Sound Specialists
Sound Specialists is a Chicago-based full-service integrated systems designer and installer founded in 1993, providing custom low-voltage technology solutions—including lighting, AV, security, and climate control—for high-end residential, commercial, and multi-unit dwelling clients across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sound Specialists does
Sound Specialists is a Chicago-based full-service integrated systems designer and installer founded in 1993. The company designs, installs, and integrates low-voltage technology systems—including lighting control, climate control, security and surveillance, access control, multi-room AV, home theater, IP networks, energy management, digital signage, AV conferencing, distributed antenna systems, and automated shading—for high-end residential, commercial, and multi-unit dwelling clients. Its core technical offering is centralized systems integration: a unified control platform that consolidates disparate subsystems (lighting, security, AV, climate, shading) into a single interface, with the underlying technology stack built primarily around certified partner platforms from Crestron and Lutron. The portfolio spans three core service lines (Residential, Commercial, Multi-Unit Dwellings) and eighteen sub-products, with a Concierge building management application extending the offering into software.
The company operates on a project-based professional services model with custom quote-based pricing and multi-year contracts, supplemented by 24/7 ongoing support and maintenance as a managed services revenue stream. Go-to-market is consultative and direct: Sound Specialists engages developers, architects, and business owners through free consultations and a portfolio-driven sales motion, with no public pricing and no disclosed revenue figures. Notable enterprise relationships include a 30-year tenure as preferred technology vendor for Related LLC, work on the Trump International Hotel and Tower Sales Center (401 North Wabash Venture LLC), and a longstanding referral relationship with Scott Himmel Architects.
The company is privately held, closely-held (consistent with founder-led operation referencing Gideon Elfassy), and operates from a single Chicago headquarters at 1661 N Elston Ave. Over 31 years it has served 2,500+ clients and completed 6,000+ projects. There are no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, subsidiaries, or external institutional investors, and the operating footprint is U.S.-only despite selected project work described as 'across the country.' Sound Specialists holds Illinois contractor license IL#127.001699 and has earned vendor awards from Crestron (Biggest Baddest Home, Best GUI) and Lutron (Best Shading System), signaling certified technical status within its partner ecosystems.
Sound Specialists firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sound Specialists
- Legal name
- Sound Specialists, Inc.
- Website
- https://soundspecialists.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sound Specialists is a Chicago-based full-service integrated systems designer and installer founded in 1993, providing custom low-voltage technology solutions—including lighting, AV, security, and climate control—for high-end residential, commercial, and multi-unit dwelling clients across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sound Specialists industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Smart Home and Commercial AV Systems Integration
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multiroom / Whole‑Home Audio Systems (CRACANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Home Theater Audio Systems (AV Receivers, Speaker Packages) (CRACANAH), Live Sound & Stage Equipment (PA Systems, Amplification, Monitoring) (MPAIAJAD), Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals (Sound, Projection, Screens) (HSACAFAF)
Keywords
Where Sound Specialists is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sound Specialists business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Systems Design and Installation: Full-service design, installation, and integration of technology systems for residential, commercial, and multi-unit dwellings. Revenue generated through project-based professional services including infrastructure design, equipment installation, and systems integration.
- Ongoing Support and Maintenance: 24/7 support services with on-call technicians available to troubleshoot problems and perform repairs. Revenue generated through service contracts and per-incident support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sound Specialists product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sound Specialists is a full-service integrated systems designer and installer for residential, commercial, and multi-unit dwelling properties. The company handles everything from in-wall infrastructure through functional technology installation, encompassing lighting control, climate control, security and surveillance, access control, multi-room AV, home theater, IP networks, energy management, distributed antenna systems, digital signage, AV conferencing, presentation systems, and a custom concierge building application. Services are delivered via consultative project engagements backed by 24/7 ongoing support.
Product overview
Sound Specialists is a full-service integrated systems designer and installer operating as a single unified service offering. The company provides residential, commercial, and multi-unit dwelling technology solutions encompassing three core service areas: Residential Systems (tailored home technology), Commercial Systems (business environments), and Multi-Unit Dwelling Systems (developer/architect partnerships). Underlying these are 18 sub-products including Systems Integration (centralized control), Multi-Room AV, Home Theater/Media Room, Lighting Control, Automated Shading, Climate Control, IP Networks, Energy Management, Distributed Antenna Systems, Security & Surveillance, Access Control, AV Conferencing, Presentation Systems, Public Address, Overhead Audio & Sound Masking, Digital Signage, and Concierge. The portfolio functions as an integrated ecosystem where Systems Integration serves as the unifying platform connecting all specialized subsystems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Systems Tailored home technology solutions for individual residential properties, including infrastructure design, lighting, climate control, security, multi-room AV, home theater, automated shading, and networking. Targeted at luxury homeowners seeking a single integrator for a fully unified residential technology experience.
- Commercial Systems Integrated technology systems for businesses of all sizes, covering lobby access, executive office solutions, conference room AV, presentation systems, digital signage, overhead audio, sound masking, surveillance, access control, and enterprise networking. Targeted at commercial property owners and businesses seeking productivity-enhancing, professionally installed technology environments.
