We seem to be in a week of big deals. First, we learned that SnapAV had acquired Control4, then we learned that the original founder of Paradigm has acquired back the Paradigm, Anthem, and Martin Logan brands from the private equity company that had bought the company from him some time back. Now we learn that Sound United, owner of Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, HEOS, Classé, and Boston Acoustics has entered into an agreement with Onkyo Corp. to purchase Onkyo’s premier lineup of brands, including: Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer and Pioneer Elite.
Management
Emerald Expo Releases Q1 Results with Head-Scratching Statements
Does Good Spin Offset Bad Numbers?
Emerald Expositions Events, Inc. (NYSE:EEX), a leading provider of trade shows and events and the current owner of CEDIA Expo, announced their financial results today for the first fiscal quarter of 2019. And while this tends to be a rather mundane or even robotic process, there were a few things unique about this report from Emerald – most notably their head-scratching comments that dramatically contrasted with the numbers.
See Emerald’s results & comments…
[Read more…] about Emerald Expo Releases Q1 Results with Head-Scratching StatementsLG’s Fiscal 2019 Q1 Revenues & Income Decline
Overall Results Decline, But Company Hails Record Results in Home Appliances
LG Electronics Inc., a leading manufacturer in a diverse range of businesses, announced their fiscal 2019 first quarter results this week. With consolidated sales of KRW (Korean won) 14.92 trillion ($13.27 billion) and an operating profit of KRW 900.6 billion ($801.25 million), the company showed respectable numbers, but those results that represented a decline for the quarter.
LG’s Q1 declined, read on to see why…
[Read more…] about LG’s Fiscal 2019 Q1 Revenues & Income DeclineJames Loudspeaker Launches New Mavericks Division
Innovative architectural loudspeaker designer/manufacturer James Loudspeaker announced this week that it will split off its Mavericks theater products into their own division, the Mavericks Architectural Cinema (MAC) division. This new division will offer the company’s dramatic Mavericks theater speakers for both the high-end residential and commercial cinema installation markets.
See more on James’ new Mavericks division…
[Read more…] about James Loudspeaker Launches New Mavericks DivisionCEDIA Celebrates, Hoping You Don’t Notice That Little Spark Catching in the Corner
On March 28th CEDIA held a grand opening gala to celebrate their brand new $14 million glass and stone castle in Fishers, IN with about 250 of their closest friends. Depending on your viewpoint, this new facility is either a shining shrine to the strength of the custom integration tech association – or it is a monument to the monumental arrogance and ego of an association that is drifting further away from the very community it purports to serve.
But what many of these guests to the opening celebrations didn’t know was that, as they sipped champagne and oohed an ahhhd over the new gorgeous digs, there was yet another small member flare-up taking place in the background…with significant members expressing strong dissent on yet another Association initiative.
See more on this two worlds of CEDIA…
[Read more…] about CEDIA Celebrates, Hoping You Don’t Notice That Little Spark Catching in the CornerTech IPOs: Lyft, Uber, Pinterest… ComoAudio? Well, Sort Of…
Como Audio, Tom DeVesto’s latest innovative venture and maker of fine streaming smart speaker systems, has launched a funding campaign on Wefunder, seeking to raise between $100,000 to $1,000,000 in equity investment. Investors on the Wefunder site can buy preferred shares of Como Audio stock priced at $2.50/share and own a piece of the company.
You too can become a Como Audio owner…
[Read more…] about Tech IPOs: Lyft, Uber, Pinterest… ComoAudio? Well, Sort Of…Japan Opens Antitrust Inquiry into Amazon
At the urging the industry minister of Japan, the country’s Fair Trade Commission will look at a new program announced by Amazon Japan that some suggest may be anti-competitive in nature. Depending on the Commission’s findings, Amazon may be forced to abandon the idea, which is a form of a consumer rebate program.
See more on Amazon’s troubles in Japan…
[Read more…] about Japan Opens Antitrust Inquiry into AmazonStrata-gee Visits Russound: Steeped in History, Streaming into the Future
I arrived at my destination, Amtrak’s South Station in Boston, right on time. As I approached the doors to exit the station, my eyes suddenly focused on a shocking scene. Not only was there a torrential downpour – that was not a surprise, it had been raining as I departed New Jersey early that morning as well – but added to that downpour were gale force winds. It was like something out of a cheesy Hollywood disaster movie. I saw debris flying by horizontally, people struggling with popped-inside-out umbrellas as they attempted to fight the winds and stinging rain to remain on their feet.
Just then, my cell phone rang. It was an irrepressably jovial Charlie Porritt, CEO of Russound, telling me cheerfully he was only a couple of blocks away and would be there to pick me up in a couple of minutes. I pushed the disconnect button and said out loud to no one in particular – “I’m not going out there!”
See my trip to Russound with lots of photos…
[Read more…] about Strata-gee Visits Russound: Steeped in History, Streaming into the FutureJames Loudspeaker is Jammin’
James Loudspeaker came out with multiple announcements this week that give a strong indication that the company is growing. Not only has the manufacturer of high-quality residential and commercial architectural and landscape products added a new President, but also a new Director of Marketing and even announced a new headquarters and production facility in Nevada.
See more on James Loudspeaker growth in this announcement…
[Read more…] about James Loudspeaker is Jammin’Apple Supplier Foxconn Hit Hard by iPhone Sales Drop
Taiwan’s GDP Declines Due to Apple Cuts
We have followed Foxconn for years now, first picking up on them in 2012 when news had emerged that a significant Apple supplier was having problems with employees committing suicide – eventually forcing the company to install ‘suicide nets’ on their taller factories and offices to help thwart further suicide attempts. Foxconn has continued on to become one of Apple, Inc.’s largest iPhone supplier of parts and assembly.