Beale Street Audio is back… BIG TIME. The critically acclaimed loudspeaker that introduced the patented Sonic Vortex technology to the custom installation industry in 2014 has been acquired by Illinois-based Vanco International, a direct manufacturer and distributer of branded A/V products and accessories for half a century. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Vanco is committed to providing products of the highest quality and reliability that are designed with A/V integrators in mind, Beale Street and Sonic Vortex fit right in with our mold,” says Mark Corbin, Vanco’s vice president of distribution markets. “We are now able to offer a truly unique speaker line that elevates performance to our distribution partners. It is unlike any architectural speaker in the market.”
Beale Street Audio gained a following in the market very quickly on the basis of its unique Sonic Vortex Technology, created by Jim Murray. In a nutshell, the technology uses unique design to wrap the long air ports in the speaker’s internal cavity of the enclosure. It equates to a “complex simplicity” that took years to develop. The result is deep bass reproduction, wide soundfield dispersion and clarity. The back-box design also creates sound consistency for which other architectural speakers that are open inside the wall cavity are hard pressed to re-create due to wires, PVC conduit or other obstructions.
The product line includes in-walls, in-ceilings, LCRs and subwoofers, including a unique in-ceiling sub. MSRPs for the Beale Street Audio line range from $199 to $349 for various speakers. The linecard also includes brackets, 70V series speakers, amplifiers and volume controls. Corbin says a new floorstanding subwoofer will be an immediate addition to the line, with towers and other floorstanding speakers to come down the road.
To effectively transition the line into Vanco, Beale Street Audio products were taken off the market for a couple of months during acquisition process, according to Brad Corbin, president of Vanco International, who spoke exclusively with CE Pro.
Keeping Beale Street Name
For Vanco, the move into speakers is logical. The company has already been successful with its line of Evolution HDMI splitters and extenders, and its Pulse Audio line of amps.
“I have always loved speakers,” comments Brad Corbin. “But everything was either entry-level which I view as a commodity, or were brands which I personally found difficulty differentiating. When you hear these Beale Street Audio speakers, there is a substantial difference.”
“Expanding our audio offering and getting into speakers is a natural progression for Vanco, however we didn’t want to add a me-too, standard speaker,” says Brandon White, Vanco’s director of new product development. “We wanted something different that would really appeal to integrators and align with our business model.”
Vanco will continue selling the speakers under the Beale Street Audio name, which plays off of the rich history of Beale Street in Memphis as a hub for music and entertainment.
“I like the name,” comments Brad Corbin. “It is exciting to have Beale Street Audio under the Vanco umbrella.”
Vanco owns the tooling and will be using the same factory to produce the speakers.
“Demand for the product is already there from some of our distributors,” adds Brad Corbin. “We have a strong distribution structure in place. This is just one more unique, great product for them to get into the hands of their dealers.”
The product will be ready to ship as of August 1, 2017. Vanco will be showcasing at CEDIA Expo, September 7-9, 2017 at Booth 3645.
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