Full Compass Systems

What Full Compass Systems does

Full Compass Systems, Ltd. is a Madison, Wisconsin-based specialty retailer and authorized distributor of professional audio, video, lighting, and musical instrument equipment. Founded in 1977 and family-controlled by the Lipp family, the company operates a multi-channel model anchored by the fullcompass.com e-commerce platform, a 45,000 square-foot showroom and working studio at headquarters, and a consultative inside/field sales team. It sells products from hundreds of brands including Yamaha, Shure, Sennheiser, QSC, JBL, Electro-Voice, Allen & Heath, Blackmagic Design, and Meyer Sound, organized into seven product categories spanning pro audio, conferencing and collaboration, software and computers, video and photo, lighting and theatrical, musical instruments, and accessories and parts.

The business generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales (no subscription component), supplemented by factory-authorized warranty and non-warranty repair services, a complimentary two-year repair program on Full Compass purchases, and a Low Price Guarantee that matches competitor pricing within 30 days. Larger transactions (typically institutional — house of worship, education, contractors, commercial) are supported through a financing partnership with Hampton Ridge Financial, offering leases from $3,000 to $250,000+. The company maintains a single domestic market footprint (continental US) and a media presence through the GearCast content platform plus standard social channels (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and email newsletters, with participation in NAMM and InfoComm industry events.

Leadership is concentrated: Jonathan Lipp serves as CEO, Susan Lipp as Chairman, and Cristin Livezey was promoted to President in May 2026 after holding CFO and COO roles since joining in 2007. Susan Lipp received NAMM's Female Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2026 She Rocks Awards. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, no subsidiaries, no M&A activity, and no proprietary technology product — its competitive positioning derives from multi-brand authorized distribution, expert consultative sales, post-sale service/repair coverage, and content-led inbound demand generation rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Full Compass Systems

Legal name

Full Compass Systems, LTD

Website

https://fullcompass.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Full Compass Systems is a Madison, Wisconsin-based retailer and authorized distributor of professional audio, video, lighting, and musical instrument equipment founded in 1977, selling through its e-commerce site, a 45,000 sq ft showroom, and a consultative sales team serving broadcasters, venues, educators, houses of worship, contractors, and content creators across the continental United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Audio, Video & Lighting Equipment Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

akta.pro primary industry

Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent) (CRALAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Professional audio equipment
• Video and lighting retail
• Musical instruments distributor
• AV system integration
• Pro audio visual sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Full Compass generates revenue primarily through the sale of professional audio, video, lighting, and musical instrument equipment. Sales are primarily one-time transactions for equipment purchases through their e-commerce platform and sales team. The company offers products across multiple categories including amplifiers, mixers, speakers, microphones, wireless systems, DJ equipment, conferencing equipment, lighting, cameras, and musical instruments.
2. Repair and Service: The company generates revenue through repair and service operations, offering factory-authorized service for both warranty and non-warranty repairs. They charge for repairs on equipment not covered by their free repair program or manufacturer warranties.
3. Free Repair Program: Full Compass offers a complimentary two-year repair program for equipment purchased new from Full Compass, providing service at no additional cost beyond shipping for covered items. This program serves as a customer retention and satisfaction mechanism rather than a direct revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Full Compass Systems is a multi-category retailer and distributor of professional audio, video, lighting, and musical instrument equipment, selling products from hundreds of brands through fullcompass.com, a 45,000 sq ft showroom in Madison, WI, and a consultative direct sales team. The company complements its product sales with factory-authorized repair services (including a free two-year repair program), the GearCast content/education hub, and equipment financing through Hampton Ridge Financial. Primary revenue comes from one-time product sales of professional AV gear, with secondary revenue from repair and service fees.

Product overview

Full Compass Systems is a professional audio, video, lighting, and musical instruments retailer founded in 1977, operating as a multi-category e-commerce platform. The company offers an extensive portfolio organized into seven main product categories: Pro Audio & Sound (covering wireless systems, mixers, speakers, microphones, amplifiers, DJ equipment, and recording interfaces), Conferencing & Collaboration (conference room AV systems, cameras, displays, microphones, and room control), Software & Computers (audio software, hardware, video/presentation software), Video & Photo (streaming, production gear, projection, cameras, surveillance), Lighting & Theatrical (fog effects, LED walls, lighting fixtures, control systems, rigging), Musical Instruments (amplifiers, drums, guitars, keyboards, pedals), and Accessories & Parts (cables, cases, connectors, test equipment). Beyond retail, Full Compass provides value-added services including GearCast (a content platform with product demos, buying guides, and technology articles), Factory Authorized Service and Repair (with a Free 2-Year Repair Program for purchases), and Flexible Financing options through Hampton Ridge Financial. The company operates exclusively as an e-commerce retailer without a public API.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GearCast: The home for all Full Compass content, featuring gear info, demos, buying guides, how-to guides, technology articles, and interviews with industry experts.

