MICHEL REVERCHON TRIBUTE: FOUNDER OF THE SWISS HIGH END HiFi BRAND REMEMBERED

Goldmund has issued an official remembrance of its founder, Michel Reverchon, who passed away on 1st October 2025.

The Swiss manufacturer says the weeks following his death have been marked by reflection across the company and its global partners, recognising the significant influence Reverchon had on high-end audio over five decades.

EARLY LIFE AND INFLUENCES SHAPED MICHEL REVERCHON

Michel Reverchon was born in 1945 into a family steeped in music, photography, and technical craft. His grandmother, a classical singer, introduced him to orchestral performance and vocal discipline, while his father’s Paris photography and HiFi shop exposed him to early German and Swiss precision audio. Childhood curiosity saw him dismantling everyday objects, gradually steering him toward an obsession with understanding how sound behaved and how equipment could be improved.

A formative listening experience with his father, in which a pickup system disappointed compared to live instruments, set the foundation for his lifelong pursuit of authenticity in reproduced sound.

FROM IBM TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOLDMUND MICHEL REVERCHON’S CAREER

Before entering audio full-time, Reverchon held senior roles at IBM, becoming a regional director overseeing hundreds of engineers. His passion for music, however, increasingly became incompatible with a secondary role in his life. In 1975 he created MBR Electronics, importing high-end audio equipment while juggling dual careers.

His direction changed decisively in 1978 when he met the Levy brothers, who had developed a tangential record arm and founded Goldmund. Reverchon acquired the company in 1981 and moved operations to Geneva, convinced that Switzerland’s micromechanical expertise was the ideal environment for high-precision audio engineering.

GOLDMUND MICHEL REVERCHON LEGACY: KEY TECHNOLOGIES AND MILESTONES

Under Reverchon’s leadership, Goldmund became known for a series of technical developments and distinctive products that remain influential today. Key milestones include:

1980s – Mechanical Grounding: Establishing a stable structural foundation to improve vibration control.

1983 – Goldmund Reference Turntable: A landmark in precision analogue reproduction.

1987 – Apologue Loudspeaker: Now considered a modern design icon.

1987 – Mimesis 2 & Mimesis 3 Electronics: Goldmund’s first preamplifier and power amplifier.

1990 – Alize DAC: Proprietary digital-to-analogue technology that shaped the brand’s digital direction.

1992 – Telos Amplifiers: A long-running line focused on accuracy and control.

2003 – Mini Logos Active: The company’s first active loudspeaker.

2004 – Proteus LS: Software bringing mathematical modelling to loudspeaker design.

2006 – Leonardo Time Correction: Technology to address group delay distortions.

2007 – Proteus HT & Mimesis 24: Extending modelling and processing to home-theatre applications.

2011 – Metis MKII: A powered loudspeaker with onboard digital processing.

2013 – Wireless Transmission: Enabling standalone digital speakers with CD-quality wireless audio.

2015–Present: Continued development after Reverchon’s retirement, including the Telos 8800 power amplifier (2024), Themis preamplification technology (2024), and the Gaia speaker line, which applies a form-follows-function modelling approach and refined, screw-free construction. The Pulp series, introduced in 2022, added WiSA and Bluetooth connectivity to a lifestyle-oriented loudspeaker range.

GOLDMUND MICHEL REVERCHON AND THE SCIENCE OF LISTENING ROOMS

Reverchon’s interests extended beyond equipment design. He was deeply focused on room acoustics and how listening environments shape the final result. This led Goldmund to explore architectural acoustics and room-correction strategies, as well as detailed calibration methods for each amplifier and driver. His approach emphasised measurable accuracy supported by engineering principles, applying his belief that science should be accessible to anyone with curiosity.

A PERSONALITY REMEMBERED BEYOND THE HiFi INDUSTRY

Colleagues and partners describe Reverchon as technically rigorous yet charismatic and personable. He balanced his analytical approach with a sense of humour and a strong enjoyment of music, travel, and good company. He valued curiosity and lifelong learning, and was known for his ability to identify sonic issues others could not detect—a skill he considered central to his ability to lead skilled teams toward innovative engineering solutions.

CONTINUING THE GOLDMUND MICHEL REVERCHON VISION

Goldmund states that Reverchon’s influence extends far beyond the company’s catalogue of products and patents. His philosophy combined scientific discipline with emotional engagement, shaping the company’s identity and approach to high-end audio.

The company notes that its staff, partners, and clients worldwide continue to uphold the standards and design principles he instilled. More than 45 years after he acquired Goldmund, his vision remains embedded in the brand’s approach to engineering and product creation.

HiFi PiG Says: HiFi PiG sends our condolences to Michel’s family and the Goldmund team.