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After Transfer to L.A., Monster vs. Beats Picks Up Again

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Beats Won Round One; Monster Wins Round Two

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Noel Lee at a past CE Line Show

It’s been ten months now since Beats Electronics, LLC won their motion to transfer the lawsuit brought against them by Monster, LLC, from San Mateo courts up in Northern California to their home turf of Los Angeles – a big win that reduces their costs and increases their comfort. But if Beats thought that their hometown courts would give them an advantage by being more favorable to their position in this case – they got a rude awakening earlier this month, when the LA judge offered a mixed ruling on several issues that mostly went against Beats’ desires.

See more on our update on this clash of titans in the headphone game… [Read more…] about After Transfer to L.A., Monster vs. Beats Picks Up Again

Marantz & Denon Add Auro-3D to Select Models

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Firmware Upgrade Brings New Technology to Top Models

Auro-3D Intro SlideMarantz and Denon both announced this week that they are offering a firmware update that adds Auro-3D, a popular surround sound system in Europe, to two top models in each brand. This upgrade will make these models the most comprehensive home theater center available today – featuring Auro-3D, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X – the most advanced surround sound technologies available.

See more about this move by Marantz and Denon…and about Auro-3D… [Read more…] about Marantz & Denon Add Auro-3D to Select Models

After Year-Long Search, B&O Finds a Buyer…But Only One

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Investors Who Bid Up Stock on News of a Buyer, May Be Sorry

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Bang & Olufsen A/S, the well-known Danish premium technology brand that balances high performance with high design, has spent a year searching for a prospective buyer. The good news is that they were successful. The bad news is that they were only a little successful…they found exactly one potentially interested party. And as any businessperson can tell you, that there is only one bidder doesn’t bode well for sparking a bidding war to drive up the deal to ever more profitable levels.

See the problematic situation B&O has gotten themselves into… [Read more…] about After Year-Long Search, B&O Finds a Buyer…But Only One

Atlantic Technology Launches Passive Soundbar & Speakers

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Atlantic Technology logoAtlantic Technology announced this week that it is launching a new line of home theater and music speakers, including a unique product they call a “front-stage” speaker which resembles a traditional soundbar, but is passive. All models are based on the same drivers, so that whether used separately or together, the sound is fully timber-matched for consistent imaging and sound quality.

See more on these new models from Atlantic Technology… [Read more…] about Atlantic Technology Launches Passive Soundbar & Speakers

Moody’s Downgrades Gibson Brands Credit to Junk

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Gibson Brands CEO Responds to Moody’s Downgrade

Photo of Gibson busThe music industry is positively buzzing about the announcement late last week by Moody’s Investors Service that, for the second time in three months, it has downgraded the credit rating of Nashville, Tennessee-based Gibson Brands. Gibson (formerly Gibson Guitars) is a tightly held private company that launched an aggressive diversification strategy a few years ago, focusing on acquiring several consumer electronics brands such as Onkyo Corp. and Teac, Corp. and recently Philips.

Now Moody’s suggests the debt used to acquire these brands is dragging the company down… [Read more…] about Moody’s Downgrades Gibson Brands Credit to Junk

Thiel Audio Makes Retroactive CEO Announcement & More

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Third CEO Since Acquisition Three Years Ago

New Thiel logo black backgroundOn Monday of this week, Thiel Audio Products, Inc. unexpectedly announced that it has hired a new CEO for the organization. This announcement appears to refer to the CEO we previously told you about back in October 2015, although the release announces his appointment retroactively, effective January 15, 2016.

See more about who Thiel’s new CEO is, and their statement about what’s next… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Makes Retroactive CEO Announcement & More

Yet Another High-End Brand Turns to Internet Sales, But This Time’s Different

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This Time Brand Takes Local Dealers With Them

Cary Audio logoRaleigh, NC-based Cary Audio announced this week that they will allow their high-end specialty electronics line to be sold online. At first blush, this looks like yet another specialty brand disrupting their bricks-and-mortar dealer base in favor of powerful online dealers – much like our recent story on McIntosh Labs doing just that. But this time, Cary took a completely different approach – one that takes their local dealers along with them.

See how Cary built an entirely different program in going online… [Read more…] about Yet Another High-End Brand Turns to Internet Sales, But This Time’s Different

Nortek Fiscal 2015 Q4 & Full Year Results are Mixed; AVC is Still Sliding

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Nortek LogoNortek, Inc., a diversified manufacturer that through its Core Brands division markets several brands in the custom integration channel, released this week its fiscal 2015 fourth quarter and full year results. Overall, the results were mixed, as the company continues to struggle through a huge consolidation and experience shifts in its sales mix.

But one thing that remains clear is that their AVC segment, the segment that contains the Core Brands businesses, is continuing to struggle with a dramatic sales decline (27.1% decline in the quarter – 20.5% sales decline for the year) and increased losses ($20.8 million loss for the year as compared to a $19.2 million loss for 2014, ).

See more on the continuing struggles at Nortek… [Read more…] about Nortek Fiscal 2015 Q4 & Full Year Results are Mixed; AVC is Still Sliding

In Wake of Strata-gee Article, McIntosh Sends Letter to Dealers

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Cropped image from WOM Last week, we broke the news on Strata-gee.com that McIntosh Laboratories, historically a strong supporter of specialty A/V dealers, had decided to open up sales through the Internet. This decision hit the existing, largely offline, McIntosh specialty dealers hard…many reaching out to us to express their frustration.

The same day our story was posted, McIntosh electronically distributed a letter to dealers from Dan Wakefield, VP of North American Sales for McIntosh, explaining the company’s decision.

See what McIntosh said to dealers about their decision… [Read more…] about In Wake of Strata-gee Article, McIntosh Sends Letter to Dealers

TiO Adds Wi-Fi Lamp Dimmer & Software Update

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TiOTurn it On (TiO), makers of smart and simple home automation solutions, announced this week that they have added a new Wi-Fi controlled lamp dimmer and delivered a system software update that adds exciting new functions to their system. The clever new dimmer module and software update are part of the company’s continued system enhancement and update program.

See more on this latest update from TiO… [Read more…] about TiO Adds Wi-Fi Lamp Dimmer & Software Update