California Audio Labs

California Audio Labs (CAL) was founded in 1985 in Blue Lake, California by Art Paymer and four engineers including Dan Donnelly and Mike Ferreira. The company specialized in high-end digital audio equipment, particularly CD players, and was known for their 'Quality you can hear' reputation. CAL pioneered leading-edge digital audio technology and later expanded into DVD players, DACs, and home theater components. In 1997, Go-Video Inc. acquired CAL for their Home Theater Division, later becoming Sensory Science Corporation. The company was ultimately closed in 2002 when parent company Sensory Science was acquired by Sonic Blue, who had no interest in the high-end audio market. CAL's products, especially the Icon series CD players, received critical acclaim from publications like Stereophile magazine. Despite being defunct for over 20 years, vintage CAL equipment remains highly sought after by audiophiles.