References
Heritage - the recording studios
Soundville Studios, Lucerne, Switzerland. The passionate studio owner and main engineer asked for the evaluation of the JMF Audio power amplification technology for the control room in 1988 (the isolated room in which the sound engineer and the producer make the technical choices and monitor the overall sound result). A never experienced natural sound filled the space… Tom Hidley, the American designer of the studio, was advised to come and listen. Nashville, USA, the music city, would be the next step…
More information at > The history of a manufacture, of a knowhow
The American studio designer Tom Hidley developed the “non-environmental” room acoustics for faithful sound quality monitoring. In 1988, he found in JMF Audio amplifiers the natural sound and high output power that perfectly matched the concept.
Before this, composer Michel Magne's studio in the Chateau d’Hérouville marked the start in Europe with enthusiastic Elton John about Hidley's contribution during the sessions for "Don't shoot me, I am only the piano player", as documented by journalist Frank Ernould. Most major studios in France were later designed (Studios de la Grande Armée, Davout, Les Dames, Delphine, Ferber, Marcadet, Guillaume Tell, Polygone, Plateforme, AB...).
Tom Hidley was initially a musician who built his own studio in Hollywood (named TTG) and engineered the recordings of artists such as Frank Zappa, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Roy Eldridge, Peggy Lee… for labels such as Verve.
Adviser for Frank Sinatra, he eventually became the most influential and respected recording studio designer. His numerous designs, including for Westlake Recording and Record Plant, have housed productions of major artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Shania Twain, Céline Dion, The London Symphonic Orchestra...
Recording studios featuring JMF Audio's power amplifiers such as Masterfonics (Nashville), Nomis (London), Capri Digital (Italy) are used as examples and illustrations in Philip Newell's book "Recording studio design".
Notable recordings
Artists whose music has been reported recorded/mixed in studios equipped with JMF Audio designed power amplifiers include Sting, INXS, Robert Palmer, Particia Kaas, Simple Minds, Mariah Carey, Charlie Haden, London Symphony Orchestra, Shania Twain, Willie Nelson, Céline Dion, Joe Cocker, Randy Crawford, Francis Cabrel, Manu Katché, Moscow Symphony Orchestra…
Further credits are listed on the dedicated page > Notable recordings
Pure Audio recordings
Pure Audio Blu-ray is the latest high definition audio-only disc format that outperforms CD and SACD (Super Audio CD). 2L of Norway, the MSM studios of Germany and JMF Audio of France were the pioneers on Pure Audio Blu-ray, respectively for recording/producing, authoring/development and playback.
Further information:
GRAMMY Awards - nominated recordings produced with JMF Audio instruments > Read More
Lindberg Lyd. studios (2L) to record with JMF Audio PCD302 > Read more
International presentations (shows)
“The sound of the JMF Audio system was superb, of course. What I love most about JMF Audio is its rare ability to make the music sound lit from within. In a way, this is one of my highest forms of praise for audio, and a quality that is only evident in the finest gear I’ve heard. This means that the music is highlighted in a way that draws you in closer and lets you bear witness to the intentions and meanings of every note…” […] “Munich 2023 was a treasure trove of state-of-the-art gear, the so-called Big Stuff, and JMF Audio certainly deserves a seat at the summit.”
Marc Phillips, editor for PTA, USA
> Munich show report 2025 (40th anniversary)
> Munich show report 2024 (three rooms)
> Munich show report 2023
> Munich show report 2022
> Munich show report 2019 (videos)
> Hong Kong AE Super Hi-End Audio 2018 (videos)
> Munich show report 2018
> Munich show report 2017
> Munich show report 2016 (invited producer of label 2L)
> Munich show report 2015 (30th anniversary)
In association:
> Power Station studios with band Living Colour, New York, 2024
> Pacific Audio Fest USA 2024
> Hong Kong AV 2024
> AXPONA Chicago USA 2024 (two rooms)
> Dallas' Southwest Audio Fest USA 2024
> AXPONA Chicago USA 2023
> AXPONA Chicago USA 2022
> IHEAC Indonesia 2019 (w/ phono pre-amplifier prototype)
> Hong Kong AV show 2018 (w/ transport and DAC)
> Hong Kong Super Hi-end and HKAV 2017
> IHEAC Indonesia report 2016 (pre-amplifier and amplifiers)
More presentations in associations can be viewed on Facebook.
Literature
Reviews and interviews
Please refer to the dedicated page listing the recent reviews > Reviews
Books and publications where JMF Audio has been reported cited as reference
Acoustician Philip Newell’s book “Recording studio design” > Read more
Taiwan Audio Arts’ editor in chief’s book “All about loudspeakers” > Read more
Miscendo Studios of Paris in an article of English “Sound News” > Read more
More reports will be listed later.