AIX Records
AIX Records is a privately held, Los Angeles-based audiophile label founded in 1994 by Mark Waldrep, Ph.D. It sells direct-to-consumer DVD-Audio/Video and Blu-ray high-resolution recordings (96 kHz/24-bit, unprocessed) to audiophiles and audio professionals worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AIX Records does
AIX Records is a privately held, Los Angeles-based audiophile record label founded in 1994 by Mark Waldrep, Ph.D. (UCLA, composition), who serves as Founder and Chief Engineer. The company produces high-resolution music recordings at 96 kHz/24-bit on physical media — DVD-Audio/Video discs and Blu-ray discs (including Blu-ray 3D variants) — with a distinctive post-production philosophy: no equalization, artificial reverberation, dynamics processing, or mastering is applied; only levels and panning are used. Most titles include a traditional stereo mix plus two 5.1 surround mixes and HD video of the recording sessions, with orchestral works captured using 12+ stereo pairs of microphones to deliver a conductor's-perspective listening experience. The 75+ title catalog spans jazz, classical, vocal, country, blues, acoustic, Latin, world, rock and pop, featuring Grammy-winning artists and ensembles.
The business model is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation via aixrecords.com, selling one-time-purchase physical media globally with no subscription, wholesale, or third-party retail distribution. Pricing is tiered: standard DVD-Audio/Video releases at $19.98–$24.98, Blu-ray releases around $34.98, and premium Collectors Edition / DualDisc sets at $49.98. Target customers are audiophiles and audio professionals seeking unprocessed, reference-grade recordings for high-end home audio and home theater systems; secondary use cases include equipment calibration and demonstration (supported by dedicated sampler discs produced in collaboration with Dolby Laboratories). Marketing is founder-led content via the RealHD-Audio.com blog (1,200+ articles since 2013) and product samplers, with no evidence of institutional funding, external investors, or material headcount growth.
AIX Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AIX Records
- Website
- https://aixrecords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AIX Records is a privately held, Los Angeles-based audiophile label founded in 1994 by Mark Waldrep, Ph.D. It sells direct-to-consumer DVD-Audio/Video and Blu-ray high-resolution recordings (96 kHz/24-bit, unprocessed) to audiophiles and audio professionals worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AIX Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audiophile Music Recordings
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media (3346)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores (5735)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Physical Recorded Music Manufacturing (Vinyl/CD/Cassette) (MPAIAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Audio Engineering Services (Tracking, Mixing, Mastering) (MPAIAHAD)
Keywords
Where AIX Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
AIX Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Physical Media Sales: AIX Records generates revenue through the sale of high-resolution DVD-Audio/Video discs and Blu-ray discs featuring HD audio and video content. Products are sold as one-time purchases with no subscription model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard DVD-Audio/Video releases |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Blu-ray releases |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Collectors Edition / DualDisc releases |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
AIX Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AIX Records produces and sells high-resolution audiophile music albums on physical media (DVD-Audio/Video and Blu-ray discs). Every title is recorded and produced at 96 kHz/24-bit resolution with no equalization, artificial reverberation, dynamics processing, or mastering applied, and includes traditional stereo mixes plus two individual 5.1 surround mixes. The label offers a catalog of 75+ titles spanning jazz, classical, blues, country, vocal, folk, and acoustic genres, sold directly to consumers via the company's own e-commerce website.
Product overview
AIX Records is a small audiophile record label specializing in high-resolution music releases. The company produces a portfolio of products centered on HD-Audio recording technology at 96kHz/24-bit, including DVD-Audio/Video dual-sided discs (with interactive DVD-Video and DVD-Audio sides) and Blu-ray HD-Audio/Video releases (featuring Dolby TrueHD encoding and full HD-Video at 1920x1080). Every title includes stereo and 5.1 surround mixes with no equalization, artificial reverb, dynamics processing, or mastering applied. The product lineup includes genre-spanning music albums (Jazz, Classical, Blues, Country, Acoustic, Folk, Latin, World, Rock, Pop, Vocal), sampler discs for demonstration and audio calibration, and Collectors Edition releases with extensive bonus materials. Notable products include the Pachelbel Acoustica and Moonlight Acoustica series featuring LA studio musicians improvising on classical works, orchestral recordings from the George Enescu Philharmonic and NJSO, and special releases with artists like Paul Williams and Mark Chesnutt.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DVD-Audio/Video Releases Premium dual-sided discs featuring an interactive DVD-Video side and a DVD-Audio side with high-resolution 5.1 surround and stereo mixes recorded at 96 kHz/24-bit without equalization, reverb, dynamics processing, or mastering. Targeted at audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.
