About Audio Origami

Our Story: The Evolution of Audio Origami

Audio Origami was born in 2005 as a specialised centre for the repair, modification, and optimisation of the world’s finest tonearms.

Founded by Johnnie Nilsen, the company earned a global reputation for its meticulous "rewires" and bearing replacements. Johnnie’s deep understanding of mechanical geometry led to the creation of the original PU7—a tonearm that became an instant classic.

Today, Johnnie continues to contribute his decades of expertise to the company as a Director, ensuring our founding DNA remains at the heart of everything we do.

The Next Generation.

In 2024, the leadership of Audio Origami transitioned to Stephen Cosh, who serves as Managing Director and Head of Design.

Stephen brings over thirty years of experience as a high-level designer, having worked across the globe developing complex products and international marketing campaigns. Stephen’s approach is defined by a deep respect for the craft. He recognises that while he may drive the design vision, shifting the brand toward advanced material science and flagship technologies like the PU8 Reference and PU7 GTS, the success of Audio Origami is entirely dependent on the specialists who surround him.

Music First... People Always!

While we are obsessed with the physics of stainless steel gimbals and tri-axial composite tubes, the team at Audio Origami is driven by a singular truth: We are out-and-out audiophiles. We don't build gear for the sake of specifications; we build it because we live for the music.

Every design choice is tested against the emotional impact of the performance.For us, the equipment must disappear, leaving only the artist and the listener. This isn't a one-man show; it is a shared mission of people who live music first, then the gear.

The Team Behind the Engineering

Audio Origami is a collaborative of experts. Every tonearm that leaves our workshop is a testament to the collective skill of our team:

Stephen Cosh - MD & Head of Design
Applying three decades of global design expertise to the future of analogue playback, with a focus on team-led innovation.

Clarke Mackinnon - Head of Production
The hands-on heart of our manufacturing, overseeing the meticulous assembly and machining of every tonearm to the highest Scottish tolerances.

Graeme Niven - Head of Accounts
Managing the financial architecture that allows for our continued investment in premium materials and R&D.

Eilidh Cosh - Export & Accounts
Coordinating our global logistics and international dealer network to ensure our products reach clients worldwide.

A Commitment to Sovereign Manufacturing

We believe in the precision of Scottish engineering. To ensure absolute control over our tolerances and material integrity, every structural component of an Audio Origami tonearm, from the high-mass stainless steel gimbals to our proprietary tri-axial composite armtubes, is Made in Scotland.

We source only the world’s finest specialised components to complete our designs: our ultra-precision race bearings are sourced from Japan, our internal high-purity wiring is sourced from Cardas in the USA, and our cartridge tags and DINs are supplied by Zafino in Canada.

By keeping the core machining and assembly in-house, we ensure that every product bearing the Audio Origami name meets our "No-Bullshit" standard of excellence before it leaves the workshop.