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THIEL Audio Appoints Director of Product Development

THIEL Audio has appointed Mark Mason as the company’s new director of product development.

THIEL Audio has appointed Mark Mason as the company’s new director of product development.

Mason represents the first in-house engineering presence for the brand since the passing of Jim Thiel in 2009.

Mark Mason brings a depth of engineering experience combined with a broad range of technical capabilities to THIEL after nearly a decade as Design Team Manager at PSB. Mason’s expertise includes critical applications such as driver design, Class D amplifier design, and high performance acoustic systems design.

“I have been fascinated by loudspeaker design since childhood and have a great passion for seeking out the highest possible levels of performance,” Mason said. “One of the aspects of THIEL that excites me is the domestic manufacturing capability here in Lexington, Kentucky—I have an opportunity to take a vision from the earliest stages of development and work with the factory every step of the way to achieve the desired results. This gives me vastly more control over performance and quality than if I were handing drawings off to overseas contract manufacturers.”

Mason is confident that he can first evaluate and then manage the technology, people, and processes together at THIEL to achieve great things for the brand. “I am thrilled at the prospect of designing and overseeing a lineup of ultimate quality loudspeakers across multiple market segments, such as high performance floor-standing models, custom installation products and loudspeakers for home theater,” said Mason. 

Since THIEL was acquired earlier this year, the new ownership group has been focused on a fresh approach to product engineering and industrial design while leveraging the strong heritage of the company. Mason’s appointment as director of product development is in concert with this carefully orchestrated new vision for THIEL. “I have many years of association with Mark at PSB and watched him grow into a world-class talent in all phases of speaker design and manufacturing,” stated THIEL COO Bob Brown. “Mark is perfectly suited to take the product development reins at THIEL—it has been years since the company has had anyone of Mark’s breadth of experience driving engineering,” Brown added.

“While we have kicked off a major new product development initiative, the timing for Mark’s arrival could not be more ideal,” said THIEL CEO Bill Thomas. “He has worked with our North American sales manager and our industrial designer in the past very successfully and I anticipate this team reaching full stride very quickly.”

Part of the new vision for the brand includes a more regimented new product development process and cycle, making the company more vital in the marketplace and of increased value to the sales chain. “We have expended great effort to bring the necessary human resources to THIEL so that engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales and administration are all working together,” Thomas added.

Most recently, Mason was director of product development for Specialty Technologies (SVS), where he was accountable for all aspects of the company’s product management strategy and execution. Over the years, Mason’s designs have garnered numerous prestigious awards such as The Absolute Sound Editor’s Choice, Sound & Vision Certified and Recommended, Sound & Vision Editor’s Choice, Home Cinema Best Buy, Best Home Cinema Room (S&V Bristol Show), SoundStage Great Buy, AV Forums Best Buy, EISA Best Product, Audioholics Consumer Excellence, Stereophile Recommended Components, Electronic House Product of the Year. 

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