Celestion Presents An Interview With David Gunness, Co-Founder Of Fulcrum Acoustic

Whitinsville, Massachusetts, USA — David Gunness is a highly respected American audio engineer and inventor, renowned for his extensive work in loudspeaker design and digital signal processing (DSP). After spending 11 years at Electro-Voice and another 12 years at Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW), where he developed his groundbreaking "Gunness Focusing" technology, he co-founded Fulcrum Acoustic in 2008.

Throughout his career, Gunness has pioneered high-output professional loudspeakers, advanced coaxial designs, and passive cardioid technology. As part of The Celestion Interview Series, he discusses his early career, his most significant technological innovations, the philosophy behind Fulcrum Acoustic, and the music that inspires him.

Gunness’ journey into the audio industry began out of necessity. “I was a college musician who couldn't afford a proper PA,” Gunness shares. “I decided to build my own speakers so I could play out. I bought plywood, used a table saw in my basement, and built my first speakers using Radio Shack components.”

This hands-on experience sparked a deep curiosity about loudspeaker crossovers and design, which led to hours poring over Audio Engineering Society journals and specialised audio courses while earning his engineering degree. His professional career kicked off at Electro-Voice, with pivotal design projects that taught him invaluable lessons about tooling and horn design and directly influenced the dozens of coaxial horns he has designed since. Gunness also proved to the world that large-format digital steering was possible with EAW’s KF900, which prior to founding Fulcrum Acoustic, he considers his magnum opus.

Today, Gunness is renowned for his work at Fulcrum Acoustic, a company built on the foundation of consistently excellent audio quality. "We have around 130 products in our catalogue…the voicing in our 30-inch coaxial horns sound identical to our 5-inch fill speakers. That makes it easy to integrate large systems because you're not fighting with loudspeakers that inherently sound different from each other.”

When reflecting on the industry's most significant technological achievements, Gunness points to the expanding capabilities of DSP, which he leveraged to develop processing advancements initially introduced as Gunness Focusing under EAW, with Fulcrum Acoustic’s version marketed as Temporal Equalization™ (TQ). “Every loudspeaker we’ve made requires DSP, which allows us to maintain incredibly high levels of sound quality and consistency.”

At the heart of Fulcrum Acoustic is a deceptively simple philosophy: “Be the company your customers need you to be,” Gunness emphasizes that providing high-quality, great-sounding products must be paired with solid support. "If you partner with customers and help them succeed, your own sales will grow," he notes. "Your greatest opportunity as a loudspeaker manufacturer is to be a hero. When you bail your customers out of a tough situation, you’ve got a customer for life.”

Despite his engineering prowess, Gunness remains a musician at heart. He continues to play multiple instruments in a live band and cites James Taylor’s Mudslide Slim as a foundational influence on his lifelong desire to create and replicate great sound.

Click to read the full interview with David Gunness on the Celestion Speaker World blog.

About Celestion

With worldwide headquarters in Ipswich, England, Celestion design, develop and manufacture high-quality professional audio loudspeakers and compression drivers for sound reinforcement, as well as premium guitar and bass guitar loudspeakers. These world-renowned speakers are used onstage and in clubs, theatres and other venues the world over. With more than 100 years of success, the company continues to offer the latest technologies and innovations in the world of loudspeakers. celestion.com

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