The first £99 Creek CAS4040 amplifier hit the UK market in 1982 to controversy. On the one hand, they admired the quality of its sound, but on the other hand, they did not believe that such a young company could successfully compete with already recognized brands and reduce prices. However, the author of the review of the first Creek amplifier did not know that Mike Creek already had vast experience in the audio industry.
Mike began working for his father’s company, Wyndsor Recording Co. Ltd. back in 1970. At first he kept inventory records, then worked with customers, rose to the rank of manager, and finally became a production engineer. Wyndsor made inexpensive reel-to-reel and cassette recorders, turntables, and FM/AM radios. During his time at Wyndsor, Mike learned how to run an electronics company. He knew the whole process, starting with a simple workplace. In 1976, Mike left Wyndsor and formed his own company, MR Creek Ltd., offering engineering and design consulting services to other audio companies. His main focus was on device design, but he also bought and sold parts for audio manufacturers. By 1981, Mike began manufacturing products based on his designs.
The production of the first device was based on the Wyndsor philosophy – high quality at a low price. It turned out that producing a new product is not as difficult as choosing a name for the company. Ultimately, the name Creek Audio Systems became quite apt. The thirty-watt integrated amplifier CAS4040 was the first brainchild of the company, encased in a metal case with a wooden cover – a fashionable trend of the time. A year later, Creek released the CAS3040 matching tuner, also for £99, which soon became a standard in radio design. The first success came when the company was located in one of the rooms of Mike’s house and garage. When weekly demand exceeded 100 units in 1983, it was necessary to move to a larger and better equipped facility. New factory space and subcontracting services gave the company a boost to rapid growth.
Creek CAS 4040
By 1985, Creek Audio was selling up to 1,200 CAS4040 amplifiers and 350 CAS3040 tuners per month. In the same year, the company released a more expensive integrated amplifier, the 4140, without tone control, but more powerful. Competition in the market became tougher: in addition to Creek, there were six more companies in the UK that were fighting for a place in the sun. But despite everything, Creek continued to occupy a leading position.
Thanks to the excellent UK media, demand arose overseas, and soon the 4040, 4140 amplifiers and 3040 tuner (later replaced by the 3130 and T40) were sold in 20 countries. In 1988, Mordaunt Short (which had been bought the year before by TGI PLC, Goodmans and Tannoy) offered to buy out Creek Audio Systems to add electronics to its speaker sales. The offer was accepted on the condition that Mike Crick take over as chief engineer. While at Mordaunt Short, Mike helped bring the 5050 and 6060 integrated amplifiers to market. He also developed the 2nd and 3rd series variants of the 4040 amplifier, radically changing the circuit design. In addition, the company successfully launched the Creek CLS-20 speaker, and later the first CD60 CD player and DAC60 matching DAC. As soon as the three-year contract with Mordaunt Short expired, Mike created a new company.
Creek 5350SE
In 1991, Mike set up EMF Audio and began working out of his family’s production premises in north London. EMF produced a 50-watt integrated amplifier and delta-sigma DAC, which were sold under the names Sequel and Crystal, respectively. These units were much more expensive than Creek’s. For their sale, markets were established in Europe and in the Far East, which was hungry for Hi-Fi equipment.
In 1993, when TGI decided to sell Creek Audio, Michael Creek, along with his partners from Switzerland, the USA and Germany, bought the rights to use the Creek Audio brand. A new company, Creek Audio Ltd., was created and began developing new products. Creek Audio’s sales and R&D teams have returned to their original location in north London. However, since most of the people who had been involved in the production of Creek devices over the years remained in Hampshire, several former Creek employees who had left TGI had to be hired at first. Production took place in a small factory near Havant. The first devices to go into production in 1993 were the 40-watt 4240 integrated amplifier and the 50-watt A42 power amplifier with P42 preamplifier. The development of the CD42 CD player took a little longer, so its production began only in 1995.
Creek Destiny 2 Amplifier
Also in 1995, the American distributor Creek, the Music Hall company, ordered a miniature vinyl amplifier in a small case. Roy Hall, president of Music Hall, dubbed it the OBH-8. Today, the OBH line includes turntable preamps, headphone amplifiers, remote control preamps, and a 24-bit DAC. In early 1997, Creek Audio began producing 43 Series products as well as high-end 52 Series products. In the same year, Mike Crick, together with partners from America and Switzerland, bought out his German partner. 1998 was a banner year for Creek Audio Systems. The famous American magazine “Stereophile” named the 4330 integrated amplifier “Budget Component of the Year”.
In August 1998, the new AM/FM tuner was voted “Best Buy” by What Hi-Fi magazine. In France, the CD43 CD player with a 24-bit DAC received the Diapason D’Or award as player of the year. Hi-Fi Choice and What Hi-Fi magazines gave the P43 preamp, A52SE amplifier and OBH-12 preamplifier 5 stars each. Interest in Creek products has skyrocketed and resulted in unprecedented demand. It was necessary to find a way to increase production without losing quality. The existing production facilities were not suitable for this, so it was decided to move to a subcontractor in Kent. This subcontractor had been building circuit boards for Creek for 15 years. They themselves moved to larger premises, thereby leaving room for growth. By 1999, Creek Audio Systems was supplying its devices to 30 countries, while continuing to work to expand the domestic market.
