Our Story

In 1964, three engineers saw possibilities in technology that barely existed. What began with a bold idea and a willingness to experiment has grown into a company still pushing the boundaries of what audiovisual technology can achieve.

Bob Simpson saw the bigger picture. A physics graduate from Oxford with a passion for theatre, lighting and sound, he recognized that emerging electronics could create an entirely new kind of business combining products, systems and creative technology. He helped establish Electrosonic’s commercial direction and championed the company’s international ambitions, ultimately helping shape the AV industry itself.

Mike Ray was the engineer who turned ambitious ideas into working technology. His innovations in show control and programming helped Electrosonic create new ways to control, synchronize and bring complex audiovisual experiences together. His inventive approach became a defining part of Electrosonic’s DNA.

Denis Naisbitt brought the precision needed to turn Electrosonic’s ideas into reliable products and systems. He led early manufacturing, designed many of the company’s products, established wiring and assembly standards and maintained the quality that allowed increasingly complex systems to work exactly as intended.

1960s - Starting from Scratch

There was no AV industry when Electrosonic began. The founders built one from the ground up, developing electronic lighting dimmers, slide-projector dissolve units and programmable show-control systems before taking those technologies to landmark projects including the launch of the Ford Mustang, Madame Tussauds and World Expo 67.

1970s - Taking AV Around the World

Electrosonic moved from pioneering products to increasingly ambitious international systems, supplying technology to World Expos, theatres, attractions and corporate environments. The company expanded overseas, developed new programming and control technologies and began building the global reputation that would define its future.

1980s - The Age of Video

As personal computers and electronic video emerged, Electrosonic adapted again. The company developed computer-programmed multimedia systems, entered the emerging videowall market and pioneered new approaches to video processing, sound storage and large-scale control.

1990s - Bigger, Smarter, More Connected

Electrosonic entered a new era of digital media, developing increasingly sophisticated videowalls, image processors and control systems while delivering major projects for museums, theme parks and global destinations. From Disneyland Paris to the American Museum of Natural History, technology was becoming more powerful, more flexible and more deeply integrated into the experience.

2000s - From Displays to Experiences

The new millennium brought a shift from individual technologies to complete experiences. Electrosonic engineered increasingly dense combinations of video, audio, lighting, interactivity and control for museums, visitor attractions, corporate environments and major international events, while continuing to push high-definition video and networked media forward.

2010s - Technology Becomes Part of the Architecture

Electrosonic expanded its role from AV integrator to technology partner, delivering immersive media, giant LED displays, interactive environments and complex systems across museums, airports, cultural destinations and corporate spaces. Projects such as Shanghai Expo 2010, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and major immersive installations demonstrated how technology could become an integral part of the architecture and story.

2020s - Designing What Comes Next

Today, audiovisual technology is no longer confined to a screen, speaker or control room. Electrosonic is engineering responsive, immersive environments that combine LED, projection, spatial audio, sensors, interactivity, AI and intelligent control to create experiences that adapt to the people within them.

We've never stood still.

The technologies will change. The platforms will evolve. But the instinct that drove three engineers to start Electrosonic in 1964 remains the same: find a better way to make bold ideas possible.

A curved, interactive LED wall welcomes guests to Zoom’s London Experience Center, offering hands-on engagement with the company’s collaboration tools

The next chapter starts now.

The future of audiovisual technology has always been something we’ve helped shape, not simply follow. As new technologies emerge, we’ll continue to explore what’s possible and challenge convention.