INDUSTRY UPDATE
CANADA: PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO
Robert Deutsch
I was shocked and greatly saddened by the news of the passing, at age 68, of Brian W. Russell, president and cofounder (along with his brother Chris) of Bryston Ltd. Established in 1973, Bryston’s first product was a power amplifier for the professional market. The company went on to produce just about every kind of audio equipment: preamps, multichannel amplifiers, digital sources, surround processors, speakers, subwoofers—even turntables. I interviewed the Russell brothers and James Tanner, vice president of sales, in 1996.1
A larger-than-life presence with a quick wit and extensive knowledge of audio, Brian was a stalwart representative of Bryston at audio shows. At one such show, the 2013 Montreal Salon Son & Image, Brian was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. In my show report, I wrote, “Brian is a big, tough guy, so I figured we wouldn’t see him crying when giving his award acceptance speech—but I think he came awful close when he said that he owes his achievement to each and every member of the Bryston team.”
With his passing, the Bryston team—indeed the world of audio—has suffered a great loss.
US: PROVO, UTAH
Jason Victor Serinus
On September 25, loudspeaker manufacturer Wilson Audio sent out a press release announcing, “After nearly twenty years, John Giolas and Wilson Audio have agreed to amicably part ways.”
The news came as a surprise to those who know Giolas’s central role in presenting the
