Meet Robert Goldman of Next Level Acoustics in Newton – Boston Voyager Magazine

 

Voyager Staff · June 5, 2017

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Goldman.

Robert, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ten years ago, I started as an audio/video integrator in New Jersey and in the last five years my wife and I decided to relocate to Massachusetts. I always had a passion for the custom side of the A/V industry and loved to see the smile on my clients faces when we finished an installation. Two years ago, I was speaking with a speaker builder that I have known for many years and I pitched an idea that would fully integrate my love of custom A/V with his love of design to bring a unique line of custom speakers and enclosures to the market. I remember it clearly, we just decided to launch the line, but I had no idea what to name this new product line. Then it hit me, everything we were trying to do was to take the existing speaker sales model and to move it into the “Next Level” by providing audiophile sound at prices the middle market could afford. Next Level Acoustics was born out of this concept.

My partners and I decided that if we were going to come to market with Next Level custom audio solutions, there would be three governing principles that we would adhere to:

• Upper echelon sound, regardless of price point or product
• Focus on the price / performance ratio ensuring that the middle market consumer could afford to purchase
the line
• Manufacturing in the United States using high-quality components and construction techniques

Has it been a smooth road?
There have been many struggles along the way with negative criticism from “Industry” experts including local distributors.

“You will never make it”
“There is too much competition”
“The industry does not need another speaker company”
“Why would anyone purchase a no-name product”

I remember countless times pitching our line to numerous sales representatives and distributors, as well as magazines only to be turned down with no explanation or response, and in some cases even yelled at.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Next Level Acoustics is known for high-quality unique custom solutions for the latest trends in home entertainment and design. We are best known for our Elite Series Soundbar enclosures, custom Fusion Series Soundbars, and our CI Series custom In-wall speakers.

I am most proud of the fact that in two years’ time I have taken this company from just an idea I hatched while living with my wife and daughter in our one bedroom apartment, to being featured in the largest and most well respected audio publications in the country (i.e. CEpro and Sound and Vision Magazine), being represented by well-respected representatives and distributors in the US and Canada, as well as representing Next Level Acoustics at this years (September 2017) largest custom electronics show in the country, CEDIA, taking place in San Diego California.

What separates ourselves from the others:

1. Passion for what we do
2. Customer service and caring not just about our dealers, but also the end user’s experience
3. Crushing the competition when it comes to the price/performance ratio
4. Ensuring every speaker that we make “I” personally would be proud to have in my own home

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The Boston area is an amazing place for entrepreneurs with a similar business model. The relationships that Next Level Acoustics has formed in the Boston/New England area, from my business partner (Lee Weber), to our New England Distributor (Novus Distribution), to all of our dealers are the cornerstone of our company. This area supports individuals who have drive and passion and who will knock down every door until someone listens.

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