Sonneteer came to life in 1994, but it all started a little earlier than that.
While at University in the late 80’s and early 90’s Haider Bahrani and Remo Casadei started a business to organise gigs or concerts and recordings for small bands. Haider had a band so it was mainly a vehicle for this although it did branch out to a number of other student bands. As electronics students Haider and Remo, not content with some the sound equipment they had to hand they modified it and often built their own. In fact Remo was known to rarely travel without a soldering iron and a multi-meter in the back of his car.
In his final year, Haider designed a hi-fi amplifier. Other than the requirements of his degree, he also wanted a good amplifier to monitor his personal music recording. Remo, a true hi-fi enthusiast, had other ideas. So taken with the original design, when Haider decided to go on a month’s holiday after graduating, he popped round to Haider’s parents house and ‘borrowed’ said amplifier to show off to a few hi-fi aficionado and dealer friends. They loved it and by the time Haider had come back from holiday Remo, a highly skilled product engineer, was already cooking up a production version of this amplifier. All products to date are co designed by the two gentlemen.
The original business at University was called Fine Thang Musico. The small amount of money they had left from this was used to start up an incorporated Fine Thang Musico to be known as, FTM Marketing ltd the current mother company of Sonneteer.
Why Sonneteer? Well Haider has a passion for writing and wanted to name products after writers and poets. The first amplifier was to become the Sonneteer Campion, after Thomas Campion.
Key dates in Sonneteer history.
1994
Sonneteer established as a British high end audio brand. The ethos of high quality sound performance was ingrained from the start
1999
Launch the world’s first consumer separates high end digital amplifier to much acclaim. Wins ‘Editors choice’, product of the year for Gramophone magazine. The digital revolution begins.
2003-2005
Show off pioneering Bard high end wireless system at the Consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.
Sonneteer’s Bard amplifier, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, goes to market and revolutionises high end audio amplification.
What hi-fi? Magazine proclaims, “Bard is a stroke of genius”.
2007-2008
Sonneteer Sedley phono stage,a product for vinyl lover, wins Audio excellence Award from Japan. The following year the USB version wins the same award as an accolade for design innovation.
2009
The year of the Sonneteer Morpheus Music Centre first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show Las Vegas after winning a place to represent UK Trade and Investments’ British Designs and Innovations. The Morpheus changed everything. A luxury music system that encapsulates all modern ways of playing back music yet retaining the ethos of tradition high end hi-fi products that Sonneteer are renowned for.
Today
Sonneteer offer a range of, award winning, luxury music systems for the home. Whilst maintaining the tradition of British high quality sounding and well engineered hi-fi Sonneteer have pioneered the adoption of cutting edge technologies into their products and presenting them in beautifully designed and easy to use products. The guys at Sonneteer have always maintained a philosophy of designing products that they would be happy with in their own home. If they are not happy then they don’t expect anyone else to.