Audio Technix, a Houston-based startup car audio company run by 21-year-old Coleman Thedinger expects to gross almost $1 million this year.
The company began selling sound deadening material about 3 years ago and then gradually added wires and then subwoofers to its mix. Then this year, Thedinger launched a line of amplifiers and he plans door speakers and marine products next.
Thedinger (pictured above) sells to about 60 car audio dealers nationwide and has relied on Internet forums, YouTube videos and sound competitions to help promote his brand.
Audio Technix is about to split into two businesses and change its name to CT Sounds for its line of mainstream and premium products sold through retailers and then Execution Audio for budget products sold on the Internet.
Thedinger went into business after working for a sound deadening material supplier. He saw a gap in the market. “There were super cheap products that were not good and then very expensive products, but nothing in the middle,” he said.
The new amplifiers, said Thedinger, “are completely custom tooled from the heat sink to the circuit board and the bass knob.” The bass knob runs from the amplifier to the front of the car and includes a voltage meter and a clipping indicator that can be controlled from the driver seat.
Subwoofers use high roll butyl rubber surrounds and an extra wide spider for longer excursion. They also include stronger magnets than found in their class, said Thedinger as well as heavy gauge flat braided tinsel leads, and excessive venting on the motor and basket for better cooling and power handling.
Subwoofers start at a suggested retail price of $89.99 for a 10-inch model that handles 400 watts and cap with 18 inch woofers handling 2,000 watts at $550. Amplifiers start at a $199 model rated at 500 watts mono and cap at a $1,799 model rated at 7,000 watts mono.
The new CT Sounds web site should be up in a couple of weeks. The current Audio Technix site may be viewed here (but does not show amps and speakers).
As for Thedinger, he has been working in car audio since he was 16.
Source: CEoutlook
