It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of my cousin and co-founder of Aquadthingaudio, Rod Wilson (known to many in the trade as Ron Best). He was an inspiration to us all. Born in Leicester, Rod was introduced to classical music at a young age by his elder brother, Colin Wilson (author), which became a major part of his life. This passion was further enhanced by the high-fidelity equipment of the time from brands such as Radford, Leak, Garrard, and of course, Quad.
Rod's career in HiFi began with RSC (Realistic Sound Centres), starting in Leicester and progressing to Branch Manager in Coventry, where he employed Steven Williams as his assistant—laying the seeds for Aquadthingaudio. Rod secured the dealership for Quad equipment and began servicing the original Quad Electrostatic Loudspeakers, having owned a pair himself for several years.
When R.S.C. ceased trading, Rod and Steven Williams established Coventry HiFi, again securing the dealership to sell Quad products while continuing the servicing of Quad loudspeakers and other equipment repairs. After Coventry HiFi closed its doors, Rod concentrated on the inner workings of the original 57 speakers. He meticulously explored modern materials and components, and after years of research and development, produced a complete rebuild of the speaker that gained a revered status, as noted by HiFi World Magazine (see press review page), along with many satisfied clients. This was a great achievement!
Rod will be sadly missed by many, especially by those he brought joy to. Thank you, Rod, for being my teacher; your work continues to live on.
Take a bow, Maestro—you deserve the applause.
R.I.P. Rod. April 2026.
July 2023
It has now been over a year since we lost Steven Williams, co-founder of One Thing Audio. The legacy of our dear friend lives on through Aquadthingaudio, as well as the contributions of Rod Wilson and others who continue to inspire us.
R.I.P Steve and thank you for everything.
Aquadthingaudio