Barefoot Sound was founded by scientist, engineer, and inventor Thomas Barefoot, whose passion for music began in Pittsburgh, where financial challenges led him to build his own guitars and amplifiers at age 13. His early ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit funded his education in physics and later a career at Intel, though his love for music never faded. Known online as “Barefoot,” he became respected for his acoustics expertise and, in 2004, built his first studio monitor—an all-in-one design that challenged traditional categories and outperformed elite brands. By 2006, growing demand allowed him to leave Intel and fully dedicate himself to Barefoot Sound, which has since become a leading force in professional audio, crafting its products in Portland, Oregon.