founded by brian gary wachner in 1971 in his garage while he was employed as a field applications engineer for national semiconductor, bgw scored its first major success in 1974 when universal studios selected bgw to supply thousands of model 750 and 750a amplifiers for its sensurround cinema subwoofer sound effects systems. following the positive industry exposure from sensurround, bgw amps began to be installed permanently in many movie theaters as well as at theme parks and nightclubs. by 1978, bgw amplifiers were installed in greater numbers in discothèques than any other amplifier.