The Sennheiser Group, a well-known manufacturer of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission systems, launched two “pop-up” stores – one in New York and another in San Francisco – this past weekend. Their purpose? To showcase Sennheiser products and to highlight its “efforts to increase consumer awareness on the benefits of premium sound.”
Manufacturers
Despite Revenue Decline, JVC Kenwood Cuts Losses as Restructuring Takes Hold
JVC Kenwood Corp., the troubled consolidation of two struggling Japanese brands, seems to have turned a corner despite reporting fiscal Q2 and first half revenue declines and continuing losses. The company, which in January surprised many by announcing its decision to withdraw from the consumer electronics business to focus on B-to-B business, announced with pride that – although still showing a loss – the company has seen solid improvement in profits with dramatically reduced losses.
See more on this huge company in a big transition… [Read more…] about Despite Revenue Decline, JVC Kenwood Cuts Losses as Restructuring Takes Hold
Yamaha’s Fiscal First Half Results are Mixed
Yamaha Corporation released the results for its fiscal first semester or first half of the fiscal year 2015 (April 1, 2014 – September 30, 2014) with results generally positive, but mixed. Overall consolidated sales increased 4.4% to ¥206.4 billion ($1.9 billion) as compared to ¥197.7 billion ($1.8 billion) in the same period last year. But of some concern is the fact that only one of its four major business segments showed an increase in operating profits – and two of the four lost money during the period.
See more on Yamaha’s financial performance… [Read more…] about Yamaha’s Fiscal First Half Results are Mixed
Nortek Releases Q3 Results; Has AV Turned a Corner?
Nortek, Inc., a diversified manufacturer of commercial and residential products largely targeted towards the new construction business, announced on Monday the financial results of the third quarter of their current fiscal year. Overall, the results were mostly positive, although two of their business units saw revenues decline in the quarter. Surprise…surprise…neither of them were the newly designated AVC (Audio Video Control) segment, as you (and we) might have suspected.
AVC showed a sales increase. Does this mean AVC has turned a corner in results?… [Read more…] about Nortek Releases Q3 Results; Has AV Turned a Corner?
You Knew It Was Dying, But LG Makes It Official – Plasma is Dead
Yesterday in South Korea, LG Electronics made formal what we all knew was coming – they are ending production of all plasma display panel products. Even though we knew it was coming, somehow…it still hurts. We’ve had many an engineer tell us the plasma was the most accurate picture available – many saying they own it themselves. Certainly, they are sure to be ruing this day.
See more on this dramatic – and somewhat sad – announcement from LG… [Read more…] about You Knew It Was Dying, But LG Makes It Official – Plasma is Dead
Is Beta Better? Yamaha Launches First Earphones with Beta-Titanium Tubes
Yamaha Corp. announced today that it has launched a new line of earphones that includes a model with what it claims is the “world’s first” to use a beta-titanium sound tube. Yamaha’s EPH-M200 also features a “large-caliber” or diameter driver for better quality sound – and features a striking design available in three different colors.
Learn more about this unique new series of earphones from Yamaha… [Read more…] about Is Beta Better? Yamaha Launches First Earphones with Beta-Titanium Tubes
In First Step of Transformation, Thiel Terminates Reps
In a notice emailed to dealers last Thursday sporting a spiffy new corporate logo, Thiel took what appears to be the first step in what is promised to be a stream of “regular communications from us” regarding the company’s transformation from a legendary audiophile loudspeaker brand to a…well to what, we just don’t know yet. But what we do know is that the company has begun this transformation by terminating its entire national independent sales representative sales force.
See what Thiel told dealers was the reason for terminating their local sales rep…
[Read more…] about In First Step of Transformation, Thiel Terminates Reps
Sonos Sues to Halt HEOS
Congratulations Denon, your new HEOS system is so successful that wireless music monster Sonos has taken notice…and filed a lawsuit to stop it. It has been a open secret since we first learned of HEOS this past June that HEOS is meant to attack the same wireless music player market that Sonos essentially invented. Many have tried to take on Sonos…but none have come close to replicating the features and performance Sonos introduced to consumers. Until HEOS…
See more on this development. Will Denon fight? Or license?… [Read more…] about Sonos Sues to Halt HEOS
Grimani Systems: Is This the ULTIMATE Home Theater?
Grimani Systems
You take a dream team of engineers & systems designers and challenge them to create a new kind of system that would earn the undisputed title of the ultimate home theater system and what do you get? You get Grimani Systems – an all-new company comprised of well-known industry personality Anthony Grimani, engineer Manny LaCarrubba, and business entrepreneur David Steel.
And to create the ultimate system there was only one place to start – with a clean sheet of paper (actually probably a large, clean whiteboard.) From there, the CinemaOne Audio Ensemble was born.
Learn more about this new and audacious upstart company… [Read more…] about Grimani Systems: Is This the ULTIMATE Home Theater?
Center of Planet Panasonic Since 1970, AV Headquarters to be Closed, Demolished & Sold
In what is surely a demonstration of a conclusive shift in its business strategy – not to mention a bit of heavy symbolism in hometown Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corp. has announced its intentions to close, demolish and sell off the real estate of its existing AV headquarters building that served as the home of its TV and AV business since the 1970s. The center of the universe for tech-heavy Panasonic, many in Japan look to this development as a sign of the end of an era as this 160,000-sq.-meter (1.7 million-sq.-ft.) building was where the company’s TV business and digital electronics businesses were created and managed.
