Cambridge SoundWorks
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer audio |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Henry Kloss, Tom DeVesto |
| Fate | Acquired by Creative Labs in 1997 |
| Headquarters | Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Loudspeakers, home stereo, home theater, multimedia speakers, audio devices |
| Parent | Creative Technology Ltd. |
Cambridge SoundWorks was a consumer audio company headquartered in Massachusetts, specializing in manufacturing and retail.
History
Established in 1988 by entrepreneur and audio engineer Henry Kloss alongside Tom DeVesto, Cambridge SoundWorks followed Kloss's earlier ventures, which included founding or co-founding companies such as Acoustic Research, KLH, and Advent Corporation.
The firm focused on creating cost-effective, premium-quality loudspeakers and audio devices that were sold directly to customers. Its lineup, featuring notable products like the Ensemble I, II, and III satellite speaker systems, earned widespread praise. Initially, sales were conducted through catalogs and magazine advertisements before opening the first physical store in Newton, Massachusetts in 1991. By 1994, the company became a pioneer in consumer electronics by offering products online via the CompuServe platform.
This retail strategy expanded to include 30 showrooms throughout New England and the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1997, Creative Labs (Creative Technology) acquired Cambridge SoundWorks.
Throughout its operation, the company developed over 60 variants of home stereo, home theater, multimedia speakers, and related electronic products. Product design took place in California while research and development activities were conducted in Massachusetts. These items were distributed through the company’s e-commerce site alongside other premium audio and video brands.
As of February 2018, visiting the Cambridge SoundWorks website redirects users to theoontz.com, which features a range of portable Bluetooth speakers.
From 2020
By 2008, all Cambridge SoundWorks retail outlets had shut down; however, production of loudspeakers for home theater and multimedia applications continued. The company also served as a distributor for brands such as Sony and Marantz, utilizing catalog sales, online platforms, and global distribution agreements with firms like IBM, Gateway, and its parent entity Creative Technology Ltd. Under Creative's management, the product range was streamlined before eventually transferring to new ownership.
External links
- Cambridge Soundworks Former official website
- Oontz by Cambridge Soundworks (redirect from former official site)