Charles Hansen, 1956-2017

by Marc Mickelson | November 28, 2017

e at The Audio Beat -- along with scores of audiophiles and peers in the audio industry -- were saddened to learn that Charles Hansen, founder and chief designer of Ayre Acoustics, passed away on November 28th. Charles was 61 years old.

As I think about this unhappy news, I recall conversations I had with Charles over the years. Many were related to reviews of Ayre products I was working on, but this fact was only a starting point for a larger discourse on technology, society, humanity and life. I discussed this in a review of the Ayre KX-5 Twenty preamp and VX-5 Twenty power amp:

One of the true experiences of being a member of the audio press is talking to Charles, whose mind works in lateral fashion, spinning one interconnected metaphysical tale after another. Before calling him, I e-mailed him a list of questions, and after 90 minutes of stimulating conversation, we hadn't made it through even one answer. Not to worry, however, because Charles followed up with a seven-page e-mail that covered all of my queries.

But I digress -- talking to Charles will do that to you.

Charles was a staunch advocate for designing audio electronics (and speakers, which he also created during his distinguished career) the right way, which, for him, meant with both engineering rigor and sonic performance as primary considerations. Charles could be dogmatic -- I remember his dismissing a speaker he never heard in favor of a different speaker (which he also never heard) based solely on something he saw in its measurements -- but anyone who heard Ayre equipment couldn't argue with his results, which so often transcended the sonic gulf between solid state and tubes.

Charles was the father of two children, and I was able to hear a bit about them during our various discussions. They have lost their dad too soon, and the audio industry has lost one of its most original thinkers and brightest lights.