Angelic Sound One (3): Enter the Fire Wolf
I found a wolf - a Fire Wolf.
When I turned my attention to China, the manufacturing powerhouse, I discovered a promising path forward. Over the past 30 years, China has undergone a remarkable transformation. What once was a low-cost manufacturing hub is now home to specialized services and high-quality products at competitive prices. Think Apple iPhones and Teslas, both of which rely on Chinese expertise for critical components.
A Personal Connection
My own Hi-Fi journey began in the Pearl River Delta region of southern China during the 1990s when the Hi-Fi industry there was still in its infancy. I started from making my own speakers including crossovers, printed circuit boards and final assembly using stock speaker cabins. I also ventured into making amps and pre-amps because there was a burgeoning Hi-Fi DIY market with readily available component supplies.
However, my priorities shifted when I immigrated to Australia before the turn of the century. Like many immigrants, I focused on building a new life: pursuing further studies, developing my career, raising a family, and achieving the Australian dream.
Now, decades later, I’ve come full circle, reigniting my passion for Hi-Fi. Inspired by Bruce’s advice (Blog 2 There is a Problem), I’ve recognized that the same grit that built my career can also guide me to the solution for my speaker project. Chinese engineers and technicians, through years of dedication, have honed their craft. Today, their work speaks for itself.
The Rise of Chinese Hi-Fi
I’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover several Chinese Hi-Fi brands that have earned international acclaim. Brands like Cen.Grand, known for their Direct Stream Digital (DSD) Digital-to-Analogue converters (DACs) and headphone amplifiers, and Line Magnetic/Analog Sound, famed for their tube amplifiers, are now celebrated by audiophiles worldwide. Angelic Sound has also become the dealer for both brands in Australia.
Behind these brands are passionate individuals who pursued sound perfection. They invested years in developing proprietary technologies and were rewarded by the global market. For instance:
Deng Jianhui of Cen.Grand: A veteran audiophile, who spent years researching and ultimately developed his own algorithms for frequency enhancement in DACs. His work gained an international following shortly after Cen.Grand’s 2019 launch of the DSDAC1.0 Deluxe. Read this 6Moons Review.
The Late Zheng Cai: Dedicated his life to salvaging Western Electric amplifier techniques. He eventually created Line Magnetic and Analog Sound, brands now holding cult status worldwide. Read this 6Moons Review and this Steve Huff review.
Enter the Fire Wolf
Among these luminaries, I found an unassuming yet extraordinary figure: Mr. Zhang, also known as ‘Fire Wolf’. Hailing from northeast China, Fire Wolf is a down-to-earth engineer with a remarkable story. Formerly a hydrological engineer, he started crafting speakers as a side project before transitioning to full-time speaker design under his Fire Wolf Audio Lab brand.
Though not yet a household name in international Hi-Fi circles, Fire Wolf embodies the grit and dedication that I’ve come to admire. Over the past 15 years, he has built a reputation for his uncompromising approach to sound engineering. His portfolio includes speakers of all sizes and designs, utilizing leading international driver units to deliver great performance.
Why Fire Wolf?
What truly earned my trust wasn’t just his experience but his ethos. He often talked about trusting data over personal perceptions when evaluating a speaker performance. Fire Wolf shares my passion for sound perfection and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to his craft based on data. Most importantly, he is open to creating custom-made speakers. This flexibility is exactly what I need to bring my vision to life.
With Fire Wolf’s expertise and collaborative spirit, the dream of Angelic Sound One feels closer than ever.