Dan Szaba, VP of Engineering

Since 1992, Dan Szaba has helped shape the technology behind Ashly Audio. As Vice President of Engineering, he leads a team focused on designing reliable, intuitive, and great-sounding audio products while remaining hands-on with circuit, software, and system design.

Dan’s interest in engineering began early. As a child, he took apart nearly every electronic device he could find to understand how it worked. His interest in music naturally drew him toward audio equipment, loudspeaker design, radio circuits, computers, and software. That curiosity led him to study Computer Engineering. While in college, he worked part-time installing and maintaining AV equipment across campus. After noticing Ashly products in auditoriums and lecture halls, he mailed his résumé to the address printed on the back of one of them. Three decades later, he is still helping Ashly move forward.

Solving Real-World Audio Challenges

Dan describes his role as both collaborative and highly technical. “I work with a group of amazingly smart engineers who love to design the most reliable and great-sounding audio equipment,” he says. His team works across DSP algorithms, amplifier and hardware design, embedded software, and user experience.

“We start by listening, which lets us understand the pain points in the system, and then we come up with circuits or software features to solve them.”

Among Ashly’s current technologies, Dan is especially enthusiastic about the latest amplifier platform used in the MA Series and the AquaControl DSP platform.

A Lifelong Connection to Music

Dan’s passion for audio also has deep personal roots. Some of his earliest memories involve singing with his mother while she played acoustic guitar, sometimes using microphones connected to a home hi-fi system. “That got me hooked on music and sound reinforcement,” he says.

Outside of work, Dan enjoys playing music, designing gear, hiking, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. His musical tastes lean toward hard rock and metal, though his go-to artist changes with his mood. After 32 years at Ashly, the people remain one of the most meaningful parts of the job. “We have an amazing team of people who are passionate about the products we make,” Dan says.

“If you’re passionate about making the world sound better, then go for it.”

Quick Facts

• Favorite genre: Hard rock & metal
• Early bird or night owl: Night owl
• Coffee or tea: Both
• Mac or PC: Linux
• Analog or digital: Both
• Headphones or speakers: Speakers