For over 50 years, the name
Cerwin-Vega has been synonymous with excellence in every area of the audio experience.
This reputation has been established by Pro Audio professionals, Hi-Fi
enthusiasts and Mobile Audio fans that recognize the high-performance value
which is Cerwin-Vega. Dedicated to the pursuit of achieving ultimate realism in
the reproduction of the live performance in the home, Cerwin-Vega’s customer
loyalty is second to none and has reached nearly cult-like status. As a result
of this acceptance, Cerwin-Vega has grown from a small group of engineers
headed by the legendary Gene Czerwinski into one of the foremost loudspeaker
companies.
In 1954, Gene Czerwinski, then a brilliant young
aerospace engineer, founded Cerwin-Vega. Why start a loudspeaker company? First
and foremost a music fan, Gene’s goal was to reproduce the live musical
experience. His design philosophy was based on high-efficiency drivers,
durability, and a “value for money products.”
This legacy has charged Cerwin-Vega for over
four decades. Cerwin-Vega began as Vega Associates and began to grow rapidly
from its conception with the introduction of large high efficiency 18” sound
systems that could produce 130dB at 30 Hz. This high performance specification
established Vega as a company to be reckoned with. It was in 1957 that Vega
introduced the world’s first solid state amplifier, rated at 125 RMS: it was a
power house by the standards of its time. The amplifier’s circuit was
influenced by a 10,000-watt sonar amp Gene designed for Bendix Corp. In the
60’s as dynamic popular music enjoyed a spectacular evolution, Cerwin-Vega quickly
became a supplier of loudspeakers and system designs to many major
manufacturers including; Fender, Acoustic, Sunn and Vox. The motion picture
“Earthquake” premiered in 1974 with a dramatic new innovation in motion picture
sound known as “Sensurround”. For the first time, audio was an integrated part
of the movie experience through special effects. The concept required large
powerful bass cabinets, which would provide very low frequencies in order to
shake the movie theater, thus simulating a real earthquake. For this purpose,
the “E” bass horns and woofers were developed. These woofers were 18” versions
that were folded into a horn configuration. The internal path length of the
horn was 6 feet with a cutoff frequency of 33 Hz. Sensitivity of the system was
an incredible 106 dB at 1 watt / 1 meter. “Sensurround” technology and in the
same year Cerwin-Vega were honored an Academy Award for Special Technical
Achievement.
The early seventies also started
pro-relationships with bands that included: The Rolling Stones, Boom Town Rats,
David Bowie, Peter Frampton, Emerson Lake and Palmer and Bernie Taupin (Elton
John’s partner). In the late 70’s, Cerwin-Vega became the first manufacturer to
produce its own digital recordings for the evaluation of loudspeaker design
parameters. Digital technology was used in the home-line of loudspeakers known
as the “D” series. Over the next decade, Cerwin –Vega continued to evolve its
engineering excellence and loudspeaker designs resulting in speaker systems
that have established a reputation for offering the widest dynamic-range,
highest efficiency, highest output-level and best bass-response in the
business. Cerwin-Vega has received numerous design and engineering awards for
its products in pro, home and mobile audio. When it comes to setting industry
standards, Cerwin-Vega has taken a clear leadership.
The Cerwin-Vega dynasty continues with the
acquisition by “The Stanton Group of companies”. We are looking forward to
another 50 years of staying on top in the audio business with products that are
worthy of the Cerwin-Vega heritage.