Top 100 Dealer Forms Current Audio, a New Speaker Co.

Frustrated by existing loudspeaker vendors, a CE Pro Top 100 dealer has launched its own speaker company.

The integration company is Advanced Electronic Solutions (AES), El Cajon, Calif. Its principals Sean McDermott and Rich Apgar have joined two other partners in founding Current Audio, which made its debut at CEDIA Expo 2008.

"Other manufacturers have had to adjust for them to remain profitable," says McDermott, who is president of Current Audio. "As they have adjusted, they have not taken into account how it affects installers. … First they cut their reps, then R&D, and then the quality of their speakers."

McDermott says his company won't fall into that trap.

As integrators themselves, the folks at Current say they really listen to installers. Indeed, "installers" are the key, McDermott asserts. "We're not just asking the presidents of [integration] companies," he says. "We're asking the people who do the installations."

Easier Installs

Out of the gate, Current Audio has seven patents pending – mostly on little things that make an integrator's job a little easier.

For example, the "Fast Lock" grilles on Current's in-ceiling speakers twist into place like a lid on a jar (while maintaining a flat profile).

"Normally, it takes 30 seconds to 10 minutes to install a grille," says McDermott. This takes it to a 10-second install. You can do it with one hand."

Even Current's traditional grilles (which cost less than the Fast Lock versions) slide easily into place – no tweaking required.


What's the magic of that? "Just good engineering," McDermott says.

In another time-saving innovation, Current has designed its in-ceiling speakers with a "handle" that enables installers to slide them into the ceiling with one hand.

In fact, the handle is a "tweeter bridge" that spans the baffle.

No more balancing acts as you try to hold the speaker in place while tightening the screws.

Current has a few other product lines, including in-wall and in-line surge protectors. The in-wall products look right at home in, well, a home. They use Decora-style wall plates instead of industrial-looking plates that typify competitors' products.

More About Current

In addition to McDermott and Apgar of AES, Current's founders include Paul Collins of the Sothern Calif. rep firm that bears his name, and Ron Maurer, who has 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing speakers for many of the industry's top brands.

Current will deliver two product lines – one that will be sold direct to custom installers, and one for distribution.

Products will retail for about $150 to $1,000 per pair, with generous margins for installers.

As for quality, McDermott says that Current speakers "far outperform what we've been installing."

Wearing his integrator hat, McDermott says he currently is equipping two casinos with a total of 1,200 Current speakers. With the rotten residential market, gaming has become an important part of AES's business lately.

That's what inspired the team to create plenum-rated and UL-approved speakers, as well as a 70-volt product line.

"We had to change with the times," McDermott says.