It all started with a question. Why doesn’t anyone make wireless loudspeakers that actually work? This was the spark that ignited a two year research and development effort and ultimately the formation of Soundcast Systems in 2004.
Up until this time not a single wireless loudspeaker had been introduced that consistently performed as expected or sounded any good. Most everything in wireless audio that was being sold (and frequently returned to the store) was based on antiquated technologies utilizing FM modulators or 900MHz based technologies. These products provided wireless, sure, but they also had very limited dynamic range and were frequently interfered with by other electronic devices operating nearby (baby monitors, garage door openers, remote control toys). Other companies tried to solve the problem by using 2.4GHz based products which were similarly interfered with (microwave ovens, cordless phones, WiFi, Bluetooth) or IP-based approaches with products so complicated the average consumer had no idea how to install or use them. Who really wants to install software and assign internet protocol addresses to your loudspeakers?
The final mistake made by those trying to market wireless loudspeakers was their positioning of these products at the ultra low-end of the marketplace. The strategy of trying to make a sophisticated product at a cheap price, did just that, cheapened the sound quality, cheapened the technology and cheapened the expectations of the ultimate buyer, who expected much more. We viewed this as a seriously flawed approach. Why should someone wanting wireless audio be forced to compromise on sound quality? To Soundcast this trade off was not only unjustified, but terribly short-sighted. In most cases history has shown that when new technologies are introduced to the marketplace it is the early adopters that ultimately determine the success of any new product. In our experience it is the early adopter that is most critical in his assessment. Sound quality, and quality of service (signal that gets through no matter what) are critical to the success of an acceptable wireless audio product.
It quickly became obvious that to really solve the problem, and deliver robust, high performance wireless audio products, advanced technologies would need to be developed. It was not possible to just re-package existing platforms or make incremental improvements to what existed. For a quantum leap in performance we recognized that it would require a serious investment of time and money. So we went about assembling a team of really brilliant engineers and presented them with a challenge. Develop the technology for wireless delivery of audio at a quality that could not be discerned from a system that is wired. The signal must not be interfered with by any of the other devices operating at the same frequency. Our products not only needed to perform reliably but had to look and sound awesome. They also needed to be exceedingly user-friendly. In other words-no compromises!
After two and a half years of extensive development, testing (and yes, more than our share of mistakes and disappointments), the results are evident. In 2006 we introduced the world to Soundcast and our first product, iCast. It was deemed an immediate success, winning the prestigious Editor’s Choice Award from PC Magazine. In January of 2007 we unveiled our next product, AudioCast, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This too was an instant hit winning the coveted CES Innovations Award. One look at the industry accolades and awards we have garnered along with reviews and testimonials by experts and consumers alike and it becomes clear. We have succeeded in delivering innovative and exciting products that the marketplace has been waiting for and is now embracing with overwhelming enthusiasm.
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