At Definitive, we believe that every great piece of HiFi carries not only sound, but also the story of the people and vision behind it. That is why we’ve created The Definitive Q&A Series: Beyond the Music. In each conversation, we sit down with our Pillar brands to uncover what inspires them, what drives their pursuit of perfection, and how they continue to shape the future of listening. These are not just products — they are the expressions of mastery, artistry, and dedication that define the world’s finest audio.
And this year, as part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we are bringing everything we’ve got — together with our partners — for what will be our biggest and most ambitious event yet. Pillars of HiFi will be a rare chance to hear, learn, and connect with the legends shaping the sound we love.
Reserve your spot HERE
Firstly, we head to Switzerland with our friends at CH Precision, and we dove into the artistry of HiFi with CH Precision.
On the Edge of Innovation
What’s the idea or product you’ve made that you know changes the game… the one that, when people hear it, they just stop talking and start listening?
The 10-Series Digital system—C10 Master DAC, C10 Conductor, T10, and D10—is our game-changer. Together, these components establish a new reference for digital playback. The C10 DAC and Conductor achieve a level of time-domain precision that makes music sound utterly natural, while the T10 clock anchors the system with absolute temporal stability. And the D10 transport redefines what is possible in disc playback, extracting every nuance from CDs and SACDs with unprecedented fidelity. When listeners hear this system, conversation simply stops. It becomes all about the music.
When you’re building something new, what’s the obsession? What’s the thing you can’t let go of until you solve it?
For us, the obsession is timing accuracy. Every other quality—tone, dynamics, spatial realism—depends on music unfolding in time exactly as it was performed. We don’t release a product until we know it delivers that foundation. Whether through discrete power regulation, custom spline filters, or oscillator design, we will not compromise until the timing is right.
Roots & Origin Stories
Every company has a spark… a moment where it almost didn’t happen, but did. What was yours?
Our founders began as an OEM supplier, designing advanced digital technologies that powered other people’s products. For years, they worked behind the scenes, providing critical solutions without recognition. The spark came when they decided to step out from that role and create CH Precision—an independent company where they could design without compromise and stand fully behind their own work. It was a leap of faith, with real risk, but the first amplifier prototype won over a skeptical distributor and proved they had something unique. That moment of belief kept the vision alive.
What’s a piece of your company’s DNA that’s been there since day one… and still shows up today?
A refusal to compromise. From the beginning, CH has designed and built everything in-house: architecture, circuitry, power supplies, chassis—every detail, all conceived and manufactured in Switzerland. If a solution doesn’t exist, we invent it. That principle guided the very first designs, and it is the same principle behind the 10-Series Digital system we are showing today.
Why Definitive Matters
Do you remember the first time your gear ended up in a Definitive room? What did that feel like?
It was a defining moment. Definitive Audio has always been one of the most respected names in the U.S. market. To see CH gear in their rooms was not just validation, it was a signal that we had earned a place among the very best.
What is it about this partnership that actually means something to you… not just business, but the way people experience it?
Definitive doesn’t just sell equipment; they create experiences. They have the ability to take what we engineer in Switzerland and bring it to life for listeners in a way that is immersive and unforgettable. That alignment—engineering precision meeting experiential artistry—is why this partnership truly matters.
The Human Side
What’s the funniest or weirdest thing you’ve ever seen someone do with your product?
One client built an altar-like installation for his CH system—marble slabs for vibration control, custom lighting, and even a ceremonial bell. It was eccentric, yes, but also a testament to the devotion our products inspire.
If there was one fact about your company that would surprise people… the kind of thing they’d tell someone later… what would it be?
That every CH product is entirely designed and manufactured in Switzerland. In an industry where outsourcing is common, people are often surprised to learn that we machine our own chassis, design our own boards, and develop every circuit in-house. Swiss-made, in the truest sense.
Music That Moves You
One album… one artist… the moment you hit play, it all comes alive. Who is it? Earth, Wind & Fire: Gratitude, from the first gong, to “Presenting,” to the conclusion in the studio, Gratitude remains the album that brings the most joy, no matter the time, system, or situation. It helps that I saw them in concert during this era, so the live majority of the album brings many memories about that, too.
What’s the record that’s the time machine for you… takes you right back the second it starts? From the same era, these are LPs I purchased the first time in a record store: George Benson: Breezing, Boz Scaggs: Silk Degrees, and Earth, Wind & Fire: Gratitude.
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