Mark Sanfilipo Biography

Mark's audio career, began in 1981 when he designed his first loudspeaker system for a client who had grown disenchanted with the off-the-shelf products then populating local audio emporiums. Since then, he has designed over 100 systems, now found in homes, studios, theaters and dance clubs in north America & Asia.

Underscoring his work in the field of loudspeaker system design is a long standing love of music that got its kick start when, as a youngster, he happened to see John, Paul, George and Ringo tearing through the now-legendary sets they played on Ed Sullivan's variety show that cold February day, all those years ago...

In addition to loudspeaker system engineering, he is actively involved in live sound design & production for both TV and the stage. Since 1989, Mark has occupied the front-of-house mix position for a variety of acts, from local unknowns to world-renowned talents. He sees live audio engineering and loudspeaker system design as being complementary activities and is convinced that keeping the experience and impressions of live music fresh is an essential component where it comes to the art of loudspeaker system design.

Beginning in the early 1990’s, Mark has also written for a variety of audio-industry publications, a natural outgrowth of the audio/acoustics research work he has done over the years in the field of loudspeaker system design.

Mark’s Test Equipment List

1. Tektronix 7904 Oscilloscope - With the following plug-ins: 7A6A amplifier, 7A22 Differential amplifier, 7B85 Delay Time Base, 7B50 Time Base, 7B80 Time Base, 7D13 Multimeter, P6052, P6201, and P6058 probes

2. Tektronix Oscilloscope calibration unit

3. (2) Micronta Auto-range digital multimeters

4. Melles Griot HeNe 10mW Laser (for laser vibrometry/interferometry tests of driver diaphragms and loudspeaker cabinet panels).

5. Sargeant - Welch Scientific calibrated high wattage resistors (for all those calibration/measurement occasions that require high-precision, high-wattage resistors).

6. Tenma 72-380 Function Generator

7. HP 4262A rackmount LCR meter

8. HP 3455A rackmount Digital Multimeter

9. Tenma 72-420 DC power supply

10. Spencer-Kellogg Laboratories 302 rackmount Variable Active Filter

11. Radio Shack 33-2050 hand held SPL meter. (Never use it; kept as a good conversation piece.)

12. AKAI AA R1 Receiver (handy for quick & dirty measurements)

13. Hafler DH-500 power amp, maximally tweaked.

14. Denon AVR-3806 AV Surround Receiver

15. 2 ACH-01 accelerometers, one calibrated, one not.

16. Main measurement microphones are the calibrated mics that come with Liberty Instruments "LAUD" and LinearX's "LMS".

Hundreds of assorted cables (mic/line/speaker/mains), a variety of test jigs, turntable-equipped loudspeaker measurment stand (for polar measurements), access to 5 seperate measurement spaces ranging from an average-sized family room to an 1800-seat theater.

1. SIAsmaart 5.x

2. ResLab 2

3. Room Modes by Dr Floyd Toole

4. Aurora 4

5. CATT Acoustic V.8

6. ETF Acoustic 5.x

7. LabView 7

8. Liberty Instrument's IMP 2.x (Don't use it much. Still works, though!)

9. Liberty Instrument's LAUD 3.x w/ calibrated Mic

10. SampleChampion Pro 3.8 (Interesting program, constantly evolving)

11. Sigview 1.9x

12. Dirac 3.1, sg2102 Tone Generator, ETG Tone Generator, NCH Tone Generator 2.01, FFT Properties 3.5, Virtins Sound Card Instrument, etc; used whenever special or unusual test signals are required.

13. RighMark Sound Card Analyzer 5.4

14. LinearX LMS 4.5 w/ calibrated mic.
SpectraLab 4.32x

15. DSSF 3.x (a real powerhouse).

16. Acoustisoft R+D 1.05

17. RoomEq Wizard 3.2x

Note: all software that does not require the use of a specific card (eg LMS) is run using an Event Gina sound card. You'll find a review of the card at here.