The Cadence Audio Group Story

Cadence Audio Group began in 1991 in India as a research unit, founded with a single objective: to advance the science of electrostatic transducer technology. The founding team set out to solve the long-standing limitations of electrostatic loudspeaker drivers through entirely new materials and novel engineering approaches.

A full-scale audio research laboratory was established in Pune in 1996, equipped with a large anechoic chamber and cutting-edge measurement tools. The research programme targeted three fundamental challenges: achieving wider dispersion from electrostatic panels, reaching efficiency levels never before attained by electrostatic drivers, and making the panels resistant to humidity and dust, critical obstacles in the Indian climate that no previous manufacturer had adequately overcome.

Several patents were granted for the technologies developed during this period. With the science proven, the next step was production. A dedicated manufacturing facility was established in Pune, fitted with special-purpose CNC machines and a complete loudspeaker cabinet-making and assembly plant. The first Cadence loudspeaker, the CADENCE ES, was rolled out in 1997.

Through the late 1990s and 2000s, Cadence developed a succession of electrostatic hybrid loudspeakers. The range expanded steadily, culminating in the flagship CADENCE ARCA, a design that to this day retains a devoted following among owners.

The company then expanded into hybrid tube amplifier design. Using innovative auto-bias circuits, Cadence developed a complete amplifier range topped by the Cadence V 845, a mono-block hybrid tube design pairing a solid-state driver stage with an 845 triode tube output. The Cadence V 845 delivered an impressive 200 watts of pure power per mono amplifier, with the first 50 watts operating in pure Class A. Cadence products across both loudspeakers and amplifiers received strong critical acclaim in the international high-end audio press.

Having established a serious reputation as an Indian manufacturer of high-performance audio equipment, Cadence moved into distribution and retail, initially within India, bringing internationally respected brands in cables, CD players, and turntables to the Indian market. The strategic intent was clear from the outset: to build a company capable of offering complete audio system solutions, not merely individual components.

The next phase transformed Cadence from a respected regional manufacturer into a global force in high-end audio. The strategy was ambitious and methodical: forge strategic investment partnerships with leading manufacturers across every sector of the industry.

Cadence invested in Siltech and Crystal Cable in the Netherlands, gaining access to the world’s most advanced monocrystalline conductor technology and cable engineering. The Group invested in Spendor Audio Systems and SME Limited in the United Kingdom, adding two of the most respected names in British loudspeaker and turntable engineering to a rapidly growing portfolio.

Audio Lounge, a dedicated high-end audio retail space, was established at 138 Wigmore Street in London’s Marylebone, creating a flagship showroom for the expanding brand family and a destination for serious listeners across the United Kingdom and beyond.

In 2018, Cadence acquired the stock, brand, and rights for the century-old Garrard turntable business, together with the Loricraft brand of record cleaning machines. The legendary Garrard 301 transcription turntable was reintroduced at the Munich High End Show in 2019. A newly re-engineered version of the Loricraft record cleaning machine followed, made by SME in Steyning, West Sussex.

Today, Cadence Audio Group operates six manufacturing plants across Europe and India, with a workforce exceeding 200 people. The Group’s reach spans manufacturing (Crystal Cable, Siltech, Sphinx Audio, SME, Spendor, Garrard, and Loricraft), retail (Audio Lounge in London, Mumbai, and Pune), and international distribution of partner brands across the United Kingdom and India.