NEXO is mourning the passing of loudspeaker designer Matthias Larrieu, who lost his life in a car accident in June. He was just 30 years old.
In his six years at NEXO, Larrieu left an impressive mark. A core member of the design team that brought the company’s flagship STM Series modular line array into existence, he was also instrumental in the development of other ground-breaking NEXO products, notably the 45°N-12 inline stage monitor and the popular RS subbass cabinets.
His last project for NEXO was the STM M28 compact line array, which is set to become one of the company’s best-selling PA systems.
A gentle giant, Larrieu balanced his talent with great kindness and amiability. He liked nothing better than explaining the intricacies of his work to potential users from all over the world, and seeing the light in their eyes when they understood just what he had achieved. His enthusiasm made him widely loved by both colleagues and customers.
NEXO director François Deffarges remembers the young Matthias, then just 23, putting perspective on the scale of an R&D challenge: “But François, if you can see the mountain, it is no longer an obstacle.”
A company statement notes: “With his many patents shaping future sound reinforcement technology, his real legacy can already be found on concert stages around the world, bringing music and pleasure to hundreds of thousands of people.”
