Black Lion Audio
Black Lion Audio is a Chicago-based boutique manufacturer founded in 2006 that designs and builds professional studio audio hardware, including preamplifiers, patchbays, power conditioners, and MIDI interfaces, while also operating a Custom Mod Shop for third-party equipment modifications, serving recording studios, live sound engineers, and music producers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Black Lion Audio does
Black Lion Audio is a Chicago-based boutique audio hardware manufacturer founded in 2006 that designs, modifies, and builds professional studio equipment. The company originated as an audio modification specialist upgrading third-party gear to higher performance specifications and has since broadened into designing its own equipment in-house. Its product portfolio centers on microphone preamplifiers (Auteur series, ranging up to the 8-channel Auteur 8DAT with Cinemag transformers), patchbays (PBR series including TRS, XLR, TT, Bluetooth, and LIT variants with patent-pending customizable LED displays), power conditioners featuring proprietary PG-99 Filtering Technology rated at 99.7% noise filtering, MIDI interfaces, word clocks, and 500-series racks that integrate licensed OST per-channel power regulation from Heritage Audio.
The business sells primarily through unit-priced hardware transactions (products range from approximately $349 to $899), supplemented by a Custom Mod Shop service for third-party equipment modifications. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce via blacklionaudio.com with an authorized dealer network and global wholesale through RAD Global Distribution, whose footprint includes New York, Chicago, Baton Rouge, Shenzhen, Phuket, and Madrid. Customer segments span professional recording studios, live sound engineers, and individual music producers served through a horizontal, use-case-based segmentation approach. The brand is privately held, operates under RAD Distribution, Inc. as its legal entity, has 1–10 employees, and has received an Editor's Choice Award from Magnetic Mag for its MIDI Eight interface.
Black Lion Audio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Lion Audio
- Legal name
- RAD Distribution, Inc.
- Website
- https://blacklionaudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Black Lion Audio is a Chicago-based boutique manufacturer founded in 2006 that designs and builds professional studio audio hardware, including preamplifiers, patchbays, power conditioners, and MIDI interfaces, while also operating a Custom Mod Shop for third-party equipment modifications, serving recording studios, live sound engineers, and music producers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Lion Audio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Audio Equipment
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors) (MPAIAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent) (CRALAEAC), Microphones, Headsets & Audio Input Devices (HDACAFAH)
Keywords
Where Black Lion Audio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Black Lion Audio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary boutique audio equipment including preamps, power conditioners, patchbays, MIDI interfaces, and accessories. Products are sold as one-time purchases with no recurring subscription model.
- Custom Modifications: The company operates a Mod Shop offering modification services for third-party audio equipment to improve sound quality beyond original specifications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PBR TRS3 LIT Patchbay - $399 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MIDI Eight Interface - $349 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PBR 8-500 Rack - $899 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PG-1 Type F mkII Power Conditioner - €399 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Black Lion Audio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Lion Audio manufactures and sells boutique professional audio equipment designed and built in Chicago, including microphone preamplifiers, studio power conditioners, patchbays, MIDI interfaces, word clocks, and 500-series racks. The company also operates a Custom Mod Shop that modifies third-party audio equipment to improve performance beyond original specifications, and distributes globally through direct website sales, authorized dealers, and RAD Global Distribution.
Product overview
Black Lion Audio is a boutique audio equipment company that began with audio gear modifications and expanded to designing and building their own equipment in Chicago. Their product portfolio centers on studio audio gear including the Auteur series of microphone preamplifiers (ranging from 2-channel to 8-channel configurations), PBR series patchbays (available in TRS, XLR, TT formats with variations including Bluetooth and LIT with customizable LED displays), PG series power conditioners with PG-99 Filtering Technology, MIDI interfaces, word clocks, and accessories. They also offer a Custom Mod Shop for modifying third-party equipment. The company operates under RAD Distribution, Inc. and serves customers globally through dealers and distributors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Auteur 8DAT 8-channel mic/line/DI preamp with inserts, word clock, ADAT, and 8 Cinemag transformers. Features hybrid IC-based front-end with Cinemag transformers for transparent and colorful sound, designed for professional recording studios and project studios requiring multichannel microphone preamplification.
- MIDI Eight 8-in 8-out MIDI interface with standalone functionality (Pass Mode, Thru Mode, Merge Mode) and powered 5-port USB hub. Class-compliant for MacOS and Windows, designed for music producers and live sound engineers needing flexible MIDI routing.
- PBR TRS3 LIT 48-Point Gold-Plated TRS Patchbay with 3-way switching and customizable LED display. Features patent-pending LCD displays supporting up to 12 characters per connection point, designed for studios requiring clearly labeled, flexible signal routing.
- PG-1 Type F mkII Studio-grade power conditioner and surge protector with PG-99 Filtering Technology providing 99.7% noise filtering. Features 8 outlets (6 switched rear, 2 front), LED voltage meter, and status indicators. Designed for 230V AC European markets.
- PG-1 Type F Studio-grade power conditioner and surge protector with PG-99 Filtering Technology (99.7% noise filtering), 2775 joules absorption rating. Features 8 Type F outlets, LED voltmeter, and XLR lamp connection. Designed for European Type F outlet markets.