Creek Destiny 2 Compact Disc Player
This year, Mike Crick independently acquired Epos, a company whose legendary loudspeaker systems were renowned for their excellent quality. Today this company is known as Epos Limited. In 2000, the 5250 and 5250SE integrated amplifiers were discontinued. They have won several awards, particularly in Germany. The 5350 and 5350SE amplifiers hit the market and immediately received universal approval. In the same year, the CD43 player was discontinued and replaced with the CD43 Mk2, which was unanimously given 5 stars by What Hi-Fi and Hi-Fi Choice magazines.
The 4330R and 4330SE integrated amplifiers have been upgraded to Mk2 versions and feature full short circuit protection. At the same time the A43 amplifier was upgraded to the Mk2 version. 2001 saw the introduction of an all-new CD player, the CD53, which received 5 stars in the What Hi-Fi, Gramophone and Hi-Fi Choice reviews. At the same time, the CD43 Mk2 was declared the best player of the year in the “Diapason D’Or” category.
The A52 and A52SE amplifiers were discontinued in 2001, as was the OBH 14 DAC. 2002 started well, with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the 5350SE integrated amplifier was voted “Component of the Year 2000/2001” by Stereophile magazine. In the same year, plans appeared to replace the 43 series. In 2003, the 50th series was released with a completely new design. The familiar black and green color is gone, replaced by a massive 10mm silver anodized aluminum front panel.
The new glossy look not only made the 50 Series desirable, but also allowed the devices to be used with the 53 Series models, as both lines shared the same styling. But the company continued to make bespoke front panels in the same style for older Creek owners who simply wanted to replace one of the system components. The 50 Series included two integrated amplifiers, a tuner and a CD player that were loved all over the world. Some have even won awards for outstanding playback performance.
Creek Evolution 2
The new style was so attractive that the entire OBH line had to be redesigned and equipped with a silver front panel. This also allowed the company to improve the operation of these popular devices. In early 2004, the line included two headphone amplifiers, two turntable preamps and a passive preamplifier. Also in 2004, Creek underwent major organizational changes: Mike bought out all of his partners and became the sole owner of the company. In 2005, the first devices of the Classic line appeared – the Classic 5350SE integrated amplifier.
It was followed by Creek’s most ambitious project in its 23 years of existence, the Destiny integrated amplifier and CD player. A year later, they added a power amplifier and high-quality replacement boards for MM and MC cartridges. Prices and production costs have increased significantly compared to the beginning of the century. Mike really wanted to regain that part of the budget market in which his products had proven themselves so well. With this in mind, he opened an office in China in late 2004 to explore manufacturing opportunities in that country.
Together with his people, he conducted extensive research, which resulted in an alliance with one of the most professional manufacturers. Creek put a lot of effort into the design, overseas production was overseen by quality control experts, and the Evolution amplifier and CD player hit the market in early 2006. Following them, an FM/AM tuner was released. Thanks to this new line, Michael was able to sell new devices at the price of the 43 series, which was discontinued back in 2003. The Evolution series devices have won numerous awards in many international markets.
Creek Windsor
With both the Destiny and Evolution lines experiencing such extraordinary success, demand for the Classic series began to decline. Therefore, its production was discontinued in 2007/08. Creek stayed true to the 2-channel market without ever trying to venture into multi-channel territory. Therefore, the appearance of a vinyl player can be called natural. Mike has long been of the opinion that vinyl is very important for hi-fi level reproduction. Since his company produced a popular line of affordable, self-contained phono preamps capable of extracting high-quality signals from vinyl records, the introduction of a turntable was a given. Named after his father’s company, Wyndsor Recording, the Wyndsor record player was released in 2007. In 2008, the market again saw the OBH 11 budget headphone amplifier, which was intended to meet the ever-growing demand for inexpensive, quality headphone amplifiers. In 2009, the Evolution 2 amplifier and CD player appeared, replacing the original models.
Production history
1982 – 4040 integrated amplifier 1983 – 3040 tuner 1984 – 4140 integrated amplifier – 3140 tuner 1988 – 4040 S 2 integrated amplifier – T40 tuner 1989 – 5050 integrated amplifier 1990 – 6060 integrated amplifier 1992 – CD60 CD player – DAC DAC60 1993 – integrated amplifier 4240 – preamplifier P42 – power amplifier A42 1995 – preamplifier for turntables OBH-8 MM – preamplifier for turntables OBH-9 MC 1996 – remote volume control OBH-10 – headphone amplifier OBH-11 1997 – integrated amplifier 4330 – integrated amplifier 5250 – power amplifier A52 – preamplifier P43 – tuner T43 – CD player CD42 1998 – CD player CD43 2000 – CD player CD43 Mk2 – integrated amplifier 5350 – integrated amplifier 5350SE – integrated amplifier 4330 Mk2 – integrated amplifier 4330 SE – A43 2001 power amplifier – CD53 2002 CD player – OBH-21 / OBH-21SE headphone amplifiers – Creek SRC 1 2003 remote control – A50i integrated amplifier – A50iR integrated amplifier – CD50 CD player – turntable preamplifier with MM/MC switching function OBH-15 – T50 tuner – preamplifier for turntables OBH-18 MM – CD player CD50mk2 2004 – passive preamplifier OBH-22 2005 – Classic 5350SE integrated amplifier, Destiny integrated amplifier, Destiny 2006 CD player – Destiny power amplifier, Classic amplifier, Classic CD player, Evolution CD player, Evolution 2007 amplifier – Wyndsor vinyl player
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