about Franco
Ciao, and ... pleased to meet you!
My name is Franco Viganoni. In Italy, I gained a reputation among hi-fi insiders and classical music lovers, becoming an opinion leader within these circles. I was humorously greeted with "funny" titles like "the Count" and "His Grace" (I have always loved joking!). However, in 1995, fed up with Italy, a problematic and changing hi-fi market, Milan's real lifestyle, unpleasant climate, and high pollution, I immigrated with my family to New Zealand. It's been the most intelligent decision of our lives, and now we're ... proud Kiwis!
Well, I'm 78, and I can say that I have devoted my life to music, hi-fi, and sound research. My late Mum had a Conservatory Diploma in piano, and I spent a lot of my childhood listening to her play. When I was a teenager (those glorious and unrepeatable Beatles times), I was the bassist and singer in the band "Gli Sciacalli". In my adult life, besides sailing, music, and hi-fi, my real passion has been to capture and play sound back in the best possible way (not too bad for a geologist!).
So, my main hobby has been (and still is) the live recording of classical music. I started in 1976 with analogue recorders (obviously), but, as far as I know, I was the first person in Italy to make a digital live recording of a classical concert on May 12, 1981. Since then, I have continued to record exclusively digitally. To the dismay of some current analogue "nostalgics", the day after, listening to the recording, I simply stated: hi-fi has been born!
In Italy, I met and recorded many of the biggest names in classical music (you'll find a partial list of them on the live recording page). Here, in New Zealand, I have continued to nurture this big passion of mine, becoming the "official recorder" for Bach Musica New Zealand (of which I had the honour of being a member of the Board of Directors for more than ten years), Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (Learn & Participate), Auckland Youth Orchestra, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, and other smaller but equally talented musical ensembles. I have also recorded many world premieres of contemporary classical music by Kiwi composers. Anyway, if you want to know more about sound capture, which is the first essential step of sound reproduction and consequently the reason for the existence of hi-fi itself, please visit the very interesting and informative live recording and live music vs. hi-fi pages. However, listening to my mum play music since I was born, playing in a band during my youth, and recording live classical music have given me deep sound experience. I have profitably used this skill in my professional life as an insider of the Italian hi-fi market. In fact, starting in January 1973, I have been working in the distribution of various hi-fi and hi-end brands until I made New Zealand my new homeland.
In 2000, almost for fun, I started the sachem project. After two years of research and experimentation, filled with daunting and exciting moments, and with the essential help of my old friends and great technicians Rino Cieri, Allen Gill and Daniele Gherardi, the final result turned out to be much more than “a joke,” indeed! Ten years later, driven (or perhaps more accurately, tormented) by the sachem's enthusiasts who remained unsatisfied with their hi-end preamps, I began to contemplate the concept of an innovative and unconventional preamplifier seriously. Thus, the sachem pure project began, and in 2013, the pure joined the family. This too has been a success and another big source of pride. If you visit the testimonials page, you will be surely impressed by the unconditional approval of our very demanding customers and friends!
However, the last exciting and demanding challenge has been building this website. In a not very "politically correct" way (sorry, but half of me is still a bloody Italian), I try to teach audiophiles the fundamentals of real hi-fi, hoping to move them from "religion" to "science"! Please, don't point out that I'm a pathetic dreamer! That's old news, I realised that a looooong time ago! So, if you need my experience and skill in sound and hi-fi, consider me at your disposal. In this regard, please visit the hi-end doctor page.
To finish, a humble request: please turn a blind eye to my ... Oxford English!
His Old Grace Franco
In Italy, I met and recorded many of the biggest names in classical music (you'll find a partial list of them on the live recording page). Here, in New Zealand, I have continued to nurture this big passion of mine, becoming the "official recorder" for Bach Musica New Zealand (of which I had the honour of being a member of the Board of Directors for more than ten years), Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (Learn & Participate), Auckland Youth Orchestra, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, and other smaller but equally talented musical ensembles. I have also recorded many world premieres of contemporary classical music by Kiwi composers. Anyway, if you want to know more about sound capture, which is the first essential step of sound reproduction and consequently the reason for the existence of hi-fi itself, please visit the very interesting and informative live recording and live music vs. hi-fi pages. However, listening to my mum play music since I was born, playing in a band during my youth, and recording live classical music have given me deep sound experience. I have profitably used this skill in my professional life as an insider of the Italian hi-fi market. In fact, starting in January 1973, I have been working in the distribution of various hi-fi and hi-end brands until I made New Zealand my new homeland.
In 2000, almost for fun, I started the sachem project. After two years of research and experimentation, filled with daunting and exciting moments, and with the essential help of my old friends and great technicians Rino Cieri, Allen Gill and Daniele Gherardi, the final result turned out to be much more than “a joke,” indeed! Ten years later, driven (or perhaps more accurately, tormented) by the sachem's enthusiasts who remained unsatisfied with their hi-end preamps, I began to contemplate the concept of an innovative and unconventional preamplifier seriously. Thus, the sachem pure project began, and in 2013, the pure joined the family. This too has been a success and another big source of pride. If you visit the testimonials page, you will be surely impressed by the unconditional approval of our very demanding customers and friends!
However, the last exciting and demanding challenge has been building this website. In a not very "politically correct" way (sorry, but half of me is still a bloody Italian), I try to teach audiophiles the fundamentals of real hi-fi, hoping to move them from "religion" to "science"! Please, don't point out that I'm a pathetic dreamer! That's old news, I realised that a looooong time ago! So, if you need my experience and skill in sound and hi-fi, consider me at your disposal. In this regard, please visit the hi-end doctor page.
To finish, a humble request: please turn a blind eye to my ... Oxford English!
His Old Grace Franco