Kenton Forsythe, noted for his pioneering professional audio loudspeaker designs and perhaps best known as the co-founder of Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW), passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 9, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was 78.
Born in Boston, he graduated from Yale University in 1966 with a degree in History and UC Berkeley in 1968 with a Master of City Planning. He was a lifelong learner, passionate traveler, and above all a deeply committed family man and friend.
Forsythe first entered the pro audio industry in the mid-1970s with the introduction of the Forsythe Audio SR215 dual 15-inch bass horn, which was the first of its kind and could fit through a 30-inch door. From there he developed two-way compact loudspeaker systems and a vented subwoofer that featured an interchangeable tube venting system that allowed the enclosure to be reconfigured for different drivers.
The BH215 became the basis of some of EAW’s earliest products when he co-founded the company with Ken Berger (also the founder of ProSoundWeb and VUE Audiotechnik). “When we started EAW, we kept on going with some of the designs we had used in our previous company, Forsythe Audio Systems,” he explained in an interview. “We designed the CS-3 for Carlo Sound, an integration of the BH215 dual 15-inch low-frequency horn with an MR102 12-inch mid-frequency horn and a Community BRH90 high-frequency horn in one big box. It probably was the world’s first integrated, flyable touring rig.”
His SR109 loudspeaker and BH212 subwoofer were the first products introduced under the EAW name in 1978, but it was EAW’s KF850 that really put the loudspeaker manufacturer on the map. “The KF850 was an outgrowth of those previous designs,” Forsythe noted. “It was a very good cabinet for its day and was time coherent throughout it’s full range. The KF850 helped us develop a lot of traction. It was the standard for tours for quite awhile, and it got us into the install world.”
He followed this up with multiple loudspeaker designs, including many for the stadium market with principles that are still widely in use, and he counted the sound system design for St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, which still stands to this day, as one of his most cherished projects. He retired as the executive vice president of strategic engineering at EAW in 2016 (returning in 2019).
At that time, numerous industry leaders weighed in on his considerable contributions to loudspeaker design as well as the pro audio industry in general. David W. Robb, with an association that dates back to the Forsythe Audio days, said, “When the company became Eastern Acoustic Works, I would continue to return to Kenton; not only because he kept coming up with great products, but because he was willing, even anxious, to listen to me. I’d come back to him with one of his own products and say something like, ‘you know, this is great, but it would be even better if it could also do this, or if it was just two inches shorter.’ At that time, other companies were more interested in selling their existing products and just considered me to be a pain in the butt, but Kenton was different.
Idibri managing director Craig Janssen recalled similar experiences: “I’ve known Kenton since the early ’90s when I worked with him on Anaheim Stadium to develop a loudspeaker solution that – in retrospect – only a young engineer would risk designing and only a wildly creative manufacturing engineer would build. Apart from Kenton’s obvious technical skills, the thing I value most about him is his absolute integrity. It’s a rare gift to command the level of respect in the industry that Kenton has – and to do it with such little fanfare.”
System design company Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams (WJHW) partner Jack Wrightson, added, ”One element of Kenton’s brilliance is his ability to focus on the application for a product. Everyone wants to design a great loudspeaker. Kenton wants to design a great solution. That’s made all the difference in our projects where EAW was able to provide terrific solutions to a problem, not just a great sounding loudspeaker.”
Vance Breshears, Idibri, continued, “Kenton’s innovative product designs have had a huge impact on all of pro audio and set the standard by which other manufacturers are now measured. Much of our success as designers, particularly in the early days when we were getting started, was made possible as a result of the ground-breaking products that he provided. He is truly one of the giants of the industry.”
Upon the passing of his father, son Jeremy Forsythe, who also works in professional audio, posted on social media: “He lived vibrantly until the end – focused as much on making sure the lawn was mowed as he was on learning about the latest transducer technologies – and will be missed by many people in many different ways. For the legacy he leaves to an industry that he loved, Dad always prioritized his family and friendships first. We will all miss and remember his impact on our lives forever.”
Kenton Forsythe was the loving husband of 42 years to Christine Chiacu-Forsythe; the devoted father of three children: Jeremy Forsythe, Jonathan Forsythe (Mimi), and Kendra Forsythe Slafta (Andrew); the caring uncle of Richard Overholt, Edward Overholt, and Kristen (Overholt) Ireland; the cherished brother-in-law of Debra Chiacu and Karen (Chiacu) Recco; and faithful cousin of Deanna (Aldrich) Henry.
A ceremony and remembrance will be held on August 19 in Rhode Island, with details available at a later date. Donations in memoriam can be made to the North Smithfield Public Library in his name at https://tinyurl.com/yz25dx8y.
