Design keeps Rait ahead

Press, 14 June 1978, Page 10

Design keeps Rait ahead

Rait Electronics Ltd, was formed eight years ago in the backroom of a house in Andover Street, Christchurch, by Geoff Rait, now the firm’s design engineer and managing director. The company has not looked back because of the standard of the products designed by Geoff, including the Rait amplifier. Because of the success of the first 30 watt amplifier, the company expanded, designing and manufacturing a 60W per channel amplifier last year. In spite of the present difficult economic conditions, Rait’s has continued to enjoy growth and is taking on an expansion programme. The staff now consists of 16 full-time employees and about 15 out-workers, also working on burglar alarms and communication equipment.

“Future development plans are under way to allow us to introduce other hi-fi products,” says the company’s marketing director, Tim Rait (Geoff’s brother). “These will include matching sets of speakers later this year. “We are also putting in an anachoic chamber for fine tune testing to make sure that every unit is of absolute top performance.” Asked about Rait’s success, Tim Rait said that there had been many other

“backyarders” working in the hi-fi field. There was a quick rush for their products but. most faded away.

“Customers are becoming more fastitidous and are looking for finer precision reproduction.

“We now have about 800 of our sets out on use.

“Our normal warranty is 90 days — although some retailers give a 12-month warranty.

“Very few ever come back. We had only one recently after someone had poured half a gallon of beer into the amplifier at a bam dance.” Geoff Rait points out that sales of hi-fi equipment have continued to stay at a consistently good level — just as sales of grand pianos continued during the last great depression.

Perhaps this is because families cannot afford to go out most evenings and have to stay at home for their own entertainment. Another reason that Rait Electronics is expanding its premises is that it is now setting up its industry ready for export. Obviously the company feels confident that Rait products are up to world standard.

The philosophy behind the design of the Rait 6060 stereo amplifier was to produce an amplifier for musical reproduction of the highest order, yet at a

realistic price within the average enthusiast’s grasp. Up to date solid techniques are used to achieve this with remarkably good results in terms of low apparent residual noise, clarity and smoothness of sound. The outside appearance is styled conservatively to avoid the problem of rapid “dating” associated with many of today’s products. When buying an amplifier it is reassuring to know that it will not look obsolete beside next year’s trend.