Ted Jordan 1929-2016

Ted_Jordan_web

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of company founder E. J. ‘Ted’ Jordan.

Ted had a long and distinguished career full of remarkable achievements. He began working on full-range loudspeakers when at Goodmans in the 1950s, leading to the launch of the Jordan-Watts Module in 1963. He continued developing the technology of metal cone speakers over the next five decades, always refining and pushing the boundaries, from titanium cone drivers in the mid-1960s to the sophisticated Contraflex alloy foil cone used today in the Eikona 2. He always stressed the need to work hand-in-hand with the laws of nature and to seek simplicity in order to achieve outstanding results.

A gifted writer, Ted’s technical articles appeared in magazines in the UK and abroad. His seminal book Loudspeakers, published by Focal Press in 1962, became an industry bible and is still in demand today.

Ted’s consultancy work touched on all links in the hi-fi chain, from pick-up cartridges to room acoustics. He was always happy to stand outside the hi-fi mainstream to explore areas that he felt were important or overlooked. He was fond of advising: “Don’t follow the sheep.”

Ted leaves an archive of research going back 60 years and he was investigating new ideas and products right to the end. Ted’s company, E. J. Jordan Designs, is proud to continue his legacy of audio innovation and original thinking.

Ted will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He combined an enquiring mind with a deep understanding of his subject and an artist’s feel for his craft. He was passionate that his work was designed do one thing supremely well – to serve the music.

9 Comments

  1. A true pioneer who had outstanding knowledge and understanding of the subject.He made the best drive units around eschewing conventional methods of aiming for ”absolute rigidity” which he proved to be both an undesirable and unachievable objective.My deepest sympathy goes out to all of Ted’s friends and family for their loss.The hi-fi world must bid farewell to a very clever man.

  2. So sad, his Wireless World articles inspired me as a child and are part of the reason I’ve been teaching electronics and audio for the past 30+ years.
    My deepest sympathies.

    Jamie

  3. In 1973 I was an amateur speaker designer. He replied to a simple technical question I sent to him with a three page letter full of helpful detail. He was very kind-seeming and generous with his knowledge. I’m glad he spent his final years in such a beautiful part of the world.

  4. Sorry to hear of Ted’s passing, I first met him at Guildford Hi-Fi in the early eighties when I worked there on Saturdays, his pre/power amp was selling well and I still have mine after 33 years of continuous use. He will be sadly missed by many and my condolences to his family and friends.

  5. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ted on a number of occasions quite a few years ago. I built and sold some systems using the 50mm module and its successors that are still making people happy in a way that transcends what any inanimate object should be able to do. What he achieved quite literally changed my life and my admiration and affection for him will never fade. I’m so sad that he’s gone.

  6. His speaker designs were other worldly!

    Every time I heard an axiom 80 I was astounded. I recently had the pleasure of hearing a pair of his large module titanium cone speakers, they were better than most modern expensive speakers.

    Truly a genius.

    May he rest in peace.

  7. Very sad to hear the news and my condolences to Ted’s wife and family. I first heard about Ted’s work in 1976 when I bought my Jordan-Watts units and have followed his developments with interest. Have since visited Ted several times in Wales to discuss designs using his latest drivers and will always remember him as a fresh-thinking innovative genius with a wicked sense of humour. A great loss for the audio industry but I expect his ideas and influences will go on for a very long time!

Comments are closed.