common wave

What common wave does

Common Wave Hi-Fi is a privately held, design-oriented audio showroom and social listening space located at 1451 E 4th Street in Downtown Los Angeles, founded in 2018. The company operates as a curated specialty retailer of high-fidelity audio equipment — speakers, amplifiers, turntables, DACs, streamers, and cables — sourced from over 100 premium brands including DeVore Fidelity, Klipsch, OJAS, Nagra, Luxman, YG Acoustics, Harbeth, REGA, and Simaudio Moon. Beyond retail, the business delivers professional services spanning turntable and analog source calibration, audio component repair, vintage equipment restoration, custom home cinema design and installation, and bespoke furniture design through its Common Wave Custom sub-brand.

Revenue is generated through seven distinct streams: one-time equipment sales (new and pre-owned/demo), trade-in and demo-unit programs, repair and restoration services, custom furniture projects, a rotating pop-up record shop, ticketed events and listening sessions, and branded merchandise (t-shirts, record totes). Pricing spans small-ticket merchandise ($17.50-$45) up to reference audio systems over $32,000, with a flagship OJAS x Klipsch kO-R1 loudspeaker at $8,498 per pair. Go-to-market combines appointment-based showroom demonstrations, an event-driven community model featuring partnerships with international record labels (Rhino Records, Mr Bongo, Sonor Music Editions, Stones Throw Records), a global e-commerce storefront, and on-site custom design services. The customer base consists primarily of individual audiophiles, vinyl collectors, vintage equipment owners, and home cinema enthusiasts in the Los Angeles market.

Name

common wave

Legal name

Common Wave Hi-Fi

Website

https://commonwave.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Fidelity Audio Equipment Retail

NAICS

Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492)

SIC

Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731)

akta.pro primary industry

AV Receivers, Amplifiers & Hi‑Fi Components Retail (CRACAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hi‑Fi / Audiophile Components (DACs, Amps, Turntables, Streamers) (CRACANAI), Turntables & Vinyl Audio Equipment Retail (CRACAEAH), Speakers & Subwoofers Retail (Soundbars, Surround, Smart Speakers) (CRACAEAF), Home Theater Audio Systems (AV Receivers, Speaker Packages) (CRACANAH)

Keywords

• High-fidelity audio retail
• Analog equipment calibration
• Vintage audio restoration
• Home cinema installation
• Custom audio furniture

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Audio Equipment Sales: Sale of new and pre-owned high-fidelity audio equipment including speakers, amplifiers, DACs, turntables, and cables. Products range from lifestyle-oriented solutions to full-scale reference systems.
2. Demo and Trade-In Program: Exchange and sale of pre-owned demonstration units and trade-in equipment, with demo units eligible for store credit only.
3. Repair Services: Equipment inspection, diagnosis, repair, and restoration services for audio components and turntables.
4. Custom Furniture Design: Bespoke furniture design and build services, working with local craftsmen to create custom furnishings matching client needs.
5. Record Shop: Pop-up record shop with rotating inventory of vinyl records from labels worldwide and in-house library.
6. Events and Ticketed Experiences: Hosting of musical events, listening sessions, and record release parties, often with ticket sales or RSVP requirements.
7. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts and record totes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Common Wave Hi-Fi sells curated high-fidelity audio equipment through a design-oriented showroom and social listening space in Downtown Los Angeles. Its business also includes analog setup and calibration, equipment repair, vintage restoration, custom home cinema design and installation, and custom furniture, alongside records, merchandise, and music events.

Product overview

Common Wave Hi-Fi operates as a design-oriented audio showroom and social listening space in Downtown Los Angeles. The core offering is a curated retail experience for high-fidelity audio equipment from premium brands, complemented by custom design furniture services, professional repair and restoration, analog setup and calibration, and home cinema installation. The business also hosts social events including live performances and listening sessions, maintaining a rotating record shop. Product portfolio includes premium components like Nagra HD HV Preamplifier, YG Acoustics Sonja 2.2 loudspeakers, REGA Planar 6 turntable, Simaudio Moon 680D streaming DAC, and the limited edition Klipsch x OJAS kO-R1 loudspeaker, alongside branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Common Wave Custom: Custom furniture design service offered by the company, working with local craftsmen to create bespoke furnishings.

