World Wide Stereo’s brand-new facility in Wayne, Pennsylvania, stands out before you even set foot into it due to the standalone building’s circular cylindrical shape.
“The building was a tire shop in the 1950s and ’60s, hence the round nature of it,” says Andrew Davis, CEO and managing partner at World Wide Stereo. “It was even a well-known Starbucks at one point.
“I looked at the building for almost a year and just couldn’t get past the exterior,” confesses Davis. “Then I realized — wait, this makes me think vinyl. This is cool. We could actually do something with this.” What began as an exterior facelift ultimately transformed into a complete rebuild from the ground up.
“It’s gorgeous — we have this round flow inside and have maximized every square inch. There are over 21 experiential talking points and systems in the space, starting from the parking lot on in.”
Want more stories like this delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday? Then sign up for the free Residential Systems eNewsletter here.
Round and Round
The parking lot sets the stage with Coastal Source outdoor audio, Ketra lighting, and Sonance and James Loudspeakers powered by Bluesound. Step inside, and you’re greeted immediately by a pair of speakers, a vinyl bin, and a Vestaboard smart display that ties into Sonos, showing cover art and track titles in real time.
At the heart of the circle, the reception desk stands before a striking gold tile wall. Here, discreet pendant speakers blend into the lighting, while a 65-inch LG OLED provides visuals and Sonus Faber in-walls provide sound.
To one side, a luxurious seating area features a Salamander cabinet, American Leather chairs, and a Sonus Faber Olympica Nova system. A few steps further, the mood shifts: a cozy fireplace anchors an intimate space with KEF Blades, a Sony TV framed by Leon, and a Marantz Model 10 receiver driving it all.
Across the open entryway, a dedicated 2-channel listening area showcases speakers starting at $7500/pair. From there, the scale expands again with a 163-inch Just Video Walls display paired with a hidden Theory Pro Audio surround system.
Beyond the vignettes, the first enclosed space is a working kitchen, complete with Samsung Frame TV, invisible speakers, and rich cabinetry supplied by World Wide Stereo’s sister company in Maryland, Gramophone Design Build. A dramatic home theater follows, outfitted with Sony’s BRAVIA 9 projector, a Stewart Filmscreen projection screen, and Wisdom Audio speakers that create a 13.4.6 Dolby Atmos system.
The tour continues right outside the home theater with a headphone bar featuring Focal, Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins, and McIntosh, then flows into a simulated outdoor space with pergolas, a SunBriteTV, color-changing lighting, and a Coastal Source system. Rounding out the circle, a Crestron-powered conference room ties into Control4 and Lutron systems, while even the restrooms get the high-tech treatment with Séura smart mirrors and invisible Nakamichi speakers.
Spreading the Word
Wayne is the epicenter of Philadelphia’s Main Line, which links 17 different suburban towns just outside the city. In this busy area, the new experience center earns attention from drivers and pedestrians. Davis says that the entire time they built the space, people would peer in and try to open the doors. Fortunately for passers-by, World Wide Stereo welcomes walk-ins, sharing the highlights of its 21-stop tour.
“Our team’s mission is to offer a presentation that knocks people’s socks off,” Davis says. “People who are interested in buying something that we’re showing will self-identify. What customers will experience here is a demo that shows them what’s possible. Our products — and the best installation team in the area — make World Wide Stereo the company people will trust for all their technology needs.”
In its mission to connect with the community, World Wide Stereo is hosting listening parties and car shows, inviting people into the new showroom. They also welcome industry trade partners — from luxury home builders and architects to realtors and interior designers.
“If you’re a specifier and you’re remodeling or building a house — for anyone that’s looking for something that’s a notch above — then this is the showroom,” says Davis. “It’s going to open your mind to things you don’t experience elsewhere.”
