Redgum Audio Splendens Pre Amplifier

Redgum Audio, an Australian hi-fi mainstay, traces its roots to founder Ian Robinson, a Melbourne-born electronic engineer whose passion ignited in the 1960s. After launching Chelsound Electronics in 1967 at age 20, Robinson evolved his designs through the early 1990s, debuting Redgum in 1993 with the acclaimed RGi120 integrated amplifier. This MOSFET-based powerhouse, clad in native red gum hardwood, marked the brand's signature aesthetic and set the stage for decades of robust, domestically crafted audio gear.

The brand specialized in high-quality amplification, from integrated and power amps to multi-channel models, while expanding into phono stages, CD players with user-serviceable transports, DACs, tuners, and media players. Redgum also ventured into loudspeakers—crafted with input from designer John Reilly—and offered complete systems, earning claims as Australia's first all-local source-to-speaker setup. Innovation shone through details like the 2007 Dual Mono Remote Control, blending reliability with musical immersion.

Positioned as a niche boutique in the high-end market, Redgum earned praise for indestructible, value-driven performers that prioritized "you-are-there" realism over frills. A cult favorite among discerning buyers, it stood as Australia's sole full-range hi-fi maker—until announcing manufacturing cessation on January 1, 2025. Vintage collectors now eye its enduring steel-chassied icons covetously.