A history of FrontRow
As a division of Phonic Ear, FrontRow has been in the classroom audio business over 45 years.
A long history working with schools and working with sound
1963: Scott and Ruth Holden form HC Electronics in Palo Alto, CA. The company changes its name to Phonic Ear after the success of its automatic speech playback system for clinicians: the Phonic Mirror.
1968: Introduced the first wireless assistive listening product for hearing-impaired students.
1971: Phonic Ear International founded in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1973: Phonic Ear Ltd. Founded in Toronto, Ontario.
FrontRow historians speculate whether the Radium might have inspired the blue color in the FrontRow Pro Digital.
1978: The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra uses a Phonic Ear sound system in one of the first major studies of the application of special listening systems in theatres and music halls.
1990: Introduces its first classroom sound system for general education: the Easy Listener
1996: Granted two patents for short-range wireless technology called TMX.
1997: Sold 100% of shares to William Demant Holding A/S and became a sister company to Oticon and Sennheiser Communications.
1998: Earned ISO 9001 certification
2000: Introduced tour commentary systems used in the Louvre, Getty, Vatican, and other prominent attractions. Launched its first infrared classroom sound system (VocaLight) to solve channel management challenges in schools.2001: Introduced Radium portable classroom sound system.
2002: Merged with Logia, a respected Danish developer of assistive listening systems.
2005: Created FrontRow division to specialize in classroom sound solutions.
2006: Educational Underwriters certifies FrontRow products for NCLB effectiveness.
2007: Introduced the Pro Digital, the world's first classroom sound system to use a digital platform.
2008: Earns UL listing for all products.
