I have an idea for an audio product what should I do?

Shark Tank.....

You are way ahead of yourself. Put your idea in writing, draft up a "business plan" that describes the product, the users for it, possible benefits, expected cost/profit. If you haven't done that and you haven't put it down your idea in a clear written document, then you're not ready to talk to anyone.

That's what any investment company or business would want to see (even Shark Tank) -- even an electrical engineer needs a high-level document, they need to know what you want them to build before even they can help you.

I hear that a lot here in Silicon Valley -- someone has an idea in their head, but they haven't thought it through. Putting your thoughts and ideas on paper does two things, makes you think through the whole product, and provides some protection - if it's really new, you can get a Patent. A Patent search is critical, it might already exist (sadly for you) but has never been used for some reason (which can help you). A Patent search is not cheap, but necessary.  And again, you need to document your idea before getting a search started.

Good luck, don't forget about us when you're rich and famous.

I have an invention too. The Kenjit Speaker System. KSS for short (Patent pending). Scanspeak drivers mounted in concrete walls 10 inch thick with the rear side facing a large room filled with fibreglass. It would be infinite baffle and would offer pretty much the bleeding edge of what is currently possible. The system would be tuned to the customers ears so there would be ZERO complaints about not enough bass, recessed mids or harsh highs. Naturally the system would be expensive however when you consider how much the worlds most expensive speakers cost, it becomes apparent that the KSS would be far superior. The KSS would offer the best of both worlds. A wooden box, without the wooden sound, and an open baffle without the problems with frequency response and cancellations. The only question is how to bring this technology to the market? Or is this essentially what professional music studios already do? 

I agree with @deadhead1000 for the most part- one item I see missing from the response was a mock up/prototype. Not sure if you’re idea is based from a test piece or if it’s just an idea but having a functioning device (just enough to demonstrate the idea) is very helpful when it comes to approaching higher level experts and even patent attorneys.

Even if your idea is not the first of its kind it may be its difference’s that separate it from prior art. Again having a working piece helps those professionals you approach narrow down exactly what you need and helps you determine costs and so forth.

Patents are a funny thing- I have applied for a few, have only gotten one to go through. The process can be expensive, the narratives grueling and are very time consuming. 
The business plan side of what was first mentioned will be necessary at the right point in time especially if you’re seeking investors but if you truly feel your idea unique (be it an application or invention patent) I would first focus on how to prove it works and then to demonstrate it. You can do all of this while protecting your idea. Once you have this accomplished the rest of the picture will become clearer. Of course if you have deep pockets you can always bring in an attorney, draw up binding NDA’s and search for a company that can develop a prototype for you.

Good Luck!

Paul McGowan of PS Audio is a good ear for advice. Like deadhead1000 said, you need to do the preliminaries first. Good luck.

@deadhead1000

@designsfx

Thanks a bunch for sending me in the right direction! 

So you haven't built a prototype or proof of concept?  That might be a good first step.

If you do not understand the technology, or the market, and the market is fairly mature, then the likelihood that your idea is both intriguing and unique is low. Not zero, but low. First job is finding someone who can assess your idea, who both understands the technology and the market. Temper your expectations.

Agree with @carlsbad.

You need to build it, demonstrate it and then patent it if the feedback is good.

I'm guessing that it's some kind of bespoke networked active system.

Sometimes it is possible to find a niche in the market that the majors can't risk gambling R&D and tooling costs, but as you can imagine, it's never going to be easy.

It took Roy Gandy (Rega) many years of designing Rega Planar 3 prototypes (+ a hefty redundancy cheque from Ford, I think), before his idea took off.

If you were to contact an existing manufacturer, Rega might not be a bad place to start.

Thanks for the detailed post Kenjit.

Construction will start tomorrow on one of my least used tennis courts (located far beyond the stables).

DeKay

Kickstarter has a cool program 

Kick starter works good sometimes 

It didn't get the battery powered ESL headphones off the ground.

@dekay Careful building one to sell.

I doubt if Kenjit did a proper patent search.

I'm worried you may not know exactly what you are looking at. I assume when you say digital amp you mean a class D amp. But class D is not digital. It is analog. It is a form of encoding music wave forms into square waves but this is an analog encoding format, not at all digital.

Shark Tank wants a working product and, above all else, sales!

@OP What is your background in terms of business/technology?

Think Really Hard about the intended market....

There's a lot of shipwrecks on the reefs of broken schemes.

And the debris of the digital boom is everywhere, hence the term:

vaporware.

But good fortune to you anyhow.... ;)

Remember the big blue meters. That gets ‘‘em every time. 

Search in patents

Is it patentable? search

File for patent, take help of patent lawyers.

Everything else comes after. first patent.

I spoke to a patent attorney way back in the day and he thought I had a good idea and told me to imagine myself running the hurdles, in a dense fog, with the hurdles spaced indiscriminately and that there was no end to the race. 

Also, if someone were to steal your idea, it would take well over a year for a favorable judgment and the thief of your idea would still be cranking out your product, making money off of it. 

Needless to say, I didn't go through with it due to lack of resources on my end. Do your due diligence, as advised.

All the best,
Nonoise

Generally, you need some very detailed proof that what you are designing hasn’t been done before to get a patient. 

Next step is not a business plan.  Get an NDA (non-disclosure agreement).  

Find professionals willing to listen to your idea ... after the NDA is signed, of course.

Determine if you have a valid concept ... 

First of all, unless your idea is something so good, no person will back you and finance your project.  You would have to build a prototype and show that it is better than other manufacturer products.  It is difficult to build a prototype and bring something to market.  How do you plan to sell it?  Direct or through dealers?  If you don't have the skill to build it, then you are subject to another set of issues and concerns.  Once built, getting reviews is another issue.  The process to bring something to market is very time consuming and expensive.

If you really think your idea is still worth it, I can probably help you build a prototype.  We are a manufacturer or tube audio products.  My partner has a Masters in electronics and designs applications for corporations.  Contact me if you wish to discuss and need some direction.

It’s everyone’s dream, but most people’s downfall. Don’t spend anything that you can’t afford to lose. And make sure that your wife is onboard before you spend a dime.

Take a week to read about how other inventors are doing before you jump in. Just my $.02.

And check out DIY Audio to see what other people are doing.

@kenjit says...

"Scanspeak drivers mounted in concrete walls 10 inch thick with the rear side facing a large room filled with fibreglass... The KSS would offer the best of both worlds. A wooden box, without the wooden sound..."

Concrete walls, wooden box? Uhm, what?

I had the same thoughts. Contacted an Adam Kunkle. At InventionsHome.  "How do I proceed?"

Hi Kingsley

I wanted to touch base to make sure you received the link to our inventor information which includes a lot of great info to help with the invention and patent process.

Here is the link to the inventor info

I am not sure how much you know about InventionHome® but we have been helping inventors for over 20 years. We have a very large network of companies and connections that have come to rely on us for great, new inventions available for license or sale. We also partner with many of the national tradeshows in the U.S. as well as work with experienced patent attorneys who can help protect ideas.

Also, is there a good time and phone number to reach you? I’d like to provide a little more information about how we can help. My direct number is 412-229-1340 x157.

Thank you