Apticon 2026 is the inaugural event featuring the technology of Apt Corporation, Cambridge, MA, 1977-1982. This includes the Apt/Holman Preamplifier and the Apt 1 Power Amplifier.

Among those interested will be restoration technicians, analogue audio design engineers, and people involved in the history and development of analogue audio circuits. A certain amount of knowledge is pre-supposed like the fundamentals of transistor circuit design.

Apt’s improvements will be covered in this seminar, such as techniques Apt used for lowering distortion, noise, and RFI susceptibility.

The most famous part of this design is the Holman Phono Preamp introduced first at Advent Corporation and improved upon in the Apt/Holman Preamp. Both the Apt Preamp and Power Amp include many design features that were advanced for their time representing Tomlinson Holman’s experience with a wide range of products he’d owned, such that both the Preamp and Power Amp were designed to overcome their limitations.

There will be talks on the Preamp, Power Amp, and ancillary products, panels of technicians on restoring and even improving on the original design, sources for components, and a clinic for products brought to the seminar.

Tentative schedule:

• Saturday morning talk on Apt/Holman Preamp with Q&A

• Saturday afternoon panel on repairing and updating Apt/Holman Preamp

• Sunday morning talk on Apt 1 Power Amp

• Sunday afternoon panel on repairing and updating of Apt/Holman Power Amp

• Sunday afternoon talk on accessories

• Sunday afternoon clinic for Preamp and Power Amp. (This session will offer measurements that may identify problems, and advice will be given on them, although no repairs can be undertaken in this timeframe.)

  • Please note, while these segments are planned, they are not guaranteed.

The venue is in Burbank, California, center of the postproduction world in film sound and with many audio companies, and a short distance within Southern California for others.

Burbank Airport is close, and the host hotel is offering a discount on rooms.

Join us for this unique opportunity to discuss some of vintage audio’s most respected products with their principal designer. These insights into sound audio practice are alive and well 45 years after their introduction, and with some TLC, the Apts can meet or surpass the original extensive specifications.

Attendees with receive urls for the talks, complete service manuals, etc., after the event.

Sign up now, as this event is expected to sell out.