High-end audio manufacturer reaches crowd-funding goal in 10 1/2 hours
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Light Harmonic, manufacturer of high-end digital audio products, is proud to announce the introduction of GEEK, a thumb-drive-sized device that plugs into a laptop's USB port, processes the digital signal, and amplifies the output for clearer, more intelligible sound through headphones. With GEEK, the company hopes to bring the world of high-quality, high-resolution sound to a mainstream audience, minus the intimidating jargon associated with "audiophile" products.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130822/PH68047-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130822/PH68047-b )
"We wanted to bring good sound to a non-audiophile market, so that travelers, gamers, and music lovers can better enjoy the stuff they love," said Gavin Fish, Light Harmonic's VP of Sales. "We want folks to have fun, like we do. That's why we call GEEK's USB extension 'Slacker' (every geek has a slacker friend, right?), and use words like Awesomifier and Shareulator instead of digital-to-analog-converter and multiple-output amplifier. We don't think you have to speak geek to enjoy GEEK."
Continuing, Fish said, "This upbeat, nontraditional approach includes introducing GEEK through a campaign on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. GEEK will officially debut January 2014 in Las Vegas, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but crowdfunding allows us to introduce and pre-sell our product, conduct market research, and help fund production without going to banks."
GEEK (Kickstarter site: http://kck.st/1d2vHAF) is, in technical terms, a USB DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that will process digital music files in all available digital formats in PCM, DSD, and DXD, combined with a headphone amplifier with state-of-the-art performance and spatialization software that will create a 3-D soundfield outside the listener's head. Geared to non-technical consumers, GEEK will sell in stores and online for $299 in Q1/2014.
"High resolution music downloads are a major revolution in audio, like HDTV and Blu-ray in video," said Light Harmonic CEO Larry Ho. "Most people don't know about hi-res. GEEK will introduce them to all hi-res formats and enjoy music better, with no fuss. Movie dialog will be clearer and easier to understand for travelers on airplanes; gamers will hear that ninja sneaking up on them."
Light Harmonic's funding goal for their 30-day campaign was $28,000, intended to underwrite the design and tooling of GEEK's aluminum enclosure. They were shocked when their humorous campaign reached the goal in 101⁄2 hours. To date, the project has reached over 500% of their fundraising goal.
About Light Harmonic:
Light Harmonic was founded in Sacramento, California in 2010 with the goal of producing the finest-sounding digital audio products in the world. The company produces the industry-leading Da Vinci DAC, Da Vinci Dual DAC and the LightSpeed USB cable. All three products have received rave reviews and are sold worldwide through a network of dealers and distributors. GEEK is the company's first mass-market product.
GEEK website: www.mustgeekout.com
GEEK Kickstarter campaign: http://kck.st/1d2vHAF
Bill Leebens, LM&M
(941) 807-7880 / Email