- Blu-ray HD-Audio/Video Releases High-definition Blu-ray releases featuring lossless Dolby TrueHD audio, HD-Video at 1920x1080 resolution, and immersive surround sound mixes. Targeted at audiophiles with high-end home theater systems.
- HD-Audio Music Albums Catalog The full catalog of 75+ high-resolution music albums spanning jazz, classical, blues, country, acoustic, folk, vocal, and other genres, featuring acclaimed and Grammy-winning artists, with each title recorded and produced at 96 kHz/24-bit.
- AIX Records Blu-Ray HD-Audio/Video Sampler IV Sampler disc produced in collaboration with Dolby Laboratories, showcasing Dolby TrueHD encoding with 21 high-resolution music tracks and full HD-Video to let prospective customers experience the sound quality of the catalog.
- AIX Records Audio Calibration Disc / HD Music Sampler Audio calibration disc designed for system setup and demonstration, featuring HD music samples. Useful for audio professionals and home theater enthusiasts to calibrate their playback equipment.
Companies that use AIX Records
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AIX Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AIX Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Dolby LaboratoriescoreAIX Records collaborated with Dolby Laboratories to produce Blu-ray sampler discs showcasing Dolby's TrueHD encoding system for multichannel lossless audio. This partnership enables AIX to deliver HD-Audio combined with HD-Video using Dolby's advanced audio compression technology.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
AIX Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HDtracks: Direct peer: high-resolution music download service that aggregates audiophile recordings for digital sale — overlaps with AIX's hi-res audiophile audience but distributes digital files rather than physical optical media.
- Sheffield Lab: Direct peer: pioneering audiophile label specializing in direct-to-disc and high-quality studio recordings distributed to audiophile buyers, with a methodology ethos similar to AIX's.
- Reference Recordings: Direct peer: small audiophile label producing high-resolution, no-compression-recorded orchestral and jazz titles targeted at audiophile D2C buyers using methodologies similar to AIX.
- Blue Coast Records: Direct peer: small audiophile label using high-resolution recording techniques with DSD/hi-res deliverables aimed at audiophile consumers through D2C and direct channels.
- 2L Records: Direct peer: Norwegian audiophile label producing high-resolution surround-sound classical recordings; one of the most-cited references for quality high-res music comparable to AIX's Blu-ray hi-res catalog.
- Opus3 Records: Direct peer: Swedish audiophile label producing high-resolution orchestral and acoustic recordings marketed to audiophiles worldwide through specialty retail and direct channels.
- Chesky Records: Direct peer: boutique audiophile label known for audiophile-grade jazz and classical recordings with minimalist processing, sold D2C at premium price points mirroring AIX's model.
- Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (Mofi): Direct peer: boutique audiophile label producing premium physical media releases (vinyl, SACD) emphasizing mastering/processing fidelity — closest analog to AIX in physical high-end music retail.
Regional players
- Stockfisch Records: Regional peer: German audiophile label with comparable audiophile-engineering methodology and D2C premium pricing, primarily serving European audiophiles rather than AIX's US-centric customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Tidal (Block): Broad incumbent: mainstream high-resolution streaming service that directly competes with AIX for the audiophile listener's budget by offering hi-res lossless and Dolby Atmos catalogs at subscription pricing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AIX Records social profiles
Digital presenceAIX Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AIX Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
AIX Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AIX Records 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 AIX Records
What does AIX Records do?
AIX Records produces and sells high-resolution audiophile music albums on physical media (DVD-Audio/Video and Blu-ray discs). Every title is recorded and produced at 96 kHz/24-bit resolution with no equalization, artificial reverberation, dynamics processing, or mastering applied, and includes traditional stereo mixes plus two individual 5.1 surround mixes. The label offers a catalog of 75+ titles spanning jazz, classical, blues, country, vocal, folk, and acoustic genres, sold directly to consumers via the company's own e-commerce website.
Is AIX Records a public or private company?
AIX Records is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AIX Records founded?
AIX Records was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AIX Records based?
AIX Records is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does AIX Records make money?
One revenue line is on record: physical Media Sales.
Who are AIX Records's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HDtracks, Sheffield Lab, Reference Recordings, Blue Coast Records, 2L Records, Opus3 Records, Chesky Records and Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (Mofi). Stockfisch Records is listed as a regional player. Tidal (Block) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does AIX Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for AIX Records.
What industry is AIX Records in?
AIX Records's product category is Audiophile Music Recordings. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAE, Physical Recorded Music Manufacturing (Vinyl/CD/Cassette), with a secondary code of MPAIAHAD, Audio Engineering Services (Tracking, Mixing, Mastering). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.