Cleveland's Premier Creek Audio Dealer

Creek products are designed by Mike Creek and a team of electronic engineers, who employ the latest CAD technology and sophisticated test equipment to achieve the innovative and astute designs with which Creek is associated.

The first Creek amplifier, the £99 CAS4040, was launched on the UK market in 1982 and created somewhat mixed response. Praise for its sound quality was tempered with disbelief that a fledgling British Hi-Fi company could be successful taking on the established brands and undercutting their prices. However, what was not realised by the reviewer of the first Creek amplifier was that Michael Creek already had a long experience in the audio industry.

It was in 1970 that Mike started working in his father’s audio company, Wyndsor Recording Co. Ltd, initially as a stock controller, then buyer, factory manager and finally as a production engineer. Wyndsor made low cost ‘reel to reel’ tape recorders, record players, cassette recorders and FM/AM radios. Working for Wyndsor provided Mike with a broad understanding of how to run an electronics company from the shop floor upwards.

In 1976 he left Wyndsor to form his own company – M R Creek Ltd – trading as a design consultant to the audio industry. He concentrated mostly on product development, but also bought and sold parts to audio manufacturing companies.

By 1981 Mike started manufacturing products to his own design. He based his first product on the Wyndsor philosophy of high quality at a low price. Designing the product proved less difficult, however, than choosing a name for the company. In the end the choice of Creek Audio Systems proved to be successful.
A View Of The 4040S1

The 30 Watt CAS4040 integrated amplifier was the company’s first product, built in a metal case with a wooden cover which was fashionable at the time. One year later, Creek launched a matching tuner – the CAS3040, also at £99, which was soon used as a benchmark in radio design. The initial success was achieved working from an unused room in his home and space in his garage.

When demand exceeded 100 pieces per week in 1983, it became necessary to move to larger and more professional premises. The new factory space and the use of a sub-contractor enabled the company to expand rapidly.

By 1985 Creek Audio was selling up to 1200 CAS4040 amplifiers and 350 CAS3040 tuners per month. During that year Creek introduced the more expensive 4140 integrated amplifier that excluded tone controls but was slightly more powerful. The market became far more competitive, with up to six UK companies in fierce competition with Creek. However, Creek remained the market leader. As a result of exceedingly good UK press, export demand accelerated and before long the 4040, 4140 and 3040 (later to become the 3130 and T40) were selling in 20 countries.

During 1988 Mordaunt Short (which was acquired the previous year by TGI PLC group, Goodmans and Tannoy) made an offer to buy Creek Audio Systems in order to add an electronics capability to its loudspeaker sales. The offer was accepted, with Mike Creek agreeing to undertake the role of chief engineer. During his time with Mordaunt Short, Mike helped to introduce the 5050 and 6060 integrated amps. He also designed the series 2 and 3 versions of the 4040 amp, which had radically different circuitry. The company also successfully launched a Creek loudspeaker, the CLS-20, and later the first Creek CD player, the CD60 and the matching DAC60. After his three year contract expired with Mordaunt Short, Mike left to start a new company.

In 1991 Mike formed EMF Audio and started manufacturing in a small way back at the family factory premises in north London. EMF produced a 50W integrated amplifier and a Delta Sigma D to A converter marketed under the names Sequel and Crystal. These were more expensive products than those sold by Creek and new markets were established in Europe and the hi-fi hungry Far East.

In 1993 when TGI took the decision to sell Creek Audio, Mike Creek, together with partners from Switzerland, the USA and Germany purchased the rights to use the name Creek Audio.

A new company – Creek Audio Ltd – was formed and new products were designed. Creek Audio’s sales and R&D department moved back to its original office facility in north London. However, since most of the people skilled in making Creek products over the years were now in the county of Hampshire, Creek Audio Ltd initially employed a group of ex-Creek employees who left TGI. The products were manufactured in a small facility near Havant. The first products, launched in 1993, were a 40 Watt integrated amplifier, the 4240 – a 50 Watt Power amplifier, the A42 together with the P42 Pre-Amplifier. The CD42 CD player took longer to develop and went into production in 1995.

In 1995 Creek’s USA distributor Music Hall ordered a miniature vinyl disc amplifier to be made in a small case. Roy Hall, Music Hall’s president, christened it the OBH-8 and from there the OBH range increased to include phono pre-amps, headphone amps, remote controlled pre-amps, plus a 24 bit D to A converter.

Early in 1997, Creek Audio began introducing the highly successful 43 series products together with the higher-end 52 series. During the year Mike Creek, together with his American and his Swiss partners, bought out their German partner.

1998 was an exceptional year for Creek Audio Systems. The 4330 integrated amplifier was voted ‘Budget Component of the Year’ by the acclaimed U.S. magazine Stereophile. The novel T43 AM/FM Tuner received What Hi-Fi’s ‘Best Buy’ award in August 1998. In France, the CD43 CD Player, with 24 Bit DAC, received the ‘Diapason D’Or’ award for the CD player of the year. The P43 pre-amplifier, A52SE amplifier and OBH-12 pre amplifier received 5 Star reviews in Hi-Fi Choice and What Hi-Fi.

Interest in Creek increased significantly and the product was in great demand. This necessitated finding a way to increase production while maintaining high levels of quality. Existing production facilities were proving to be inadequate and therefore a decision was made to move to a subcontractor in Kent. This subcontractor already had 15 years experience assembling the circuit boards for Creek. Subsequently they themselves moved to larger premises thus increasing their capacity for growth.

Creek Audio Dealer, Northeast Ohio