• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Strata-gee
  • Contact Us
  • Free Newsletter
  • Sponsor Strata-gee
  • Privacy Policy

Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

Crestron Cevo Remote
AudioControl Single Zone Amps
What Savant Can Do
Sonance James Small Aperture Series
  • Latest Posts
  • Strategy
  • Technology
  • Products
  • People
  • Statistics
  • Financial
  • Legal
  • Economic
  • Events
You are here: Home / 2014 / Archives for September 2014

Archives for September 2014

SpeakerCraft…Just Got SpeakerCrafty

September 11, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Engineering drawing of new AIM Series 2 speakersEXCLUSIVE PREVIEW!

The hushed buzz of whispers of trouble at Nortek’s Core Brands had grown over the summer – culminating in almost a roar in the wake of Nortek’s last quarterly report identifying its AV division as troubled. One of the premier flagships of the Core Brands stable is SpeakerCraft. As if the SpeakerCraft crew didn’t already have enough on its plate countering these issues, the company faced a new challenge as its former founders launch a new competitor (Origin Acoustics) to a lot of noise.

But don’t count them out just yet! SpeakerCraft just got SpeakerCrafty…

[Read more…] about SpeakerCraft…Just Got SpeakerCrafty

Filed Under: Brands, Manufacturers, News, Pivot Point, Strategy, Tech Trends Tagged With: Core Brands, Nortek, SpeakerCraft

Burkhardt Builds Big Buzz…But is It Bull?

September 9, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Origin Acoustics logoFor months now, the industry’s poorest kept secret has been the reentry back into the intensely dense atmosphere of the custom integration industry by the colorful and spark-spewing starship Jeremy Burkhardt – one of the original founders of SpeakerCraft, which he left (forced-out our sources tell us – Burkhardt says he “retired”) in 2012 in one of the many Nortek reorganizations. At first just a rumor, Burkhardt a few months back began a series of “leaks” about his decision to launch a new company. Speaking mostly one-on-one, off-the-record with various journalists, dealers and reps…the buzz began to build – finally reaching its crescendo on the eve of the 2014 CEDIA Expo.

Just days before Expo, Residential Systems unveiled Burkhardt’s new venture , Origin Acoustics, to the world – followed a few days later by press releases to the rest of the media.

As Origin is revealed, does it exceed the pre-launch hype…or is it just bull?… [Read more…] about Burkhardt Builds Big Buzz…But is It Bull?

Filed Under: Brands, Manufacturers, Marketing, News, Pivot Point, Specialty, Strategy Tagged With: Jeremy Burkhardt, Origin Acoustics, SpeakerCraft

Sponsor Spotlight – The DaVinci Group

September 7, 2014 by Ted 1 Comment

Sponsor Spotlight graphicThe DaVinci Group – Delivering World Class Products Today

SponsorSpotlight_AdvThe DaVinci Group, a Strata-gee & SYNCH sponsor, is home to innovative brands such as TDG Audio, Vanguard Dynamics, and Blue Aura. It is a dynamic growing organization with a World-Class product line-up, installer-savvy support systems and industry-leading warranties. Started by a seasoned group of custom installation industry professionals – you can rely on The DaVinci Group to bring you the best quality products that are: easier to install, better sounding, perform for the long haul – and are backed with one of the industry’s best warranty programs.

And now, the company is launching 35+ new products at the 2014 CEDIA Expo that you’re going to want to see…and hear. See more on their blockbuster new line-up below… [Read more…] about Sponsor Spotlight – The DaVinci Group

Filed Under: Sponsor Spotlight Tagged With: Blue Aura, Dan Kippycash, The Davinci Group, Vanguard Dynamics

Onkyo Promised and Now Delivers True Atmos Performance on Select Existing AVR Models

September 4, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

OnkyoAtmos2This past June at CE Week in New York City, Onkyo was one of two manufacturers (the other being Pioneer…now part of Onkyo) who were the first in the industry to announce new Atmos-enabled AV receivers. Atmos, Dolby Labs’ latest surround sound technology that adds innovations such as “height” speakers and sound “objects,” promises to deliver to consumers an all-new, in-home entertainment experience.

But not only did Onkyo succeed in being one of the first manufacturers to introduce the technology to the market in yet-to-be-delivered new products – it went one step further and announced that it would offer owners of certain existing Onkyo A/V receiver models the ability to upgrade to Atmos (Atmos-upgradable models) through a firmware upgrade by the end of the third quarter.

