Early in the eighties SD Systems decided to try solving an old problem: how should a sax player in a rockband manage to project the sound of his horn over the dominant group sound? No mike existed which would offer sufficient quality and without limiting the freedom of movement of the player. The fact SD designers were sax players themselves was of great advantage for the development of the mike.

A Leightweight Condenser Microphone, which could be directly attached to the bell of the sax by means of an adaptable mounting system -the legendary LCM85- was born. With it, total freedom of movement on stage finally came, as well as an end to those ever dominating guitars. Serge Schrier, present director of SD Systems, was playing in the rock circuit, at the time where he met Rob Dugour, guitarist and sax player. SD Systems was established in 1981.
During 1985, the highly specialist knowledge thus acquired was put to use in the development of the LCM85.In a certain way the LCM85 meant a fresh start: with the complete concentration of existing manufacturers on voice mikes and studio mikes, a gap in the market was discovered. In those days the LCM85 was still made in a very primitive way: the housing of the capsule consisted of a male-XLR plug with four hand drilled holes in the sides, and to shield the capsules they used mosquito screen which happened to lie in the attic.. The capsules had to be sorted individually with 75% dropping out due to great variation in quality at that time. A very time-consuming job because it had to be done by ear holding the sax in their hand.
In 1986 the first mike system for drums was designed: the LCM90.With its integrated power supply and easily fitting mounting system, gripping the rim of any drum, this mike also turned out to satisfy users' expectations to the model after another, tailored to optimal amplification of each different fullest. One new LCM instrument, was offered to the market.
Meanwhile the competition's attention was attracted. Thanks to annual participation in the Frankfurter Messe they quickly picked up ideas: two years after the introduction of the LCM85, Ramsa (Japan) came with a mike system for sax and drums. In 1987 Shure developed the SM98 with a very primitive mounting system. In 1988 AKG introduced the minimike series. In the USA Countryman was introduced. Copies were made with enthousiasm: in 1990, Beyer introduced a system which looks close to AKG.

Basic mistakes were made in the design of many of these models: the strong sound rumbles from the sax keys were striking, just as a wrong mike-position, bad frequency characteristics in the high range, the design of the preamp, feedback and instable mounting on the instrument.

All the mikes in the LCM series are characterized by a unique mounting system and superior sound reproduction which is pure and natural and very clear in the high ranges. For each application special high-quality condenser elements are selected, whose characteristics are exactly tailored to their specific use. The LCM89 model for example is favoured by many jazz sax players, because during low volumes the patented elastic hangup of the element almost totally eliminates sound rumbles from the keys.

SD has built up a worldwide network of endorsers, in classical as well as in jazz and rock music. This gives a lot of feedback so they know exactly what the needs are. Right now in Holland and Germany, SD is doing the representation direct. This has the great advantage that through these direct lines the retailers' and customers' wishes can be honored more quickly. In order to get firm footing in the US, SD has strongly exerted theirselves to enter the American market. Rayburn Music in Boston was the first shop to sell SD mikes. Now, thanks to the introduction of a revolutionary and ingenious low cost model, the SX-1 sax mike and the High Power LDM94 model that is especially developed for the US market, the American interest is increasing. Many Americans play with enormous sound pressure because of the 'power' mouthpieces which are fashionable over there. A shame, because combining older mouthpieces with an LCM89 mike the dynamic range is higher and variation in sound is easier!


In the meanwile, many endorsements are settled with great musicians. Serge Schrier : " It started with Emilio Lyons' visit at the Frankfurt fair. Lyons is a famous saxophone repairer who works for Rayburn Music, Boston: he 'nurses' the instruments of nearly all the great musicians on the American Jazz scene. about: he introduced us to Stan Getz in 1987. Getz became SD's first major endorser. I've been in touch with him often, an extraordinary kind and charming man. His death shocked us. I myself have been a Jazz fanatic since I was fifteen. It was a great honour to personally meet nearly all my great idols from those days, either at the North Sea Jazz festival in The Hague or at our place. We have developed a personal relationship with them. Americans -however famous- have always been very pleasant and are always receptive to new ideas.
SD Systems has its base in Amsterdam, Holland. Their new premises are located near the beautiful old centre of town. Right now, more than 20 different systems are in production. All this has been made possible mainly by new facilities which they now have at their disposal. At first place new premises have made it possible to make development and assembly more efficient.
In the last few years considerable investments were made in innovative research and test equipment. Many jobs are put out to contract to several specialised top industries in the neighbourhood. SD produces on demand.

