High End Systems
High End Systems is a product brand under ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls) that manufactures professional automated lighting fixtures, dichroic filters, atmospherics systems, and lighting control consoles for theatrical, touring, architectural, film, and luxury residential markets worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What High End Systems does
High End Systems is a product brand and division operating under ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls), focused on professional automated lighting products for entertainment and architectural applications. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the brand encompasses dichroic filters and coatings for color temperature and diffusion control, atmospherics lighting systems, the Hog line of lighting control consoles, and automated fixtures including the Halcyon Silent series designed for noise-sensitive venues. ETC is a private parent company with a 50-year industry presence that also produces the Eos Apex entertainment consoles, Pharos architectural controls, EchoTouch, and Response DALI Gateway products, situating High End Systems within a broader lighting ecosystem spanning entertainment fixtures, architectural systems, commercial lighting, power controls, networking, and rigging.
The business model is anchored on one-time hardware sales of lighting fixtures, control consoles, and optical components, supplemented by professional services for commissioning, training, and technical support. Pricing is delivered through authorized dealers and factory representatives rather than published, consistent with project-based enterprise sales. High End Systems sells through ETC's global dealer and factory representative network across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, targeting theatres, concert venues, touring productions, architectural installations, educational performing arts programs, film and broadcast studios, and luxury residential properties. Notable enterprise references include The Tarkington, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ Amsterdam, Austin ISD, the Jamiroquai world tour, and the Ming Hua historic site in Shenzhen.
ETC's recent acquisition of Pharos Architectural Controls and launches of Pharos Express, the Response DALI Gateway MK2, and EchoTouch 3.4 reflect active portfolio expansion in architectural controls, while wireless control integration with City Theatrical Multiverse extends control topology options. The brand benefits from ETC's integration across fixtures, controls, networking, and rigging, and from a leadership team anchored by founder and CTO Richard Belliveau.
High End Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High End Systems
- Legal name
- High End Systems
- Website
- https://highend.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- High End Systems is a product brand under ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls) that manufactures professional automated lighting fixtures, dichroic filters, atmospherics systems, and lighting control consoles for theatrical, touring, architectural, film, and luxury residential markets worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High End Systems industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)
- SIC
- Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting) (IMAGAIAI)
Keywords
Where High End Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
High End Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Lighting Equipment Sales: Sale of automated fixtures, architectural lighting products, dichroics, and atmospherics systems for entertainment and architectural applications.
- Lighting Control Systems: Sale of control consoles, architectural control systems including Pharos, EchoTouch, and Response DALI Gateway products.
- Professional Services: Technical support, training, professional services, and commissioning for complex installations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
High End Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High End Systems designs, manufactures, and sells professional automated lighting fixtures, dichroic color filters, atmospherics systems, and architectural lighting control solutions as a product brand within ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls). Offerings span entertainment consoles (Eos Apex, Hog), Halcyon silent automated fixtures, and architectural controls (Pharos, EchoTouch, Response DALI Gateway) for theatres, concert venues, opera houses, commercial buildings, and film studios. The brand delivers integrated lighting ecosystems including hardware, control software, and professional services globally through authorized dealers and factory representatives.
Product overview
High End Systems is a product brand/division under ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls), specifically categorized within their lighting portfolio. The brand focuses on dichroic filters and coatings for entertainment and architectural lighting applications. ETC's broader portfolio includes entertainment fixtures, architectural fixtures, automated fixtures, entertainment controls/consoles, architectural systems, commercial lighting systems, power controls, networking, rigging systems, and distribution equipment. High End Systems' dichroic products function as specialized optical components within this comprehensive lighting ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dichroics: Product line under High-End-Systems brand offering dichroic filters
- Hog
Quantifiable outcome
- LED upgrades can achieve up to 90% energy savings compared to legacy lighting systems
Companies that use High End Systems
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
High End Systems technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
High End Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Pharos Architectural ControlscoreETC acquired Pharos Architectural Controls to strengthen its architectural controls portfolio. Pharos specializes in architectural lighting control systems including Pharos Express for DALI and DMX lighting control, complementing ETC's existing architectural product lines including EchoTouch and Response DALI Gateway.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
High End Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Martin Professional: Martin Professional (Harman International) is one of the largest manufacturers of dynamic lighting solutions for the entertainment industry, offering automated fixtures, consoles, and atmospheric effects that directly compete with High End Systems' product portfolio.
- Robe Lighting: Robe Lighting is a Czech manufacturer specializing in innovative moving lights and LED-based entertainment fixtures for theatrical, touring, and architectural applications, making it a core direct competitor to High End Systems' automated fixture line.
- Clay Paky: Clay Paky (part of ams OSRAM) manufactures professional show lighting including moving heads, color changers, and architectural lighting fixtures, competing head-to-head with High End Systems in theatrical and touring entertainment venues.
- Vari-Lite: Vari-Lite (Signify/Philips) pioneered the modern automated luminaire and offers entertainment consoles, automated fixtures, and architectural lighting controls, directly overlapping with High End Systems' Eos Apex console and automated fixture portfolio.
- Chauvet Professional: Chauvet Professional is a major US-based manufacturer of professional lighting fixtures for stage, theatre, and architectural installations, competing across price tiers with High End Systems' automated and architectural fixture lines.
- Elation Professional: Elation Professional manufactures a wide range of entertainment and architectural lighting fixtures including moving heads, LED wash lights, and controls, making it a direct competitor across High End Systems' core product categories.
- GLP (German Light Products): GLP is a German manufacturer of professional LED lighting solutions for entertainment and architectural applications, with a portfolio of moving heads and wash lights that competes directly with High End Systems' automated fixtures.
- Ayrton: Ayrton is a French manufacturer of premium creative LED lighting fixtures for the entertainment industry, including automated profiles, washes, and effects that compete in the same premium tier as High End Systems' Halcyon and other flagship products.
- ADJ Group: ADJ Group encompasses entertainment lighting brands (American DJ, Eliminator Lighting, Acclaim Lighting) that offer automated fixtures and architectural lighting at competitive price points, overlapping with High End Systems' broader fixture and architectural portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Strand Lighting: Strand Lighting (Signify) is a long-established theatrical lighting brand offering consoles, dimmers, and architectural controls; it is a broad incumbent competing with High End Systems in entertainment consoles and architectural controls without specializing exclusively in premium automated fixtures.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
High End Systems social profiles
Digital presenceHigh End Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High End Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
High End Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High End Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about High End Systems
What does High End Systems do?
High End Systems designs, manufactures, and sells professional automated lighting fixtures, dichroic color filters, atmospherics systems, and architectural lighting control solutions as a product brand within ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls). Offerings span entertainment consoles (Eos Apex, Hog), Halcyon silent automated fixtures, and architectural controls (Pharos, EchoTouch, Response DALI Gateway) for theatres, concert venues, opera houses, commercial buildings, and film studios. The brand delivers integrated lighting ecosystems including hardware, control software, and professional services globally through authorized dealers and factory representatives.
Is High End Systems a public or private company?
High End Systems is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was High End Systems founded?
High End Systems was founded in 1986. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is High End Systems based?
High End Systems is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does High End Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Lighting Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are lighting Control Systems and professional Services.
Who are High End Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Martin Professional, Robe Lighting, Clay Paky, Vari-Lite, Chauvet Professional, Elation Professional, GLP (German Light Products), Ayrton and ADJ Group. Strand Lighting is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does High End Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for High End Systems.
What industry is High End Systems in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAIAI, Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting). Its NAICS code is 335132 and its SIC code is 3640.