The Lowther Drive Units
Drive Units
Build a Lowther Icon
Build Your Own
The Lowther Acousta
Acousta 117
Edilia Icon
Edilia
The Lowther TP2
TP2
The Lowther AudioVector
AudioVector
The Lowther Hegeman
Hegeman
OUR BRAND

Classic British Excellence in Sound

Since 1934, Lowther Loudspeakers has stood as a beacon of British craftsmanship and innovation in sound reproduction.

OUR BRAND
A shot of the Lowther Acousta 115

LOwther's HISTORY

90 Years in 90 Seconds

Voigt demonstrating at the Central Hall, Peckham, June 1922 (Ida also pictured)
Voigt demonstrating at the Central Hall, Peckham, June 1922 (Ida also pictured)

1926

Paul Voigt develops the first British electric recording system whilst working at Edison Bell, where a mutual agreement gave him ownership of his own patents
Paul Voigt and Ida's wedding day. St Augustine Church, Honor Oak Park, 1928.
Paul Voigt and Ida's wedding day. St Augustine Church, Honor Oak Park, 1928.

1928

Voigt marries Ida Florence May Munro in St Augustine church, Honor Oak Park, London. Ida is said to be either the first or one of the first women to have qualified and awarded a degree in engineering.
Edison Bell Building 1924
Edison Bell Building 1924

1933

Edison Bell ceases trading and Paul Voigt establishes his own company, Voigt Patents.
Voigt created a small factory inside a residential house named The Courts, Silverdale, in Sydenham.
Voigt created a small factory inside a residential house named The Courts, Silverdale, in Sydenham.

1934

Paul Voigt releases the Domestic Corner Horn, a horn-loaded speaker emulating live sound in the most realistic manner to date. The first corner horn sold for £32.50.
Voigt meets O.P. Lowther of the Lowther Manufacturing Company Ltd and the two men become fast friends.
The Voigt Domestic Corner Horn
The Voigt Domestic Corner Horn

1936

Voigt and Lowther collaborate on their first project, the Lowther-Voigt Radio, covering a range of radiograms, amplifiers, tuners and loudspeakers. Aimed at the luxury market and the most fastidious of audiophiles, the project offered many different adaptations for home use including building custom cabinets.

1939-1945

World War II takes a hold of the world but cinema offered a much needed escape from reality. Voigt spends much of his time maintaining his horn-loaded speakers in cinemas across the UK.
A German bomb displaced the roof of the small factory at The Courts.

1945

After World War II, like many British people with German heritage, Voigt suffered a lot of racial abuse. When the war was over the council, then the Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham, was prejudiced against him because of his German ancestry and refused to fix his roof.
He got very fed up with England. He also had a spinal condition but the doctors could find nothing wrong. Although he tried everything that doctors in England suggested, nothing improved his condition which must have made it very difficult for him to continue installing heavy speakers.
Instead of continuing to live in the UK, Voigt and Ida decided to move to Canada. He sold his shares with a handshake to his trusted chief engineer at the time, Donald Chave.
Voigt and Ida in Canada, 1953
Voigt and Ida in Canada, 1953

1951

Chave and legendary American audio designer Stewart Hegeman teamed up to take the Lowther/Voigt full range single driver concept to a higher level.
They release the Lowther-Hegeman Reproducer as a result. This was a big step up from the Domestic Corner Horn at four feet wide, four feet tall and two feet tall. The newly developed PM4A drive unit (later to become part of the A series) was used inside a large horizontal plaster horn, creating an impressively wide dispersion of mid- and treble-frequencies.
The Reproducer was three times the price of the next most expensive Lowther speaker at the time and had very short production run between 1950 & 1951. It is estimated that only 20-30 reproducer units have ever existed to date.
A rare Lowther Hegeman Reproducer, developed in 1950/1951.
A rare Lowther Hegeman Reproducer, developed in 1950/1951.

1970

Then owner Donald Chave goes into partnership with his close friend Roy Hopps. Their innovation with new magnet materials leads to the creation of the world-famous ceramic-based C series of speakers drivers, and the renowned Neodymium-based EX and DX range.

2018

Martin Thornton takes over Lowther and the company moves to its current home in Northamptonshire.

2020

As a global pandemic takes a hold of the world, the new Lowther team take the opportunity to start research and development of a new range speaker cabinets. They start with a focus on a developing some speakers from Lowther's history.
A refurbished Acousta 115 was installed by Lowther in the Handel Hendrix museum in London. Jimi Hendrix was himself a discerning  audiophile and owned a set of 115's in the 1970's. Visitors of the museum can now listen to Hendrix's original vinyl collection as Hendrix himself experienced it.

2021

After a full year of research and development the new Lowther team are not slowing down. This year will see the release of a brand new flagship range of speakers designed for the modern era of audio reproduction along with the return of a few timeless favourites.

Thank you to our friends over at the Lowther Voigt Museum for documenting the history of Lowther Loudspeakers so meticulously.

Classic British Excellence in Sound

Since 1934, Lowther Loudspeakers has stood as a beacon of British craftsmanship and innovation in sound reproduction. Our story began with Paul Voigt’s release of the Domestic Corner Horn, a pioneering horn-loaded speaker that set a new standard for audio quality. In the same year, Voigt’s meeting with O.P. Lowther forged a partnership that would leave an indelible mark on the audio industry.

For nearly 90 years, Lowther has been dedicated to the art of sound, developing a range of speaker cabinets and cultivating a passionate community of DIY enthusiasts. Our commitment to handmade excellence means that every speaker is crafted in Great Britain, using techniques honed over decades.

What Sets Lowther Apart

At Lowther, we believe in creating products that last for generations. Our world-renowned drive units are celebrated for their clarity, speed, warmth, and accuracy. Each unit is meticulously handmade, reflecting our unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

We support our community of home builders and audio enthusiasts, recognising that our bespoke approach may not suit mass production. Instead, we focus on producing unique, handcrafted speakers that stand out in a crowded market.

Timeless Craftsmanship

Lowther is not just a hi-fi company; it is a tradition of excellence. Our Acousta and Edilia cabinets are designed for discerning listeners who appreciate the blend of timeless design and superior performance. These models are built in small batches, with seasonal veneer changes, ensuring each piece is as unique as its owner.

Our exclusive builds, available by commission or direct sale, are masterpieces of sound and design, crafted for those who seek unparalleled quality. Every speaker we produce is a testament to our legacy of British craftsmanship and innovation.

Our Horn Speakers
LISTEN TO A LOWTHER

Come and try it for yourself, and give your ears the gift of flawless sound.

Join us in our listening room in Northamptonshire or visit one of our exquisite retailers around the world.

LISTEN
LoudspeakersDrive UnitsBuild Your OwnBlogContact
Be a part of our community
OUR BRAND

For nearly 90 years, Lowther has been dedicated to the art of sound, developing a range of speaker cabinets and cultivating a passionate community of DIY enthusiasts. Our commitment to handmade excellence means that every speaker is crafted in Great Britain, using techniques honed over decades.

read more

Join the Lowther community by subscribing below.

Lowther Loudspeaker SystemsLtd . Copyright © All Rights Reserved
Powered by Shiny    Privacy Policy    Shipping and Returns    Support