Denon announced two new A/V receivers (AVRs) on Wednesday, both sporting Dolby’s latest Atmos surround sound technology and, hedging their bets, ready for DTS:X with a free firmware update later this year. These new AVRs are moderately priced and, as is the rule these days, absolutely packed with features.
Manufacturers
Strata-gee Visits TiO HQ & Factory
How dogged are we in pursuing stories for Strata-gee.com readers? Dogged enough to travel to Florida…in June! Yes, we traveled earlier this month to Melbourne, FL to visit Anuva Automation, parent company of home automation upstart Turn It On (TiO). There has apparently been a lot going on at TiO lately with a flurry of recent press releases and we wanted to see for ourselves, just exactly what the company has been up to in the still early stages of its launch.
See what we found in Florida, including photos of their facility… [Read more…] about Strata-gee Visits TiO HQ & Factory
Proxy Adviser Tells Japanese Investors to Vote Out CEOs at Sony & Sharp
We live in interesting times! In a news report out of Japan that is, shall we say, unusual – proxy investment advisory firm ISS is recommending that Japanese shareholders vote against the reelection of the top executives at both Sony Corp. and Sharp Corp. at upcoming annual shareholders meeting for the firms. Coming from the land of consensus and support for local brands, this news is quite surprising.
See more on ISS’s recommendation & the reason they suggest these execs must go… [Read more…] about Proxy Adviser Tells Japanese Investors to Vote Out CEOs at Sony & Sharp
Samsung Display Launches New Transparent & Mirror OLED Displays
See more on Samsung’s new mirror and transparent digital signage displays… [Read more…] about Samsung Display Launches New Transparent & Mirror OLED Displays
D&M Holdings Borrows $25 Million to Build More HEOS
An independent commercial finance company, Siena Lending Group, announced last week that it has worked with North Mill Capital to close on a three-year asset-based revolving credit facility in the amount of $25 million with D&M Holdings, Inc. and D&M Canada, Inc. Siena says that the funds will support D&M’s growth and their “seasonal working capital requirements.” It will also, apparently, help Denon grow their HEOS line. Why do we say that? Read on…
See more on this, including how this deal connects to Denon’s HEOS line… [Read more…] about D&M Holdings Borrows $25 Million to Build More HEOS
Quirky HiFiMan Launches HE1000 High-End Headphones
HiFiMan, an independent manufacturer of high-end headphones, portable music players, and associated accessories, announced on Wednesday a new top-of-the-line, full-sized headphone – the HE1000. Featuring the company’s preferred planar magnetic technology and a breakthrough diaphragm design, these headphones are for serious music listening, or as the company puts it, “intended for reference use in home or studio.”
Learn more about this remarkable high-end model, with a nano-tech breakthrough… [Read more…] about Quirky HiFiMan Launches HE1000 High-End Headphones
Shareholders Slam Sharp’s Stock
Sharp Corp., as we have previously reported, is going through some seriously tough times. Earlier this month, company-connected sources had told the Japanese media that the company would announce drastic restructuring measures, including significant staff cutbacks – not just in export markets, but on their home turf of Japan as well. And while the company went on to officially announce these cuts, it did not take any additional steps to fundamentally restructure their company, disappointing investors who were looking for much more.
Shareholders in Japan have slammed Sharp for its weak-kneed restructuring…See more… [Read more…] about Shareholders Slam Sharp’s Stock
TV Maker Funai Says 2015 is the Year of 4K…Cheap 4K, That Is
Osaka, Japan-based Funai Electric announced earlier this month that it will release a line of inexpensive 4K televisions in the North American market this fall, in time for the region’s major selling season. The company expects this year to be the year when 4K UHD TVs hit it big and they want to be ready to grab market share with their lineup.
Is it time to drive 4K pricing down to attract the masses? Funai says yes… [Read more…] about TV Maker Funai Says 2015 is the Year of 4K…Cheap 4K, That Is
Soundcast Acquired by Private Equity Company
Soundcast, a marketer of primarily wireless outdoor speaker products, announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by Hancock Park Associates, a private equity company out of Los Angeles, with offices in Houston and Denver. The announcement says that the new owners have also appointed The OAC Group “to manage and run Soundcast.”
It was a surprising development for a company that’s had a bumpy ride through its history… [Read more…] about Soundcast Acquired by Private Equity Company
Savant Offers App for Apple Watch
Savant, a leading home control & automation company, announced today that it is making an app available for the Apple smart watch – called, logically enough, the Savant App on Apple Watch. Since Savant is one of the only home automation companies to base their control systems on the Apple operating system, it only makes sense that they would be one of the first in the tech business to offer an Apple Watch app.
