CE Pro February 2023 - 15

Parasound Sold, Founder
Schram Announces
Retirement
RICHARD SCHRAM, who founded the audio equipment
brand Parasound in 1981, has announced his retirement and
the sale of his company to David Sheriff, an entrepreneur
active in product growth and supply-chain management.
Parasound manufactures amplifiers and preamplifiers that
are sold through a network of authorized dealers and custom
home system installers in the U.S. and in over 60 countries.
" When I look at all we have accomplished at Parasound
over four decades, " says Schram, an original CE Pro Masters
class inductee (2013). " I am proud that we have stayed true
to our mission statement, Integrity Endures, and our day-today
goal of providing affordable high-fidelity sound to the
critical listener. I am grateful for the dedication of current and
former staff, plus the magic
touch of our legendary circuit
designer, John Curl, which
made all this possible.
" Less outwardly visible is
Parasound founder Richard
Schram was named
a CE Pro Master back in
2013.
our continuing commitment
to superb pre- and postsale
support for dealers and
customers alike as well as our
excellent customer service
and competent in-house
product repair. More common
are users who've been using
the same Parasound amp
for 10 or 20 years without a
glitch, " Schram adds.
Sheriff comes to Parasound
from a 30-year career
running manufacturing and distribution companies and as a
systems consultant. Since 2000 he has guided over 500 U.S.
manufacturers to improve their businesses by streamlining
processes, reducing risk in the supply chain, and substantially
reducing time to market. Sheriff is a graduate of the U.S.
Air Force Academy and served as an A-10 pilot in the U.S.
and South Korea. He was also group mobility officer
" I am excited that David's vision for Parasound is aligned
with Integrity Endures - and probably what I'd be doing if
I weren't ready to retire. David is a quick study, " comments
Schram. " I am impressed with his plans to strengthen our
business model and to take it beyond its current boundaries.
The thought of relegating Parasound as a mere trophy
logo under one of the audio conglomerates was never an
option for me. "
cepro.com
MetraAV Rebrands
Under Ethereal Name
MetraAV, the Holly Hill, Fla.-based provider of a variety of
custom integration solutions, has announced the company
is updating its name to Ethereal, " as part of an effort to
reconnect with its roots. " The company was originally conceived
by 75+ year-old parent company Metra Electronics
as Ethereal Home Theater back in 2001.
The former MetraAV had been a switch from its Metra
Home Theater Group moniker a little less than two years
ago, as it expanded into the commercial AV market while
maintaining its residential integration customers' needs.
Now grouped under the rebranded Ethereal name, the
solutions will include product lines from brands it has grown
over the years - Ethereal Home Theater, Velox, Helios and
Big Dog Power, which debuted to U.S. commercial and resi
dealers in 2022 at the InfoComm and CEDIA Expo events.
The company notes that originally Metra Electronics' car
audio connectivity expertise led to the separate division
featuring HDMI and home theater products for the custom
integration industry.
That's expanded to where the catalog for residential and
commercial installations now includes HDMI electronics
such as repair tools, extenders, splitters and switches,
plus converters, IR kits, HDMI cables, audio cables, patch
cables, power distribution products, bulk wire, surveillance
cameras and more.
Ethereal was ready to begin the new brand rollout last
month with an updated logo, and will launch a new website
later this year, the company says.
The company was expected to introduce a new logo in
January and new website later this year.
February 2023 CE Pro | 15
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CE Pro February 2023

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