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The Future of Twisted Pear Audio

Hi all.

I have been running Twisted Pear Audio for upwards of 18 years now, and it feels like a child (actually, it's roughly the same age as my kids). As with children, it has reached a point where I feel it is time to let go. As such, I will be winding down operation of Twisted Pear Audio in the coming weeks and months.

To be honest, this has already been happening for a while now. Back in in 2021, Russ decided to drop out for personal and professional reasons, and I have been carrying things along since then by myself. I find I have less and less resources to dedicate to it (time really), and think I have reached a point where my priorities lie elsewhere.

I (we) started Twisted Pear out of a shared love of electronics, tinkering, and most of all, helping others with their interests. The web site started as a better way to manage Group Buys, but over time turned into it's own thing, and dragged us a long into a small business. While it was always just the two of use running things, it was really our customers that kept us going, and brought us the joy required to wrap our lives around the whole thing. I have built many friendships with you folks over the years. I have seen many of you come and go. It was, at times, all-consuming, and an emotional roller coaster, and mostly great fun. My personal drive has always been (and is) to help other people find enjoyment, and Twisted Pear has certainly helped me scratch that itch.

I want to express my thanks to everyone in the community who has participated in our little adventure over the years. My memories are rich and fulfilling. Thanks to you all.

Anyway, over the coming weeks and months I will be finding ways to dispense with a good sized inventory of electronic components. I am thinking of either giving things away, or trading for contributions to charity (someone donates to charity and I send them a box of stuff). Not really sure at this point, and I am open to ideas. I am not sure how many people will be interested in a 4000 piece spool of 59.4-ohm resistors, for example, so, what do I do with them? Other things are much more straight forward. In addition to parts for kits, I have a large personal inventory that could use some thinning out. How many power transformers am I going to need for personal projects? I have lots.

Keep and eye out for more updates, and please stay in touch.

All the best-
Brian


UPDATE (2024-Jan-1): I am keeping Twisted Pear open, with just a more limited selection.
 
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Brian, as a TP customer I also want to express my appreciation for what you guys have done. I enjoy my TP DAC on a regular basis.

I'm bummed TP will no longer be around as I like the innovation and products. That said, I also understand that priorities change.

I hope you do leave a repository of technical info available someplace, maybe even here on the DIY site, so others can learn from what you've done.

Thank you!

Steve
 
If you have any of the Amanero USB receivers left I might be interested. Depending on the quantity you have left I could be interested in all of them. Toss me a PM or email (add @neurochrome.com to my user ID here) if you're interested.

Burning Amp Fest in San Francisco has a raffle/yard sale every year as part of the event. You could give stuff away there.

It must be hard to shut down a good business. But fact is that running a business takes real work and if your heart isn't in it it's just not fun. I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavours.

Tom
 
Sitting here listening to my high gain (200 ohm R’s on the Mercury) Buffalo 3 into a passive preamp and a simpatico amp all I can think to say is thanks for the incredible journey you and Russ have allowed us to follow you on. You will both be missed more than you can know. Great adventures to you and please find away to archive the DIY information as it will undoubtedly be useful to many of us in the future.
stephen
 
it has reached a point where I feel it is time to let go.
A colleague related a story about his wife's father; he was the top MTX audio guy or one of those biggies. A white water rafting trip, capsized raft, occupants all struggling to avoid drowning. He remarked her father quipped afterward "That was the only time in the last decade when I wasnt thinking about the business". One can only keep it up for so long. Good luck with your "retirement"; enjoy!
 
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Keep and eye out for more updates, and please stay in touch.

Even though common ICs and other components are again becoming generally available, the prices I'm seeing are 'off-putting' at best! I have always really appreciated the performance AND the value in TPA offerings. Now, it's a shame that high(er) component costs are fundamentally altering the satisfaction quotient in home-built gear. :(