With more than five decades of history, Electrónica 2001 has established itself as one of the leading names in professional audio in El Salvador. Built alongside DAS Audio over nearly thirty years, that journey has reached a new milestone with Plaza Universitaria, a project that put the company’s technical expertise, adaptability, and the strength of a relationship that goes far beyond product distribution to the test.
Some projects can be explained simply by the equipment they incorporate. Others can only be understood by looking much further back.
The sound system installation at Plaza Universitaria, one of the most representative spaces in the revitalization of downtown San Salvador, has another story behind it. Behind the sixteen DAS Audio Action 508 loudspeakers that now accompany the daily flow of thousands of visitors lies a story that began decades earlier, when a small family business decided to take a different approach.
Today, Electrónica 2001 is one of the benchmark companies in El Salvador’s professional audio market. With eight branches located throughout the country, it represents some of the industry’s most recognized brands while also operating a division specializing in the production of major international events. Its beginnings, however, were far more modest.
Everything started more than fifty-five years ago, when José Porfirio Gómez founded a business dedicated to selling electronic equipment. Over time, musical instruments, sound systems, professional lighting, and eventually the representation of international manufacturers were added to the company’s portfolio, shaping the business it is today.
For Diego Gómez, currently responsible for purchasing and brand development within the company, his personal story is inseparable from the evolution of the business.
School vacations never meant time off. From a very young age, there was only one destination.
“As far back as I can remember, I was six or seven years old when my father told us, ‘Vacation? No way. When school is out, you’re going to the store.'”
That family decision meant that Diego and his brothers experienced virtually every role imaginable before taking on commercial responsibilities. They started by parking cars, then cleaning musical instruments. Later, they assisted the sales team, served customers, and helped prepare orders for delivery.
Over the years, that experience grew into a genuine passion for the industry.
Today, Diego is not only involved in selecting and acquiring brands, but also provides technical support for the operation of Producciones 2001, the division responsible for the major international concerts held throughout the country.
The company supplies sound systems, LED screens, stages, and all the infrastructure required for large-scale productions. That dual perspective—as both a distributor and a professional end user—has become one of Electrónica 2001’s greatest strengths.
A relationship that grew alongside the Salvadoran market
When DAS Audio decided to strengthen its international presence, Electrónica 2001 was one of the first companies to embrace the brand in the Salvadoran market. Nearly three decades have passed since then.
Throughout that time, the evolution of both companies has followed an almost parallel path.
“In El Salvador, DAS is synonymous with quality, technological innovation, and outstanding sound. The brand enjoys tremendous recognition here.”
That reputation was not built solely on product performance. It was also the result of a business relationship founded on trust.
“What impressed us the most was the openness and the family atmosphere that defines the brand. When you combine excellent products with people who treat their customers like family, I believe that’s the perfect combination.”
Over the years, that philosophy evolved alongside the Salvadoran market itself.
As DAS Audio expanded its portfolio with increasingly specialized solutions, Electrónica 2001 also broadened its ability to serve a wide variety of customers—from musicians taking their first step into professional sound systems to churches, system integrators, government institutions, and rental companies.
“We offer everything from consumer solutions to ARA Series line array systems. Our customers have access to the entire portfolio.”
The first major step
Long before Plaza Universitaria, another project marked a turning point for the company.
Electrónica 2001 decided to expand its business by entering the live event production market.
“We were the first production company to invest in a large-scale Aero 38 and Aero 28 system. We handled Ricky Martin, Ricardo Arjona, RBD… virtually every major concert that came to El Salvador for several years.”
Those productions helped strengthen DAS Audio’s reputation in the local market, and for many entrepreneurs beginning to build rental sound companies, that experience became a benchmark.
Over time, that reputation became one of the brand’s greatest assets in the country.
A new challenge in the heart of San Salvador
Decades later, that experience would once again be put to the test—this time in a very different type of project.
Plaza Universitaria was created as part of the historic downtown revitalization program promoted by the Government of El Salvador. Located next to the National Palace, the development was conceived to blend contemporary architecture with one of the city’s most important heritage districts, creating a gathering place for residents and visitors with restaurants, leisure areas, and public spaces spread across two levels.
Public response quickly exceeded expectations. Even before its official inauguration, the plaza was already attracting visitors and businesses had begun operating.
There was, however, one essential element still missing.
“For several months, the plaza operated without a sound system. Eventually, the need arose to bring more life and energy to the space,” Diego recalls.
At first glance, the challenge seemed straightforward.
Until the constraints began to emerge.
