AVPro Global Acquires AudioControl Home Division

Change
is afoot for AudioControl. The Seattle-based company with over 45 years of
experience designing and building audio equipment has been separated into two
divisions, and the Home Audio division has been acquired by AVPro Global, Inc.
— the parent company of AVPro Edge, Murideo, and Bullet Train audio/video
distribution products. AVPro Global is a privately-held company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The growing company also
has satellite offices in Florida and Wisconsin, in addition to a European
office in Bratislava, Slovakia and a Far East office in Shenzhen, China. Now,
through the acquisition of AudioControl’s Home Audio
division, AVPro Global has expanded into the
Pacific Northwest. Until recently, AVPro Global has focused more on video than
audio, with its video-centric brands AVPro Edge, Bullet Train, and Murideo. AVPro
Global claims to be the fastest-growing AV signal distribution company in the
residential and commercial systems integration markets, pursuing the goal of
company founder and CEO Jeff Murray “to be recognized as the best AV signal
distribution and control products and services company on the planet.” The
acquisition of the Home Audio division of AudioControl will position AVPro
Global to expand its footprint into the residential audio, commercial
distributed audio, and media room markets.

The
purchase comes less than a year and a half after AudioControl was acquired by AAMP Global, a
designer and manufacturer of vehicle tech solutions, in April of 2022. Alex Camara, the
longtime CEO of AudioControl,
joined the AAMP Global leadership team before ultimately retiring from the
company in February of 2023. It’s no surprise that AAMP purchased AudioControl specifically for its car audio
business — AAMP focuses exclusively on the latest in-vehicle technology, from
safety and multimedia to high-performance audio and telematics. Now that AAMP
has AudioControl’s
Vehicle Technology division humming along (more on that in a moment), the company
was free to separate the Home Audio business and sell it on to AVPro Global.
AAMP will retain AudioControl’s Vehicle Technology division, with no planned changes to its business operations.

The
AudioControl Home Audio Division designs and builds high-performance AV
processors, AV receivers, power amplifiers, multi-zone amplifiers, network
amplifiers, 70-volt amplifiers, single-zone amplifiers, subwoofer amplifiers,
and AV signal extenders. The company recently earned a CEPro Quest For Quality
2023 Award for its exceptional customer service, technical support, dealer
protection policies, and supply chain mitigation. Under AVPro’s ownership, the
AudioControl Home Audio product line will be rebranded to AudioControl Pro.

The
acquisition of the AudioControl Home business unit, as an award-winning company
with a 45-year history of designing and building superb audio equipment,
complements our existing AVPro Edge, Murideo, and Bullet Train high-performance
brand positions in both the residential and commercial audio/video distribution
spaces, and provides AVPro with an additional growth platform while
diversifying our penetration into distributed audio markets. We believe this
transaction will provide truly unique synergies that create value for the customers
of both companies and look forward to AudioControl’s best-in-class management
team, and skilled and experienced workforce joining the AVPro Global family.

—
Jeff Murray, AVPro CEO

As
mentioned above, AudioControl’s
Vehicle Technology division is not affected by the acquisition. AudioControl
announced in May of 2023 that it had officially entered the car subwoofer and
speaker markets, allowing customers to do a complete overhaul of their in-car audio
systems. (AudioControl also makes a full line of analog and digital signal
processors, both for OEM and aftermarket audio systems.) There are two lines of
subwoofers. The Space series subs are built with a structurally-rigid
low-profile basket, providing what AudioControl calls “the ultimate solution for
deep, rich bass in a sleek, and slim design.” These subs use cones made from “fiber matrix
injection-molded
polypropylene,” which promises “durability for even the most rugged
environments.” These 10-inch and 12-inch subs reportedly use heavy-duty voice
coils with a thermally efficient cooling design to prevent overheating, and
come with removable metal grilles. The second series of subwoofers from
AudioControl is called the Spike series, which features a heavy-duty, rigid
basket promising “reduced resonance and distortion to ensure the cleanest
possible bass output,” according to the company. Available in 8-inch, 10-inch,
and 12-inch sizes, the Spike series subs use a radial-cooled motor, designed in-house,
which reportedly enhances the life of the speaker. Ultra-low frequency output
is produced by a fiber-matrix, mica-coated
paper cone equipped with a high-excursion, double-stitched surround. The dual dust cap system is said to
improve enclosure compression control, thus providing improved stability and
better sound. The PNW series of car speakers is available in various sizes,
featuring edge-enhanced steel frames “for ultimate structural strength,” along
with black anodized voice coil formers “for superior heat dissipation” and
linear double-roll surrounds “for precise cone movement.” The cones are made of
rigid, mica-coated
polypropylene — a material that optimizes sound reproduction, according to
AudioControl.

At
last year’s CEDIA Expo,
AudioControl celebrated its 45th anniversary by introducing a powerful new
70-volt GaN amplifier with available Dante network connectivity. The company
also showed its popular line of home theater products, including the X Series
receivers and processors. It will be interesting to see what this year’s CEDIA
Expo brings from AudioControl.
The new “AudioControl Pro”
branding seems like a smart move, as the old AudioControl Home Audio name
belied the depth of the company’s custom-install and commercial distributed
audio product offerings, which are designed more for professional installers
than for residential customers. 

AudioControl’s dealer network is not expected
to change as a result of the acquisition. In an email to dealers, Jeff Murray said,
“We are excited about the opportunities this acquisition brings for both
AudioControl and AVPro Global customers. By combining the expertise and
resources of both companies, we will offer an enhanced portfolio of
cutting-edge audio/video solutions, backed by the exceptional customer service
and support that both companies are known for. (The acquisition) will not disrupt your current
relationship with AudioControl. Your warranties, service agreements, and
ongoing support will continue as before, and you can expect the same level of
excellence that you have come to associate with AudioControl Home.”

More
information: https://www.audiocontrolpro.com/