Few audio electronics manufacturers have experience in the retail world where their products are sold. Even fewer have designers who rely on their ears as much as their engineering degrees. Fewer still have committed to creating quality equipment at real-world prices. Parasound proudly sits at the head of the table of this group. When Richard Schram founded Parasound in 1981, he already had years of experience at Pacific Stereo in Berkeley, CA. It had earlier been acquired by CBS-Sony which his new management position allowed him numerous trips to Japan where he met with their engineers. He eventually forged relationships in Taiwan with factories run by audio enthusiasts. As the large consumer chains he had hoped to serve closed their doors, he decided to serve a more upscale market. Enter John Curl, a legendary designer who had created amplifiers for the Grateful Dead's "Wall of Sound" as well as the storied Mark Levinson ML1. His motto "trust your ears" is what really sets Parasound apart. Coming from a retail background catering not to the uber wealthy and having a design team that focuses on sound, not theory, Schram has established Parasound as the maker of High End for all of us.