Manufacturers

We believe that Yoshihiro Muramatsu is one of Japan's unsung audio heros. He is unknown because his equipment is not expensive enough. He does not use boutique audio parts. He does not run any glossy advertising. You could say that he isn't really into the whole high-end audio business world.

Still, show after show, review after review, music lovers and professional reviewers heap more praises and endorsements on his products and show systems.

About boutique parts, Muramatsu-San has strong feelings: "I much prefer industrial parts from the big companies. Their QC is far better and their goods must be be safe and sound or else their many industrial accounts will sue them and put them out of business. I only use readily available parts that will last and do the job reliably and safely.

"In actual practice, many of the beliefs held dear by audiophiles baffle me. Things need not be grossly overpriced, unsafe and temperamental to sound good. We pursue designs that are simple but strong and will be appreciated by those with the ears to hear and the common sense to know that $20,000 for any amplifier is unjustified when you can get a very fine, barely used car for such a princely sum."

If straight talk appeals to you, you'll appreciate what we're about. With Almarro, you won't ever find excess or mysterious circuits. What you will find is exceptional performance packaged in functional forms that are made from ordinary but good and lasting materials.

Our boss used to build traditional farm houses. They were simple structures with strong exposed wood beams made for poor hard-working folks. He still lives in one of these homes. The same values that drove him then drive him now. That is why, on our amplifiers and speakers, you see finely finished fronts made from Ash or Cherry wood, some even with exposed joinery. What you will not find are chrome, polished gold, shiny lights and other glittery items. There are many other brands which already offer those things. We prefer to stick to our roots and build the old-fashioned way: humbly but strong and for retail prices that are still meaningful to average working class people.

Our main interest is vacuum tube amplification. Staying with the theme of the simple but proven, we use 6550s, EL84s and 6C33Cs in both single-ended and push/pull, triode and pentode circuits, with or without feedback depending on what is appropriate for the best performance.

We also make loudspeakers to go with our mostly integrated amplifiers. Do not let appearances fool you though. While Almarro products look simple and unadorned, they perform well beyond their looks and price range, something more and more people are finding out about and attest to.

Some reviewers even talk about an audio underground to which music lovers turn who are fed up with extremist and complicated audio which only the few can afford. If such an underground movement really exists, we would like to think that its values and ours overlap. But we let you be the judge. Look over our website and get in touch with us on any questions you might have or any help we can provide.

Founded in June 1994, the company is based in Carson City, Nevada where it markets its unique products throughout the world under the BG Radia and Radia Pro brand names as well as on an OEM basis. Critically acclaimed, BG is widely regarded as one of the most innovative loudspeaker companies in the world.