Products and services

• Audio Equipment Retail Retail offering for audiophiles and music enthusiasts purchasing curated new and pre-owned high-fidelity components, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, DACs, streamers, and cables from premium brands.
• Klipsch x OJAS kO-R1 Multicell Loudspeaker A limited-edition 2-way multicelled loudspeaker for high-fidelity listeners, featuring a sandcast aluminum multicell horn, Baltic birch plywood construction, and Spiral Red Oak veneer or Pewter Gray finishes.
• Nagra HD HV Preamplifier A high-end tube preamplifier for audiophiles, with over 160 dB signal-to-noise ratio and a 5 Hz to 200 kHz frequency response.
• YG Acoustics Sonja 2.2 Loudspeakers Multi-award-winning floorstanding loudspeakers incorporating YG Acoustics' BilletDome tweeter and ViseCoil technologies for high-end audio listeners.
• REGA Planar 6 Turntable An analog turntable for vinyl listeners featuring an ultra-light foam-core plinth, HPL laminates, an RB330 tonearm, and a dual-layer float-glass platter.
• Benz Micro Ruby-Z Phono Cartridge A fourth-generation phono cartridge for analog playback systems, using Benz Micro's square ruby plate generator and a zebra wood body to retrieve fine detail from record grooves.
• Simaudio Moon 680D Streaming DAC A high-end streaming DAC for digital and networked audio systems, positioned around musicality, resolution, and system-level performance.
• Custom Design Furniture Bespoke furniture design and build service for clients seeking furnishings tailored to their needs and lifestyle, produced with local craftsmen.
• Repair Services Inspection, diagnosis, and repair services for audio components and turntables requiring restoration of equipment functionality.
• Vintage Restoration Restoration service for vintage audio equipment that addresses functional issues and restores enclosures, cases, and cabinets to original condition.
• Analog Setup and Calibration Professional setup, tuning, calibration, repair, and upgrade service for turntables, tape players, reel-to-reel systems, and other analog playback equipment.
• Home Cinema Systems Custom home cinema design and installation service combining theatrical cinema systems expertise with environmental and architectural design for client performance and aesthetic requirements.
• Social Listening Space and Events Ticketed or RSVP music experiences for the audiophile and music community, including monthly intimate performances, DJ sets, listening sessions, and record-release events.
• Demo and Trade-In Program Sales program for pre-owned and demonstration audio equipment, including speakers, electronics, turntables, digital components, cables, and vintage audio gear; applicable demo and pre-owned returns use store credit.
• Common Wave Merchandise Branded merchandise for customers and music enthusiasts, including t-shirts and record totes.
• Common Wave Record Shop Vinyl retail operation for record collectors and music enthusiasts, offering rotating inventory from labels worldwide alongside an in-house library.
• OJAS x Klipsch KO-R2 Multisectoral Horn Speaker A horn loudspeaker unveiled as the next evolution of the OJAS x Klipsch high-fidelity audio collaboration.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Rhino RecordscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative events featuring quadraphonic recording playback and premium vinyl series previews. Steve Woolard ('The Quadfather'), Director of A&R for Rhino Records Quad Series, participates in events discussing releases and recording processes.
• Stones Throw RecordscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-present events with artists from Stones Throw Records, including Gabriel Da Rosa album release with vinyl listening session, live performance, and DJ set.
• Sonor Music EditionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian reel-to-reel playback event featuring Italian music compilation from SR Records label (1967-1974), first time over 30 tracks released onto analog reel-to-reel tape.
• Mr BongocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual USA pop-up event showcasing Brazilian music gems. Mr Bongo started in 1989 as record shop in London, known for hip-hop, Latin, and Brazilian music.
• OJASflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed kO-R1 2-Way Multicelled Loudspeaker - strictly limited edition production run featuring bespoke materials including exposed sandcast aluminum multicell horn and Baltic birch plywood construction. Handcrafted in Hope, Arkansas by Klipsch artisans.
• KlipschflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed kO-R1 limited edition speaker with OJAS. Also hosts events featuring Klipsch 75th Anniversary Jubilee speakers and Chief Audio Engineer Roy Delgado.
• Los Angeles & Orange County Audiophile SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAs member, hosts vendor-focused events throughout the year, combining showroom with audiophile community.
• Whitefin Market SushiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides complimentary food at events as sponsor.
• Sapporo BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides complimentary beverages at events as sponsor.
• Brouwerij WestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides complimentary refreshments at events.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Audio Element: Pasadena-area high-end hi-fi dealer focused on premium two-channel audio with strong analog expertise. Comparable boutique showroom model and overlapping Southern California audiophile clientele.
• Music Direct: Large online and catalog retailer of high-end turntables, phono cartridges, and hi-fi components with a strong used/trade-in desk. Overlaps in catalog, analog expertise, and premium audiophile target market.
• Saturday Audio Exchange: Chicago-based high-end hi-fi and home theater dealer with a strong trade-in/pre-owned program similar to Common Wave's demo/trade-in offering. Directly comparable product mix across reference two-channel audio.
• Acoustic Sounds: High-end audio retailer with strong audiophile vinyl, turntable, and component offering, plus Super HiRez downloads. Comparable audiophile customer base and analog-forward catalog.
• Elusive Disc: Online and showroom retailer specializing in high-end audio components, turntables, and analog gear, with deep phono-cartridge and turntable expertise. Comparable curation and analog specialization.
• The Sound Organisation: Texas-based high-end hi-fi distributor and dealer representing premium European and Japanese brands (Pro-Ject, E.A.R., Rega). Comparable curated premium brand roster and dealer-level relationships.
• Brooks Berdan Ltd: Long-standing LA-area high-end hi-fi dealer specializing in reference analog and vintage audio, with appointment-based showroom sales. Closely comparable to Common Wave's boutique, appointment-driven model in the same metro and customer base.
• Stereo Exchange: Long-running New York high-end hi-fi dealer with strong pre-owned and trade-in business alongside new premium components. Comparable trade-in program and reference-component curation.
• The Audio Salon: Santa Monica-based high-end hi-fi showroom and integrator offering premium components, home theater, and acoustic room design. Directly comparable product mix and SoCal audiophile customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Crutchfield: Large national consumer electronics retailer offering home audio, speakers, and home theater across price tiers. Adjacent rather than directly competitive; overlaps in audio retail but not in audiophile curation or boutique services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/commonwavehifi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/common-wave

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about common wave