Products and services

• Pro Audio & Sound Multi-brand category of professional audio equipment covering wireless systems, mixers and consoles, speakers, wired and wireless microphones, amplifiers, DJ equipment, recording interfaces, signal processing, networked digital audio systems, headphones, and turntables for live sound, studio, broadcast, and DJ applications.
• Conferencing & Collaboration Complete conferencing and collaboration solutions including conference room AV systems, video conferencing cameras, displays, conference room microphones, speakers, device and room control, conference room furniture, acoustic panels and treatment, and home office video conferencing equipment for businesses, agencies, and educational institutions.
• Software & Computers Professional software and computing solutions including audio software and plug-ins, computers and hardware, and video and presentation software for professional AV applications.
• Video & Photo Video and photographic equipment encompassing audio and video streaming, photo cameras and lenses, video production gear, projection and display, editing and production software, video cameras and camcorders, surveillance equipment, and video signal processing and distribution.
• Lighting & Theatrical Professional lighting and theatrical equipment including fog and atmospheric effects, grip equipment, LED video walls, lighting accessories, stage lighting control, stage lighting fixtures, diffusion and modifiers, and truss, rigging and staging.
• Musical Instruments Musical instruments and equipment including instrument amplifiers, bass guitar equipment, drums and percussion, folk instruments, guitars, keyboards and MIDI, and pedals and effects for musicians and educators.
• Accessories & Parts Professional accessories and parts including acoustical treatment, automation control, cables and snakes, cases and bags, connectors, adapters and bulk cable, test equipment, stands, racks and mounts, and replacement parts supporting AV installations and instrument use.
• Factory Authorized Service & Repair Factory-authorized service center for most major brands, offering both warranty and non-warranty repair work with skilled technicians who diagnose and repair malfunctioning professional audio, video, and lighting equipment.
• Free 2-Year Repair Program Complimentary repair service covering equipment purchased new from Full Compass for up to two years from the original invoice date, addressing most defects not resulting from abuse or misuse (customer pays only shipping).
• Flexible Equipment Financing Financing program delivered through Hampton Ridge Financial for Full Compass customers making purchases of $3,000 to $250,000+, with specialized terms for house of worship, commercial/business lending, and schools/universities/municipalities, including $0 down options for qualified customers.
• GearCast Content Platform Full Compass's content hub featuring gear info, product demos, buying guides, how-to guides, technology articles, and interviews with industry experts across categories including Sound & Recording, Conference & Collaborate, Software & Hardware, Video & Photographic, Lighting & Staging, Electronic Music & Instruments, and Accessories.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free two-year repair coverage on new equipment purchases from Full Compass
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sweetwater Sound: The largest direct competitor in the US pro audio and musical instrument retail space, with a similarly consultative sales-led model, in-house content/education platform, and broad brand portfolio. Closely comparable business model, customer base, and category mix.
• Adorama: NYC-based pro audio, video, photography, and lighting retailer competing head-to-head across nearly all of Full Compass's categories. Comparable multi-channel mix of e-commerce, showroom, and B2B sales.
• Kraft Music: Mid-size pro audio, musical instrument, and recording equipment retailer with strong piano/keyboard and live sound focus. Comparable customer base of musicians, educators, and houses of worship.
• Alto Music: Pro audio and musical instrument retailer with both online and brick-and-mortar presence serving musicians, educators, and houses of worship. Similar mid-market positioning and brand portfolio.
• B&H Photo Video: Large multi-category pro audio, video, lighting, and photo retailer with both e-commerce and a flagship NYC showroom. Overlaps significantly with Full Compass across pro AV, video production, and conferencing categories.
• Musician's Friend: Online musical instrument and pro audio retailer (owned by Guitar Center) competing directly on price, assortment, and shipping terms for the same brand portfolio.
• American Musical Supply: Online-first pro audio and musical instrument retailer serving musicians, live sound, and recording customers. Comparable product mix across pro audio brands and similar consultative sales positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Crutchfield: Specialty consumer electronics retailer with deep product content, expert sales support, and strong category education. Comparable consultative sales model but with greater consumer/Home AV focus.
• Guitar Center: National big-box musical instrument and pro audio retailer with much larger footprint. Overlaps with Full Compass on musical instruments and entry-level pro audio, though less specialized in commercial AV and lighting.
• Sam Ash Music: Multi-store musical instrument and pro audio retailer with national presence. Overlaps with Full Compass's instrument and pro audio categories though less focused on commercial AV/lighting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/fullcompass
• Facebookfacebook.com/fullcompass
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/full-compass-systems
• Instagraminstagram.com/fullcompass
• Xx.com/fullcompass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Full Compass Systems