Joe Akroyd is best known for his work at Royd Loudspeakers Co. Ltd. (commonly known as Royd Audio) a small low volume Hi-Fi

loudspeakers A loudspeaker (commonly referred to as a speaker or speaker driver) is an Acoustical engineering#Electroacoustics, electroacoustic transducer that converts an electrical audio signal into a corresponding sound. A ''speaker system'', also often ...

manufacturer Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a ran ...

that was based in

Telford Telford () is a town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, about east of Shrewsbury, south west of Stafford, north west of Wolverhampton and from Birmingham in the same direction. With an est ...

Shropshire Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to th ...

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. Royd Audio was founded in 1980 and finally closed in 2004, when Joe Akroyd retired.

Before Royd Audio

Prior to starting Royd Audio, Joe Akroyd worked for Goodmans in the early 1960s, where he contributed to the Maxim mini monitor and the Audiom and Axiom bass drivers. In 1970, Joe Akroyd joined Wharfedale, where he was involved in the manufacture and design of the Denton, Linton, Melton, Triton, Doredale loudspeakers. During the mid-1970s Joe Akroyd joined Decca, in their newly reorganized Speaker department. However in 1979, Racal bought Decca, at which point Joe Akroyd left to set up Royd Audio.

Retirement

Joe Akroyd closed Royd Audio in 2004 so as to retire. After two protracted a long failed buy out negotiations, the remaining stock and parts was bought by Phonography, however no more Royd Speakers were built.

Career Highlights

The most famous and successful loudspeaker Joe Akroyd made was the Royd Minstrel. Launched in 1993, the Minstrel was a short, compact floor standing speaker, with a stand that angled it back slightly. It featured a side exiting reflex bass port and sold for £230-£300 depending on finish. Royd speakers remain in high demand, with their vintage continually elevating second hand prices.

References

External links

The official Royd Audio website

RoydAudio.org Fan based informational site - History

R&D Report 1965-09 : Goodmans 'Maxim' loudspeaker

Phonography High Fidelity
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akroyd, Joe Loudspeaker manufacturers Audio equipment manufacturers of the United Kingdom