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Audiophile Hero Mobile Fidelity Hit With Multi-Million Dollar Class Action Lawsuit

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the cover of a recent Pretenders record reissue from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

Has MoFi Been Pretending?

A lawsuit alleging a variety of deceptive practices by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Inc. (Mobile Fidelity or MoFi), a major player in the premium analog vinyl record community, has been filed by premium vinyl record fan Adam Stiles. Stiles is bringing this case on behalf of himself “…and all others similarly situated against Defendent Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, Inc.”

Those whom he seeks to represent are all customers who purchased MoFi products since 2011 on the basis of the company’s assurance of its products’ pure analog, direct from the master tape, heritage. It turns out that this crucial selling point for the company is…allegedly…in many cases, a lie.

See more on the alleged deception by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

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Google Intensified Its Patent War With Sonos, Launched Battle on New Front

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After two years of tussling in courts, with both sides registering a mix of wins and losses on various matters, you’d think some kind of settlement would be in order. But last week, Google intensified its patent war with Sonos by opening up yet another front with two new lawsuits on voice control and other technologies, leading me to believe that any type of settlement is yet down the road.

Learn how Google has opened a new front with Sonos

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Masimo Quarterly Report Offers a First Look at Sound United Numbers & Future

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Joe Kiani, Masimo CEO

Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: MASI), a global designer and producer of medical products and associated services that recently acquired Sound United, reported its second quarter fiscal 2022 results this week. With this filing, we get to see real data on the size and performance of Sound United, which the company acquired in April.

Learn more on the Masimo report, including the Sound United results

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Sonos Surprises Wall St.; Stock Value Drops >18% in After-Hours Trading

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Sonos Q2 2022

Consumer Biz Softens, Revises Forecasts Downward, CFO Departs

Wall Street hates surprises, especially when public companies fail to hit analysts’ estimates and when the company is forced to cut previously issued financial estimates based on a deteriorating macroeconomic environment. Sonos hit a surprisingly sour note in its report today on fiscal 2022 third-quarter results – soundly missing expectations, cutting forward guidance on future results, and announcing the CFO is leaving the company. The result of this terrible trifecta of bad news? Sonos stock dropped as much as 20% in after-hours trading.

See more on Sonos’ third quarter report

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Big Changes Hit Sound United as Terminated President Duffy Exits Today

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Kevin Duffy, head of Sound United terminated by Masimo
Kevin Duffy

Sound United VP James Krakowski Announces Departure As Well

On April 11, 2022, Masimo Corp. appointed Kevin Duffy – then CEO of Sound United – President of the Consumer Division of Masimo Corp. as part of its $1 billion acquisition of Viper Holdings Corp., Sound United’s parent company. Duffy was offered a fairly rich package, with salary and certain other benefits and perks that could be worth millions of dollars, in some cases after a vesting period.

Then, just ninety days later, the company filed paperwork with the SEC saying that it had terminated Duffy “without cause.”

See more on Duffy’s exit from Sound United and Masimo

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Russound Partners with Jetbuilt; Also Reveals New Products for CEDIA Expo 2022

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jetbuilt logo

Russound announced this week that it is partnering with Jetbuilt, a project management software tool that is popular with custom integrators. Separately, the company announced the new products it will be focusing on during the upcoming CEDIA Expo 2022 event.

Learn more on these Russound announcements

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U.K.-Based Lithe Audio to Enter U.S. with Wireless AiO Speaker Systems

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Lithe Audio, a London, U.K.-based designer and manufacturer of unique, all-in-one, wireless streaming music solutions announced on Wednesday that it is entering the U.S. market for the first time at CEDIA Expo 2022. The company is experienced in supplying products to European commercial and residential channels since its founding in 2014 and is now expanding its distribution here in America. With a unique line of products, such as all-in-one powered in-ceiling/in-wall, surface mount, and outdoor speaker solutions, the company offers a new approach to system configurations.

See more on Lithe Audio solutions now available in the U.S.

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Gettin’ Tough Out There – Sony Cuts Net Profit Outlook for Current Fiscal Year

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Sony PlayStation 5 games

Late last week, Sony Group announced that they were cutting their net profit forecast for the current fiscal year, fiscal 2022 which ends March 2023. Why are they trimming their profit expectations? It appears that Sony is experiencing its version of a post-COVID Peloton/Netflix sales decline as video game sales are weakening and its costs related to a recent acquisition are rising.

See more on the declining profit forecast at Sony

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Yamaha Corp Warns of Continuing Chip Shortage

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Shizuoka, Japan-based Yamaha Corporation – the world’s largest musical instrument maker that also offers pro, commercial, and residential audio gear is warning markets that the global chip shortage – while improving marginally lately – is still creating challenges that constrict manufacturers’ ability to achieve production goals. It is the first such warning I’ve seen from a company well known for acoustic pianos – but whose electronic instruments and audio gear generate more revenue.

See more of what the Yamaha President had to say about chips

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Tiny Koss Scores Big Win over Giant Apple in Patent Dispute Settlement

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Koss Corporaton headquarters in Wisconsin

Expects $10-$14 Million in Licensing Fees in Current Quarter

Back in August 2020, I told you about Koss Corporation filing patent infringement claims against Apple Inc, Bose Corporation, PEAG LLC (JLAB Audio), Plantronics, and Skullcandy. It seemed like an improbable journey for the relatively small specialty headphone maker, but they plunged ahead anyway confident that their wireless audio patents had been unfairly infringed.

This week, after two years of legal battles that had intensified in 2022 and on the eve of a jury trial with mighty Apple, Inc. the two parties reached an agreement settling all disputes in a deal that looks really sweet for Koss.

See more on the big win for Koss

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