Sound Science
Sound Science is a founder-led specialty audio retailer founded in 2006, selling high-end home theater systems and its proprietary Music Vault line of digital music servers to audiophiles in Colorado and New Mexico.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersTaos, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sound Science does
Sound Science is a privately held, founder-operated specialty audio and home theater retailer founded in 2006 by Neal Van Berg, an electrical engineer with 25 years of acoustics and vibration experience at Hewlett Packard, Bruel & Kjaer Instruments, and Agilent Technologies. The company sells high-fidelity audio equipment and designs custom home theater systems for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts, primarily in Colorado and New Mexico. Its flagship proprietary product is the Music Vault line of digital music servers (including Music Vault II, Diamond, Diamond Ultra, MX IO Ultra, and Emerald MV models), which store, rip, and playback high-resolution audio collections; pricing for the Diamond Ultra is around $4,995.
The Music Vault integrates with third-party playback and ripping software including JRiver Media Center, dbPoweramp, and Media Monkey, and supports remote configuration by the owner — a service differentiator highlighted across customer testimonials. Beyond its proprietary line, Sound Science retails complementary audio components (DACs, amplifiers, speakers, turntables, cables, cartridges) from partner brands such as Acoustic Zen, Lyngdorf, Merging+NADAC, Harbeth, KEF, Klipsch, and Sonos. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales of both proprietary and third-party products, and through professional installation services delivered via a mobile service vehicle and the Taos, NM retail showroom. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: customers transact through the company website, phone, in-person consultations at the showroom, or via HomeAdvisor referrals, with credibility reinforced through trade show presence (RMAF 2017, Axpona 2015) and a YouTube content channel.
Sound Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sound Science
- Legal name
- Sound Science CAT
- Website
- https://soundsciencecat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sound Science is a founder-led specialty audio retailer founded in 2006, selling high-end home theater systems and its proprietary Music Vault line of digital music servers to audiophiles in Colorado and New Mexico.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sound Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- High-End Audio Equipment & Home Theater
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hi‑Fi / Audiophile Components (DACs, Amps, Turntables, Streamers) (CRACANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Home Theater Audio Systems (AV Receivers, Speaker Packages) (CRACANAH), AV Receivers, Amplifiers & Hi‑Fi Components Retail (CRACAEAE)
Keywords
Where Sound Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Taos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sound Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sales of audio equipment including digital music servers (Music Vault line), DACs, amplifiers, speakers, turntables, cables, and related components. One-time purchase model for equipment.
- Installation Services: Home theater design and installation services including system setup, television mounting, security camera installation, networking services, and system reconnection for moved or disconnected equipment.
- Music Vault Music Server: Own product line including Music Vault, Music Vault II, Music Vault Diamond, and Music Vault MX IO Ultra. Includes after-sale support and remote configuration assistance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Antelope Audio Zodiac Platinum Bundle with Voltikus |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Antelope Audio Zodiac Platinum Bundle without Voltikus |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sound Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sound Science is an audio and visual retail company that designs, sells, and installs high-end audio systems and home theater equipment for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Its core proprietary offering is the Music Vault line of digital music servers (Diamond, Diamond Ultra, MX IO Ultra, Music Vault II, Emerald MV), complemented by curated third-party audio brands and custom home theater design, installation, and remote support services delivered via a mobile service vehicle in Colorado and New Mexico.
Product overview
Sound Science is a custom audio and home theater company offering the Music Vault line of digital music servers as its core product line, complemented by home theater design and installation services. The Music Vault products (including Diamond, Diamond Ultra, MX IO Ultra, Music Vault II, and Emerald MV) are specialized digital music servers that store, rip, and playback high-resolution audio collections. These servers integrate with software like JRiver Media Center and dbPoweramp for library management and CD ripping. The company also sells various audio equipment (speakers, amplifiers, DACs, cables, turntables, cartridges) from partner brands and provides custom home theater installation services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Music Vault: Award-winning digital music server product line, including Music Vault Diamond and Music Vault II models. The Music Vault is a state-of-the-art source for music and video.
Products and services
- Music Vault Digital Music Server Proprietary award-winning digital music server for ripping, storing, and playing back high-resolution audio collections, sold in multiple models (Music Vault II, Music Vault Diamond, Music Vault Diamond Ultra, Music Vault MX IO Ultra, and Emerald MV). For audiophiles and music collectors seeking to digitize large CD libraries with high-quality playback; includes remote setup and configuration support from the designer.