Gamma completa di altoparlanti, componenti e accessori per impianti audio, hi-fi car, home theater, professional.Guide, schemi tecnici e consigli pratici per autocostruttori, appassionati, e tecnici professionisti.





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Mission Loudspeakers, manufacturers of high quality Hi-Fi stereo loudspeakers, home cinema loudspeakers, multi-media loudspeakers, nxt technology loudspeakers, subwoofers and OEM loudspeakers.
Mission Electronics was launched in 1977 and in 1978 the revolutionary 770 loudspeaker was launched. It was the first audiophile loudspeaker to use a polypropylene drive unit and went on to garner acclaim and admiration. Since then, introducing new technology and radical manufacturing techniques has remained a prime factor in our success.



Through the years we have produced many "firsts". In 1979 we released the first DC-coupled transcription tone-arm, the Mission 774, and the 700 loudspeaker, which, with its inverted drive unit array, brought the price of esoteric loudspeaker performance down to budget hi-fi level. In 1981 came the Mission 776, the world's first DC-powered pre-amplifier, and the 777, the fastest MOSFET power amplifier of its day. The Mission Isoplat, introduced in 1983, pioneered the use of Sorbothane to isolate sensitive components from vibration ...





Loudspeakers, Mission Loudspeakers, Hi-Fi Loudspeakers, Stereo Loudspeakers, Home Cinema Loudspeakers, Hi-Fi, Speakers, Home Cinema, stereo, surround sound, 78, 78 series, m7, m7 series, m5, m5 series, fs1, fs2, cinema m70, cinema m71, cinema m72, subwoofer
multimedia, multi-media, lifestyle, pilastro, symphonix, nxt, drive unit, tweeter, sub, what hi-fi, graphite, black, rosewood, beech, 77, 77 series, 700, 700 series, range

An Abbreviated History of API:
It all began with a dream. It was 1968. The company: Automated Processes Inc., formed by men with a vision. Best known for their now legendary "2520 amplifier", this unique amp has been and will continue to be the heart of all API discrete products. It continues to provide reliability and sonic purity unmatched by the competition. The resulting console met the needs of the music, commercial and broadcast industry.

API became the leading audio broadcast console manufacturer for radio and television networks and high profile stations. In addition, recording studios, large and small, began using API.....and receiving rave reviews from engineers and producers. There are over 700 API consoles across the nation and around the world, including the three major networks. Over thirty years later, many of these consoles are still in daily use in some of the most prestigious recording and broadcast facilities in the world because, to date, there are few, if any consoles of equal sound quality at a cost-effective price.

Accuton ceramic drivers : In the year 1984 the Backes & Müller production-engineer Berhard Thiel invented an electrochemical process to produce very thin sheets of extremely hard corundum (Al2O3) out of shaped aluminum foil. This patented procedure allowed the manufacturing of very stiff, light weighted and highly damped loudspeaker membranes. This new and very hard material embodied loudspeaker drive units with broader bandwith, lower distortion and a purer sound than ever before possible.

At first, the drivers were produced solely for new Backes & Müller products, a little later Bernhard Thiel stepped out of B&M and founded his own company, the original Thiel GmbH in Homburg, Germany. His loudspeaker drivers were distributed quickly in the audiophile world and gained a very high reputation for their sonic virtues. Very soon, these drivers were used in many of the - top of the line - high end loudspeaker boxes of today's world.

Backes & Müller, still being the main customer for Bernhard Thiel, went out of business in the year 1992. This - of course - presented some major problems for the young Thiel GmbH. So Bernhard Thiel started looking for a partner to look after the economical side of business. This partner was found in Adrian Bankewitz, at this time european distributor of Thiel products and long time friend of Bernhard Thiel. He bought the assets of the Thiel GmbH and put together the production and distribution channels and the Thiel & Partner GmbH of today was born.