Today, Onkyo announced that they will deliver on their Atmos upgrade promise… [Read more…] about Onkyo Promised and Now Delivers True Atmos Performance on Select Existing AVR Models

Filed Under: Brands, Manufacturers, News, Pivot Point, Strategy, Tech Trends Tagged With: A/V receiver, Atmos, AVR, Dolby Atmos, home theater, Onkyo

Bain Capital Fails in Its Bid to Restructure D&M Holdings Buyout Financing

September 4, 2014 by Ted 6 Comments

Bain Capital logoIn February, we told you about a report from Reuters that Bain Capital was seeking to restructure their financing package originally constructed when they purchased  D&M Holdings (now known as the D+M Group) back in 2008. The original package was said to total ¥74.1 billion ($725.2 million), the senior debt portion of which is maturing this month. Reuters suggested at the time that Bain may experience difficulties getting a new deal, despite their financial prowess.

Now we learn that Reuters was right – Bain Capital has failed in its attempt to restructure the D&M Holdings debt.

See more on just what happened when Bain went back to the well on D&M… [Read more…] about Bain Capital Fails in Its Bid to Restructure D&M Holdings Buyout Financing

Filed Under: Brands, Financial, News, Pivot Point, Strategy Tagged With: Bain Capital, D&M Holdings, D+M Group

Panasonic Gives a New Meaning to ‘Wearable’

September 3, 2014 by Ted 2 Comments

DEVICE COULD HAVE APPLICATIONS FOR INSTALLERS

Photo of Panasonc camerasPanasonic Corp. announced last week that it is launching a new product that it believes will capture major market share in the market for what they call a “wearable assist robot.” Starting in 2015, the company will field this “wearable” that – for lack of a better description – is like a lightweight, backpack-style partial exoskeleton.

See this new product with potential applications for any job requiring heavy lifting… [Read more…] about Panasonic Gives a New Meaning to ‘Wearable’

Filed Under: Asian Connection, Manufacturers, News, Strategy, Tech Trends Tagged With: Activelink, exoskeleton, Mitsui & Co., Panasonic

Private Equity Kingpin KKR Invests into Savant; Sets $215 Million Valuation

September 3, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Savant logoThe Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday that private equity powerhouse Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) has invested $90 million for a 35% stake in Savant Systems, LLC (Savant). While this is a minority stake, KKR is obviously bullish on the home automation supplier making what the WSJ says is an “eight-figure bet” that places a $215 million valuation on the home automation supplier.

See more on this news on a rapidly rising home automation supplier… [Read more…] about Private Equity Kingpin KKR Invests into Savant; Sets $215 Million Valuation

Filed Under: Brands, Financial, Marketing, News, Pivot Point, Strategy Tagged With: KKR, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Savant Systems, William J. Lynch

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sign-Up for Our FREE Newsletter

loader

Latest Posts

Forget the Flip-Phone, Samsung Launches Its First Tri-Fold Smartphone

A Trial Balloon That Might Be a Catalyst to Segment Growth Years ago, way … [Read More...] about Forget the Flip-Phone, Samsung Launches Its First Tri-Fold Smartphone

  • Origin Acoustics Appoints Jeff Brewer as Executive Vice President of Sales
  • Consumer Confidence Drops Sharply in November
  • The Most ‘Rewatched’ Movies on Thanksgiving Weekend, According to JustWatch

Categories

Sponsors

Crestron Cevo Remote
AudioControl Single Zone Amps
Sonance James Small Aperture
Savant

Tag Cloud

acquisition Amazon Apple AudioControl B&W Bowers & Wilkins CEDIA CEDIA Expo CES Control4 Core Brands COVID-19 Crestron D&M Holdings Denon Emerald Expositions Foxconn Gibson Brands Gibson Guitar Google headphones Henry Juszkiewicz Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. housing starts Integra Joe Kiani LG Masimo Nortek OLED Onkyo Panasonic patent infringement Pioneer Samsung Savant Sharp smart home SnapAV Snap One Sonos Sony Sound United SpeakerCraft Toshiba

Footer

Got News?

HEY PR & Marketing Pros: Have NEWS for Strata-gee readers?

Send it to: HotNews@strata-gee.com

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Sponsor Strata-gee

Strata-gee Ads

Archives

Translate

Ted Green Bio

A former dealer, manufacturer, distributor & more. Focusing on business strategy, my goal is to help you make better decisions for greater success.

Follow Ted Green

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2025 Strata-gee.com · The Stratecon Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved · Log in