The architecture limited the installation of additional suspended elements. The building featured an irregular layout, while its extensive glass and metal surfaces generated multiple acoustic reflections. To make matters even more challenging, there were no updated architectural drawings available on which to base a conventional system design.
Solving that puzzle required far more than simply selecting a good sound system. It required experience.
Not every area of the venue served the same purpose. Some functioned as circulation corridors, while others concentrated restaurants, seating areas, or gathering points where visitors remained for extended periods.
“Our priority was coverage. We spoke with the plaza’s operations team to understand where the highest concentrations of people gathered and where they tended to stay the longest. Based on that information, we concluded that sixteen loudspeakers would be needed to cover the entire venue.”
But the challenge did not end there. The building combined large glass façades, stone, concrete, and metal structures—materials that naturally create multiple sound reflections and make achieving even coverage significantly more complex.
Versatility as the starting point
With those conditions in mind, Electrónica 2001 proposed a solution based on sixteen DAS Audio Action 508 systems.
Although the Action Series was originally developed for portable applications and small-scale sound reinforcement systems, its characteristics made it particularly well suited to this installation.
The decision was anything but accidental.
“For us, the Action 508 has always been an excellent option because it delivers outstanding sound pressure despite its compact size. In addition, the wooden enclosure provides a very professional appearance, while the C-Bracket allows the horn to be rotated without altering the system’s original coverage pattern.”
That flexibility made it possible to orient each loudspeaker according to the specific needs of different areas throughout the venue, maintaining consistent coverage even where the building’s architecture required unconventional mounting positions.
When time also becomes part of the project
There was another factor influencing every stage of the installation: the schedule.
Only a few weeks separated project approval from the beginning of the Easter holiday period.
The plaza was already operating, businesses were open, and the installation could not interfere with daily commercial activity.
For that reason, installation work was carried out overnight, taking advantage of the venue’s quietest hours to run cabling, install mounting hardware, and commission the system.
The immediate availability of the equipment also proved to be a decisive factor.
The Action Series is one of the fastest-moving product lines in Electrónica 2001’s inventory, allowing the company to respond quickly without relying on manufacturing or import lead times.
In projects where deadlines are so tight, having the right product available at exactly the right moment can be just as important as the technology itself.
The moment the system came to life
Every installation has a defining moment. At Plaza Universitaria, it came during the final system tuning.
After individually balancing each of the sixteen loudspeakers and walking the venue to verify sound pressure levels and coverage, the time came to hear the system perform as a whole.
The first reaction came almost immediately.
“The first thing they told us was, ‘Turn it down because it’s too loud,'” Diego recalls with a laugh.
Ironically, the system was operating well below its capacity, delivering only about forty percent of its available output. That headroom, however, had been one of the project’s primary objectives.
The plaza welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors during weekends and peak tourist seasons, so maintaining sufficient operating headroom ensures that the system can adapt to varying occupancy levels without sacrificing intelligibility or sound quality.
Much more than a sale
The relationship between Electrónica 2001 and DAS Audio does not end once a system has been installed.
Behind every project is a process of technical validation and ongoing support that reflects the philosophy both companies share when developing solutions throughout the region.
Whenever conditions allow, projects are reviewed together with DAS Audio’s technical team to verify coverage, system configurations, and design criteria before installation begins.
That support ultimately becomes an added value for the end user.
Customers receive more than a sound system—they also gain access to a network of technical support, warranty services, and ongoing assistance that continues long after commissioning.
In institutional projects of this scale, where daily operation cannot tolerate interruptions, that level of support can be just as important as the performance of the product itself.
A relationship that continues to grow
Looking ahead, Diego Gómez does not speak only about new products—he speaks about continuity.
He speaks about a partnership that has accompanied Electrónica 2001’s growth for nearly three decades and, in his view, still has a long future ahead.
The solutions recently introduced by DAS Audio, particularly those aimed at the professional integration and installation market, reinforce that confidence.
“I don’t see a future for our company without DAS. On the contrary, we’re looking to build even more partnerships and strategies to provide complete audio solutions throughout our country.”
Diego also highlights the support the company has received over the years from the DAS Audio team, particularly during the development of integration projects.
In that regard, he expresses his appreciation for the ongoing support of Leandro Argüello, Director of Sales for Latin America, and Fernando Nanao, Applications Engineer, whose technical expertise and willingness to collaborate have been invaluable with every new challenge.
Plaza Universitaria represents far more than another installation within Electrónica 2001’s portfolio.
It demonstrates how nearly three decades of experience make it possible to tackle projects where product knowledge, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of the space are far more important than simply installing equipment.
Because every project represents much more than a technical solution—it is the result of years of work, trust, and shared decisions that ultimately build lasting relationships.
