About

Andrew Simpson – Founder & Editor

Andrew has written for some of the UK’s biggest hifi titles and launched many on social media. With a career in digital and a passion for hifi, Audiograde was borne out of Andrew’s vision for a digital first website for the audio fans of today.

Memorable kit: 

My first pair of speakers were budget Heybrooks, hooked up via cheap bellwire to a 1970’s Rotel amp. Hearing Automatic For The People as a young teenager changed my view of what music could sound like, kickstarting my journey into better sound.

Lee Dunkley – Contributing Editor

A former longstanding editor at Hi-Fi Choice magazine with over 20 years experience, Lee knows all about crafting accessible reviews and features for audio fans.

His passion for audio led him to join the tech and lifestyle website Tom’s Guide as Audio Editor, where he continued to share his passion and expertise to help audio fans make informed buying decisions.

Lee is now a Senior Contributor at Audiograde.

Memorable kit:

My passion for sound runs in the family and started when I first experienced a hifi system made up of Wharfedale, Leak and Goldring kit that my grandad bought on the spot after hearing a demo at a seventies hifi show.

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Andy Waite – Contributor

A keen cyclist and with a career in IT, Andy’s been obsessed with hifi since he could walk, which has set him on a musical odyssey that continues to this day.

Memorable kit:

My first pair of B&W speakers, which were the first pieces of proper hifi kit I owned, paired with an ’80s tower system and a turntable with a penny atop the tonearm for ‘added bass’. Memorable indeed – but it got better!

Martin Virgo – Contributor

Martin’s been smitten with hfi since aged six, when he experienced his first wind-up radiogram! Since then his career has included writing music reviews through to being a regular contributor and reviewer for HiFi WigWam and The Maverick, helping other enthusiasts get the most from their audio gear.

Memorable kit:

In the late seventies I was working in a lab where one of the technicians was a fellow music lover. His system included an early LP12, connected to a home made pre/phono stage and cross-over, feeding two valve power amps, driving a pair of Gold Tannoy 15” dual-concentrics. This active system just blew my mind!

George Sallit – Contributor

Having been the Reviews Editor on Hifi Wigwam and The Maverick forums for over 10 years, George knows about all about what makes audio gear interesting and accomplished, with a passion spanning everything from valves to solid-state and hybrids inbetween.

Memorable kit:

I went off to university, and needed a light, musical system, step forward a Pioneer cassette player with Dolby B noise reduction, played through electrostatic headphones. It was ideal for my then tape collection, with a musical sound that I could enjoy as loud as I wanted without disturbing anyone! That initial excitement for hifi and what it can do has remained with me ever since.

Angela Dunlea – Commercial Consultant

Angela has lived and breathed the AV industry for over 20 years. The first decade was spent running the commercial side of titles including Home Cinema Choice, Hi-Fi Choice and Hi-Fi +. Since then Angela has been running her own London-based PR, consulting and media planning agency. Angela now also helps with advertising for Audiograde.

If you are interested in advertising, you can email Angela at contact@audiograde.uk or call 07975 907899.