclosure should the designer choose? It must be transportable, yet big enough to provide suitable bass reinforcement. Should he (for it is almost always a man’s game) design his three-driver system as a three-way system, or provide two bass/mid-range drivers? If the latter, should he opt for a D’Appolito drive configuration, to deliver a peerless point-source sound? Or reject that, because this works only on a single horizontal plane?
Above all, what driver, cabinet and cross-over design choices should be made when a realistic selling price must be achieved?
Read the rest of the review...
This review of the Opals was written by Stephen Dawson www.hifi-writer.com and was printed in the Australian Hi-Fi magazine, March/April 2007 edition.
Sarabande 6 Moons review
John 'Lenard' Burnett has been around live sound since day dot of the Aussie music industry. From his humble beginnings when he founded Lenard Audio in 1966 to the domination of our Down Under market as the premier professional sound provider to the likes of home-grown acts Doug Parkinson, Billy Thorpe, Max Merritt and others, Lenard Audio amplifiers and PA systems have become de rigueur at most of Australia's major rock festivals. The company and the man went on to supply sound to legendary international bands arriving on our sunny shores - think Deep Purple , Free, Manfred Mann to name just a few.
cnet.com article on the Canberra Opals
"If size still matters, and it absolutely does, then Lenard Audio's giant speakers will be big enough to blow you away"
Contact
Phone & WhatsApp: +61 410 444 171
