MSB Audio MSB Reference dac + digital director

MSB Technology emerged in the late 1980s from Silicon Valley, California, with roots tracing to 1986 or 1989, depending on the account. Founded by Marcus Brassfield and Larry Gullman, the company began by modifying consumer CD players like the Magnavox, evolving through contracted digital research into a family-owned enterprise. Today, brothers Jonathan Gullman (CEO) and Daniel Francis lead operations from Watsonville, upholding a legacy of in-house innovation in precision engineering.

The brand specializes in ultra-high-end digital audio components, renowned for its modular DAC platforms such as the Discrete, Premier, Select, and flagship Cascade and Sentinel. Pioneers of discrete ladder DAC modules since 1999, MSB also produces bit-perfect digital transports, ultra-precise clocks, analog-to-digital converters, and pure Class A amplifiers delivering up to 500 watts. Their fully integrated production—encompassing PCB assembly, CNC machining, and 3D inspection—ensures uncompromising quality without reliance on external suppliers.

Positioned firmly in the cost-no-object boutique segment, MSB commands reverence among discerning audiophiles for setting benchmarks in lifelike digital playback and future-proof modularity. Stratospherically priced yet unmatched in transparency and adaptability, their products appeal to those prioritizing authentic reproduction over convention, solidifying a niche as Silicon Valley's audacious high-end trailblazer.