Azione Unlimited, a retail buying group of custom integrators, announced today that it has partnered with Sony Corp. to offer its line to Azione’s nationwide membership. The group will carry products from Sony’s AV specialty and custom integration channel division.
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With AVC Sales Declining & Losses Increasing, Did Nortek’s CEO Signal a Change?
BREAKING NEWS
Nortek, Inc. on Tuesday released their fourth quarter and full year results for fiscal year 2014. The company showed sales & profit growth for the quarter – although they booked a net loss for the year. But in a conference call with analysts to discuss the Q4 results, Nortek President and CEO Michael Clarke was questioned specifically about the Audio, Video & Control Solutions (AVC) segment – and he struggled to explain why the company stays committed to the business.
See more on Nortek’s results…and on AVC’s struggles… [Read more…] about With AVC Sales Declining & Losses Increasing, Did Nortek’s CEO Signal a Change?
Sonos/D&M Lawsuit Takes a Surprising & Slightly Dark Turn
BREAKING NEWS
Earlier this month, we reported that D&M Holdings U.S., Inc. (D&M) [and Denon Electronics] had responded to the patent infringement lawsuit filed by Sonos, Inc. (Sonos) this past October by asking the judge to dismiss or throw out the case. Now, in a surprising twist of events, D&M has followed this initial left jab with a right uppercut that may result in Sonos’ attorneys getting knocked out of the case altogether – whether the judge dismisses it or not.
See more on this surprising – and slightly unusual – turn of events… [Read more…] about Sonos/D&M Lawsuit Takes a Surprising & Slightly Dark Turn
Major Changes at Tivoli Audio – DeVesto’s Out; Interim CEO Announced
Big changes are afoot at Tivoli, the quirky audio products manufacturer that had a goal of providing nicely designed, easy-to-use, high quality audio products sold largely direct-to-consumers at reasonable prices. Founded by well-known industry personality Tom DeVesto, Tivoli had, for some time, remarkable success selling an almost retro-designed table radio…at a time when most companies had abandoned that category.
Now, big changes are at play – with DeVesto out and a new Interim CEO appointed by the Tivoli board.
See more on these dramatic changes at niche-player Tivoli… [Read more…] about Major Changes at Tivoli Audio – DeVesto’s Out; Interim CEO Announced
AudioControl Launches All-New Architect 2660
As promised at last month’s CES, AudioControl is now shipping the latest model in its popular Architect line – the 2660. Sure to be a workhorse amplifier that will be the backbone of many system installations, the Architect 2660 brings a lot of channels, power, and flexibility to the table.
Learn more about the 2660 here… [Read more…] about AudioControl Launches All-New Architect 2660
NAD Offers Buyers of Select AVR & Pre/Pro Models a Free 4K Ultra HD Upgrade
NAD Electronics announced today that purchasers of select NAD audio/video receivers (AVRs) and preamp/processors (Pre/Pros) will receive a certificate for a free 4K upgrade module expected to be delivered later this year. The company says this is a $600 value and will ensure that customers can buy these products now with confidence that they won’t be left out of the latest technology revolution, 4K Ultra HD performance.
See more on this new program and learn about the upcoming module… [Read more…] about NAD Offers Buyers of Select AVR & Pre/Pro Models a Free 4K Ultra HD Upgrade
SpringDeck Adds More Rep Firms to National Salesforce
SpringDeck, LLC announced today that it has expanded its national sales force with the addition of five more sales representative firms. The company had previously announced last month their first representative appointment of Aim High Audio.
See more on SpringDeck moving rapidly to set up their national sales network… [Read more…] about SpringDeck Adds More Rep Firms to National Salesforce
After Fighting Idea for Years, Sony is Ready to Dump TV, A/V, & Smartphone Businesses
In a revealing presentation with the press yesterday in Japan, embattled Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai told the media that the company is finally ready to consider alternatives for its TV, A/V, and smartphone businesses, including exiting them. This is a stunning turnaround in strategy, not just for the inventor of the Trinitron picture tube, but for Hirai himself who had previously identified their TV and smartphone businesses as a core categories when he first took over as CEO in 2012.
See more on Sony’s strategy to turn around their business…which has many skeptics… [Read more…] about After Fighting Idea for Years, Sony is Ready to Dump TV, A/V, & Smartphone Businesses
D&M Fires Back – Asks Judge to Throw Out Sonos Lawsuit
BREAKING NEWS
D&M Holdings fired back at Sonos this week, filing papers with the United States District Court asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit launched against them by Sonos last October alleging patent infringement. Saying that Sonos’ complaints, both the original and a later-amended one, “fail to meet the pleading requirements” established by the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. District Court.
Likely not the response that Sonos was hoping for, D&M has bounced the case back to the judge for an immediate ruling.
D&M’s response included some interesting details… [Read more…] about D&M Fires Back – Asks Judge to Throw Out Sonos Lawsuit
S. Korea Stakes Claim as World’s #1 TV Supplier
New market data confirms what you probably already suspected, South Korea is the #1 supplier of TV products to the world. Home to both Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, S. Korean media is calling itself the ‘Country of TV.’
