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Velodyne Acoustics, founded in 1983 by mechanical engineer David Hall in Silicon Valley, California, revolutionized the subwoofer industry with its innovative High Gain Servo system technology. The company's breakthrough ULD-18 subwoofer delivered 20-30 times less distortion than competing products, earning Hall the 1984 Special Engineering Award from the Consumer Electronics Association. For over 40 years, Velodyne has been universally recognized as a leading manufacturer of high-performance, low-distortion powered subwoofers, holding more patents in subwoofer technology than any other manufacturer in the industry. In November 2019, the company was acquired by Audio Reference GmbH of Hamburg, Germany, led by Mansour Mamaghani, who had been Velodyne's longtime German distributor. Under new ownership, Velodyne continues to innovate with products like the SPL-X series, MicroVee X, Deep Blue series, and over 30 subwoofer models. The company maintains its Silicon Valley heritage while operating from Hamburg, focusing on precision engineering and cutting-edge bass reproduction technology for both consumer and professional markets.