Clark Synthesis: Underwater Sound

Clark Synthesis Tactile Sound is no stranger to CEDIA Expo. It does, however, look different every year by introducing a new and exciting visual element.

When you're selling underwater speakers, you kind of have to rely on visuals, points out Bill Phillips, president. It's not like the company can set up a pool on the show floor and allow attendees to dive in for a listen.

Well, technically it could set up a pool, Phillips clarifies. "We've looked into it." It found that there was a lot of cost, a lot of red tape and a lot of liability. "We decided not to go down that road," he says.

"We are in the final stages" of developing the booth, says Phillips. "We have two big lifeguard chairs, kind of a beach theme."

"We can't let them climb up [on the high chairs], but we're going to be showing them how they mount all the hardware that's normally used for mounting underwater pool speakers. They'll see what the speaker looks like and what the finished installed product look like. The speakers will be in normal displays [not underwater]. We can't have people putting their heads underwater," says Phillips.

Integrators that make their way to Clark's booth may also be treated to the unveiling of some new products. It depends whether or not the new speakers are ready for display by September, according to Phillips.

"We may show some prototypes at the show," he says.

In any case, the plan is to do something that will have people walking out of the booth shaking their heads in disbelief, Phillips says. "We try to be really out of the box in what we do with trade show displays."

Last year the company turned a violin, a bass and a cello into speakers and displayed them in the booth while blasting string instrument music through them.

"They were incredible," Phillips recalls.