Manufacturer of the Month: 1-Sound
1-Sound: Family-Run, Disruptive, American-Made, Artisanal Loudspeakers
In the quiet town of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, a small team—mostly family—designs and builds loudspeakers with passion, decades of experience, and a dedication to the beauty and simplicity of sound.
You can’t really talk about 1-Sound without starting with Lou Mannarino, the company’s founder and patriarch. After decades mixing legendary artists and venues, Lou’s work speaks for itself. His background in production, sound engineering, rigging, installation, and tuning gives him a deep understanding of the end-user experience in professional audio. Lou doesn’t design products just to follow industry trends—he creates solutions that didn’t previously exist. Don’t expect a “me-too” double 18” subwoofer from him. Instead, when clients ask for something unconventional—like a subwoofer that fits beneath a restaurant banquet—he finds a way to make it. That mindset is at the heart of 1-Sound’s success.
Since the release of the Cannon 5, the Panorama MS34 (originally Mono+Stereo), and the CSUB210, the catalog has grown considerably. Yet every loudspeaker still reflects the same ethos: solving problems by design.
Example 1: Compact Point Source with Hi-Fi Quality
The challenge: A need for a small, full-range point source loudspeaker for use as a monitor or front fill. Stages are cluttered with cable runs, and compression drivers—while powerful—add coloration unsuited to monitor work.
The solution: The Cannon Coaxial, originally created as a monitor/front fill, is now a favorite in hospitality. A key feature on the original model is its two-circuit switch with 4-pin Neutrik Speakon connectors, allowing daisy-chaining of stereo signals with a single cable. With 16-ohm enclosures, up to four loudspeakers can be run safely from one or two amplifier channels.
To achieve high SPL without a compression driver, Lou’s team combined a 1” ferrofluid-treated silk dome HF driver, a 5” coaxial, and a passive 5” radiator. The ferrofluid treatment enables higher sustained output while preserving hi-fi quality. The coaxial design keeps the enclosure compact, while the passive radiator extends LF response, reducing or even eliminating the need for subwoofers.
Today, the Cannon range has expanded: the ultra-compact C4, the larger C8 with an HF waveguide for increased SPL and controlled directivity, plus installation (C4i, C5i, etc.) and marine-grade versions built for harsh outdoor conditions.
Example 2: A Smarter Alternative to Line Arrays
The challenge: Choose between point sources with little directivity or large-format line arrays requiring extensive rigging, weight, and cost. What if the ease of point source deployment could be combined with directivity of a line array?
The solution: The Tower Column system—lightweight, highly directional, and extremely easy to set up. The LCC44, LCC84, and LF44 columns, paired with the CSUB610 or SUB310, offer precision coverage with minimal rigging.
Each LCC loudspeaker has a tight 10° vertical dispersion and active cardioid design with rear-facing drivers, yielding up to 20 dB of rear rejection. The CSUB610 matches perfectly, operating in omnidirectional, end-fire, or cardioid modes. Its six 10” drivers deliver output comparable to a double 18” sub but in a form factor just 11” wide.
This system provides control and coverage you’d normally expect from far heavier and costlier rigs—comparable in effect to d&b audiotechnik’s SL series, but at a fraction of the weight and complexity.
Example 3: Low-Profile Stage Monitoring
The challenge: Traditional stage monitors are bulky, block sightlines, and yet are essential for performers to hear the mix.
The solution: The CM38, delivering 130 dB SPL in a cabinet only 8” tall. Inside are two 8” tetracoil transducers plus a coaxial 8” with a progressive horn, achieving 8 dB of cardioid cancellation using the stage as a boundary. With frequency response down to 70 Hz, the CM38 rivals much larger boxes. Compared to an L-Acoustics X15 HiQ, it reduces height by 8–10” at a 35° tilt and 14–16” at a 55° tilt.
What began as a monitor design found other applications—wall and ceiling installations, underbalcony fills, and even a compact 5” variant. These versions include recessed mounting and Speakon connectors under the “Level Point Source” line.
Beyond the Products: A Different Way of Doing Business
1-Sound is disruptive not just in design, but in operations. While most pro audio manufacturers spread production across continents—leading to months-long lead times—1-Sound builds and customizes in the U.S. They routinely deliver custom-finished products within weeks, sometimes faster. In an industry where 3–6 month waits are standard, that agility is unmatched.
They’ve also invested in software. The Auralis design platform gives integrators a powerful tool for system modeling, on par with Soundvision, ArrayCalc, and EASE. For many engineers, Auralis is the secret weapon that makes 1-Sound systems even more appealing.
Finally, 1-Sound partners with the best: Powersoft amplification, B&C and other high-quality Italian transducers, and premium materials like Finland birch, stainless steel 316, and custom mesh fabrics. The “Custom Shop” has made them the loudspeaker of choice for restaurants, lounges, members clubs, and luxury residences where design is as critical as performance.