- PG-1 Power conditioner with PG-99 Filtering Technology, 8 outlets (2 front unswitched, 8 rear switched), 15A output, LED voltage meter, and XLR lamp connector. Power absorption rating of 2775 joules, designed for North American studio power protection.
- PBR TRS-BT 96-point gold-plated TRS patchbay with Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio streaming from devices. Features custom Black Lion Audio modded BT module with high-quality codecs for lossless audio, designed for studios needing wireless device integration alongside traditional patchbay routing.
- PBR 8-500 500-Series Rack 8-slot 500-series rack/power supply with built-in TT/Bantam patchbay providing unlimited routing options. Features per-channel power regulation using OST (On Slot Technology) licensed from Heritage Audio and 400mA per rail per slot maximum power delivery, designed for studios running multiple 500-series modules.
- Custom Mod Shop Boutique modification service for third-party audio equipment (such as the Akai MPC Live III) that improves sonic performance beyond original manufacturer specifications, leveraging Black Lion Audio's deep expertise in audio signal chain engineering.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.7% average noise filtering vs typical 85% in competitors
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Lion Audio
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Black Lion Audio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Black Lion Audio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RAD Distribution, Inc.coreRAD Distribution, Inc. operates the Black Lion Audio website and is the official data controller for the site. They handle distribution, logistics, and corporate operations including privacy and legal matters. RAD Global Distribution manages international distribution with facilities in New York, Chicago, Baton Rouge, Shenzhen, Phuket, and Madrid.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Black Lion Audio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Arturia: Arturia is a French hardware and software company offering MIDI controllers, audio interfaces, and synths. It overlaps with Black Lion Audio in MIDI routing/interface products and prosumer audio gear for project studios.
- Cranborne Audio: Cranborne Audio is a newer boutique pro audio brand making 500-series chassis, preamps, and audio interfaces. It competes with Black Lion Audio in the same premium 500-series and interface categories with comparable positioning.
Direct peers
- Heritage Audio: Heritage Audio manufactures boutique 500-series racks, microphone preamps, and studio compressors. It is a direct peer because Black Lion Audio licenses Heritage's OST technology and competes head-on in the 500-series and pro preamp categories.
- Universal Audio: Universal Audio designs and manufactures high-end pro audio hardware including microphone preamps, audio interfaces, and outboard processors. It is the most direct large-scale competitor to Black Lion Audio's boutique preamp and interface lineup, targeting overlapping studio and project-studio customers.
- Rupert Neve Designs: Rupert Neve Designs produces high-end studio preamps, compressors, and consoles for professional recording environments. It is a direct boutique competitor in the same premium preamp and signal-chain category as Black Lion Audio's Auteur series.
- API Audio: API manufactures professional audio preamps, equalizers, and consoles widely used in recording studios. It directly competes with Black Lion Audio in the boutique-to-mid-tier pro preamp and 500-series market.
- Warm Audio: Warm Audio designs boutique-style pro audio hardware including preamps, compressors, and interfaces at accessible price points. It mirrors Black Lion Audio's positioning of delivering premium-spec boutique gear at competitive prices.
- Radial Engineering: Radial Engineering manufactures patchbays, direct boxes, summing mixers, and 500-series racks. It is a direct peer because Black Lion Audio's PBR series patchbays and PBR-8 rack directly compete with Radial's core product lines.
- Chandler Limited: Chandler Limited produces boutique pro audio preamps, compressors, and signal processors inspired by classic EMI and Abbey Road circuitry. It is a direct peer in the boutique pro audio hardware category alongside Black Lion Audio's Auteur line.
Broad incumbents
- Focusrite: Focusrite is a broad incumbent in audio interfaces and pro audio hardware, with the Scarlett and Clarett lines dominating entry to mid-tier markets. It competes with Black Lion Audio's MIDI Eight interface and preamps at adjacent price tiers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black Lion Audio social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Lion Audio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Lion Audio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Black Lion Audio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Lion Audio 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 Black Lion Audio
What does Black Lion Audio do?
Black Lion Audio manufactures and sells boutique professional audio equipment designed and built in Chicago, including microphone preamplifiers, studio power conditioners, patchbays, MIDI interfaces, word clocks, and 500-series racks. The company also operates a Custom Mod Shop that modifies third-party audio equipment to improve performance beyond original specifications, and distributes globally through direct website sales, authorized dealers, and RAD Global Distribution.
Is Black Lion Audio a public or private company?
Black Lion Audio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Lion Audio founded?
Black Lion Audio was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Black Lion Audio based?
Black Lion Audio is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Lion Audio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Modifications.
Who are Black Lion Audio's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Arturia and Cranborne Audio. Direct peers are Heritage Audio, Universal Audio, Rupert Neve Designs, API Audio, Warm Audio, Radial Engineering and Chandler Limited. Focusrite is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Black Lion Audio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Lion Audio.
What industry is Black Lion Audio in?
Black Lion Audio's product category is Professional Audio Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAB, Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors), with a secondary code of CRALAEAC, Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent). Its NAICS code is 33431 and its SIC code is 3600.