- Multi-Unit Dwelling Systems Building-wide infrastructure and amenity systems for high-end residential developments, delivered in partnership with developers and architects from ground-up construction. Includes centralized access control, surveillance, lighting controls, amenity systems (theater, game room), WiFi networks, and concierge applications for residents and property management.
- Ongoing Support and Maintenance 24/7 managed-service support with on-call technicians available to troubleshoot problems and perform repairs on previously installed integrated systems. Revenue generated through service contracts and per-incident support.
Quantifiable outcome
- Preferred technology vendor for Related LLC since 1994
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Sound Specialists
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sound Specialists technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature14 records
Sound Specialists partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CrestroncoreTechnology partner providing home automation and control systems. Sound Specialists has won Crestron awards for their installations, indicating a strong partnership and certified expertise.
- LutroncoreTechnology partner for lighting control and automated shading solutions. Sound Specialists has won Lutron awards for shading system excellence, indicating certified expertise and strong partnership.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sound Specialists competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Control4: Control4 is a smart home automation platform widely deployed by residential and light-commercial integrators. Sound Specialists is adjacent in the same custom integration channel, though Sound Specialists skews higher-end and more Crestron/Lutron-focused.
- Savant: Savant is a premium smart home and AV control platform competing with Crestron in the same luxury residential and yacht/commercial markets that Sound Specialists serves. As a broad incumbent, it offers integrated lighting, AV, climate, and shading systems that Sound Specialists would specify or install.
- Best Buy / Magnolia: Best Buy's Magnolia division offers premium AV and smart-home design and installation services nationwide, including Crestron-integrated high-end projects. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same luxury residential custom-installation customers that Sound Specialists serves.
- Crestron Electronics: Crestron is the dominant provider of integrated AV and home automation control platforms — the same technology stack Sound Specialists designs and installs on. As a core technology partner and award-issuer to Sound Specialists, Crestron operates broadly across residential, commercial, and MDU markets with a much larger portfolio.
- Lutron Electronics: Lutron is the leading manufacturer of lighting control and automated shading systems, which Sound Specialists integrates. Lutron has issued Sound Specialists the 'Best Shading System' award and serves as a core partner, overlapping in the same high-end residential and commercial projects.
- Vivint Smart Home: Vivint delivers integrated smart home services (security, lighting, climate, AV) at scale through a subscription model. It targets a different (mass-market) price tier than Sound Specialists but competes for the smart-home services wallet and represents a directional competitive alternative.
Direct peers
- Spinitar: Spinitar is a Western US AV systems integrator serving corporate, education, and government markets with design-build integration and managed services. It is comparable as a regional-to-national AV systems integrator operating in adjacent geographies with similar project + services economics.
- Ford Audio-Video: Ford Audio-Video is a US AV systems integrator serving corporate, government, education, and worship clients with design-build and managed services. It is comparable to Sound Specialists in offering project-based integration plus ongoing support across multiple end markets.
- HB Communications: HB Communications is a Northeast US AV systems integrator providing design, integration, and managed services for corporate, higher-ed, and government clients. Its full-service integrator model and recurring services overlap directly with Sound Specialists' Commercial Systems offering.
- AVI Systems: AVI Systems is one of the largest US commercial AV integrators, designing and installing integrated AV, conferencing, and collaboration systems for enterprise and higher-ed clients. Like Sound Specialists, it operates a full-service design-and-install model with project-based and managed services revenue.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sound Specialists social profiles
Digital presenceSound Specialists financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sound Specialists leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sound Specialists funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sound Specialists 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 Sound Specialists
What does Sound Specialists do?
Sound Specialists is a full-service integrated systems designer and installer for residential, commercial, and multi-unit dwelling properties. The company handles everything from in-wall infrastructure through functional technology installation, encompassing lighting control, climate control, security and surveillance, access control, multi-room AV, home theater, IP networks, energy management, distributed antenna systems, digital signage, AV conferencing, presentation systems, and a custom concierge building application. Services are delivered via consultative project engagements backed by 24/7 ongoing support.
Is Sound Specialists a public or private company?
Sound Specialists is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sound Specialists founded?
Sound Specialists was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sound Specialists based?
Sound Specialists is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sound Specialists make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Systems Design and Installation is the primary driver. The others are ongoing Support and Maintenance.
Who are Sound Specialists's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Control4, Savant, Best Buy / Magnolia, Crestron Electronics, Lutron Electronics and Vivint Smart Home. Direct peers are Spinitar, Ford Audio-Video, HB Communications and AVI Systems.
Does Sound Specialists have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sound Specialists.
What industry is Sound Specialists in?
Sound Specialists's product category is Smart Home and Commercial AV Systems Integration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACANAJ, Multiroom / Whole‑Home Audio Systems, with a secondary code of CRACANAH, Home Theater Audio Systems (AV Receivers, Speaker Packages). Its NAICS code is 33431 and its SIC code is 3576.