- Home Theater Design and Installation Services Custom design and on-site installation of home theater systems, video surveillance, networking, TV wall-mounting, and system reconnection services for residential customers in Colorado and New Mexico.
- Antelope Audio Zodiac Platinum Bundle Resold third-party bundle featuring the Antelope Audio Zodiac Platinum DAC with optional Voltikus power supply, priced at $3,095 with Voltikus or $2,695 without; offered as a limited-quantity special.
Quantifiable outcome
- Music Vault Diamond praised for surpassing CD player sound quality in A/B tests, with clearer music and more detailed soundstage
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sound Science
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sound Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Sound Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Acoustic ZencoreExhibited together at RMAF 2017, Room 9004. Acoustic Zen provides speakers/components in combined demonstrations.
- Convergent Audio Technology (CAT)coreExhibited together at RMAF 2017. CAT provides audio electronics for combined system demonstrations.
- KingSound/KR AudiocoreAxpona 2015 collaboration featuring KingSound Prince III electrostatic speakers with Music Vault Diamond Ultra and KR Audio electronics.
- Shaker LogiccoreRMAF 2013 room collaboration. Combined system with KingSound King III speakers selected as 'Best of RMAF' by Audio Circle.
- HomeAdvisorcoreHomeAdvisor Elite rated A/V contractor with verified business status, generating leads through HomeAdvisor platform. Multiple badges including Best of HomeAdvisor 2015 and 2016.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sound Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Audio Advice: High-end audio/video retailer with showrooms, custom installation services, and proprietary content — closely aligned with Sound Science's custom audio + home theater installation model.
- Innuos: Dedicated music server manufacturer focused on CD ripping, library management, and high-resolution playback — directly competing with Music Vault's core value proposition and target buyer.
- Auralic: Manufacturer of music servers, streamers, and DACs targeting the audiophile segment — directly comparable to Music Vault's product category with broader international distribution.
- Music Direct: Online retailer of high-end turntables, cartridges, speakers, and audio gear serving the same audiophile buyer that Sound Science targets through its direct sales channel.
- Acoustic Sounds: Online high-end audio retailer specializing in audiophile recordings, equipment, and Super HiRez downloads — overlapping with Sound Science on premium audio equipment retail and customer base.
- ListenUp: Long-standing Colorado-based high-end audio and home theater retailer and installer with multiple showroom locations. Highly comparable to Sound Science's regional custom-installation, multi-brand audio retail model in the same geography.
- Elusive Disc: Online high-end audio retailer selling speakers, amplifiers, turntables, and home theater equipment to audiophile consumers — comparable direct-to-consumer model for premium audio gear.
- Aurender: Specialized manufacturer of high-end digital music servers and streamers that compete directly with the Music Vault line for the same audiophile customer base, with broader global distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Bluesound: Multi-room music streaming and server platform owned by Lenbrook, competing with Music Vault at the high-resolution streaming category with broader consumer reach and stronger marketing.
- Crutchfield: Large multi-category consumer electronics retailer carrying home theater and audio equipment nationwide. Overlaps with Sound Science's retail side but operates at vastly greater scale across many price tiers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sound Science social profiles
Digital presenceSound Science compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Sound Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sound Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sound Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sound Science 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 Science
What does Sound Science do?
Sound Science is an audio and visual retail company that designs, sells, and installs high-end audio systems and home theater equipment for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Its core proprietary offering is the Music Vault line of digital music servers (Diamond, Diamond Ultra, MX IO Ultra, Music Vault II, Emerald MV), complemented by curated third-party audio brands and custom home theater design, installation, and remote support services delivered via a mobile service vehicle in Colorado and New Mexico.
Is Sound Science a public or private company?
Sound Science is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sound Science founded?
Sound Science was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sound Science based?
Sound Science is headquartered in Taos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sound Science make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are installation Services and music Vault Music Server.
Who are Sound Science's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Audio Advice, Innuos, Auralic, Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, ListenUp, Elusive Disc and Aurender. Broad incumbents are Bluesound and Crutchfield.
Does Sound Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sound Science.
What industry is Sound Science in?
Sound Science's product category is High-End Audio Equipment & Home Theater. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACANAI, Hi‑Fi / Audiophile Components (DACs, Amps, Turntables, Streamers), with a secondary code of CRACANAH, Home Theater Audio Systems (AV Receivers, Speaker Packages).