In the world of audio innovation, few stories are as compelling as that of Ralph Waters, the founder of Richter Acoustics. Ralph Waters shares his remarkable journey from teaching, psychology and a curious music lover to a pioneering force in the Australian HiFi and audio industry. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, sound engineering, or the art of building a brand from the ground up in Australia.
Ralph’s story begins with a fascination for music and sound, nurtured by his grandfather, a concert pianist. Despite a career start in psychology and teaching, Ralph’s true calling was in the world of acoustics. His decision to leave a well-paying job to start a loudspeaker company was driven by a desire for new challenges and a passion for sound.
The name ‘Richter Acoustics’ was carefully chosen to resonate with both Australian and international audiences. Ralph played on the duality of the name, promoting the ‘force from down under’ to Australian customers while allowing others to believe in a German origin if it suited them. This clever branding strategy highlights the importance of a name in establishing a product’s identity and market appeal. This need to “hide” the Australian origins of the product also speaks volumes about perceptions by Australians of Australian products at the time.
Ralph’s story is also one of resilience in the face of skepticism. He recalls being laughed out of stores and facing condescension from those who doubted Australian-made products could compete with their international counterparts. His tale is a testament to the power of persistence and the willingness to take risks in pursuit of one’s passion. Richer Acoustics is still a leading force in loudspeaker design and a thriving Australian brand today.
The episode also delves into the technical side of loudspeaker design, with Ralph discussing his early experiments, corresponding with the great Richard Small and the groundbreaking Thiele/Small parameters. He believes these innovations gave Australian manufacturers an edge against global brands.
Ralph Waters’ journey is not just about building a successful brand; it’s about the passion for sound and the determination to bring something unique to the world.
Ralph Waters Episodes, Transcripts, History & pics on Not An Audiophile
These people, brands and places are mentioned as part of the story. No payments were received.
People mentioned on this episode –
- Ralph Waters – Richter Acoustics
- Brad Serhan – Serhan Swift
- Andrew Hutchison – Dellichord
- Richard Small – Thiele/Small Parameters
- Neville Thiele – Thiele/Small Parameters
- Andrew Goldfinch
Brands mentioned on this episode –
Richter Acoustics
Serhan Swift
Dellichord
KEF Loudspeakers
Commodore 64
Coral Loudspeakers
Businesses mentioned on this episode –
University of New South Wales
StereoNET Australian Hi-Fi Show – Melbourne 2024
Pullman Hotel Albert Park – HiFi Show 2024
Music courtesy of –
Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/please-listen-carefully
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/GGVFRIgP7uc
CREDITS –
Guest management, regular co-hosting – Brad Serhan
Host, audio production – Andrew Hutchison