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Masimo Acquisition of Sound United Spurs Ugly Activist Shareholder Lawsuit

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Masimo home page

Will Sound United End Up on the Chopping Block as One of Kiani’s Follies?

Politan Capital Management LP filed an amended Schedule 13D to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) two important actions the activist investment company had recently taken. One of those actions was that it had increased its holdings of Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: MASI) to 4,648,869 shares or nearly 9% of the company’s outstanding shares – making it a significant owner. And the second action? Politan has filed a “Verified Complaint” against the company and its Board of Directors – and boy, that complaint is a doozy!

See the details of Politan’s lawsuit against Masimo Corp.

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Nationwide Sets Sights on Custom Integration & Luxury Home Dominance

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Nationwide tiny home with home automation display

See My Interview w/Nationwide President Tom Hickman

In the days leading up to the recent CEDIA Expo in Dallas, Nationwide Marketing Group, one of the largest buying groups in the U.S., announced that former ProSource VP Andy Orozco would be joining Nationwide as its Senior Vice President of Custom Integration. That news grabbed my attention as it came less than a year after Nationwide’s acquisition of one of the top custom integration buying groups, Azione Unlimited, back in October 2021.

Clearly, something big is going on at Nationwide…

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CEDIA Board Elections Now Open, But Did Org Violate Its Own Bylaws?

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CEDIA HQ
CEDIA’s headquarters building in Fishers, Indiana

Why Did an Anonymous Source Call My Attention to the Bylaws?

On Tuesday, CEDIA members received an email from David Weinstein, the well-known VP of Lutron who also serves as the Chairman of CEDIA’s Board of Directors, informing them that the election process to fill vacant seats on the Board of Directors was now open. There are three seats to be filled and Weinstein’s email helpfully/confusingly names just three candidates the Board’s Governance Committee has selected to fill the three open seats. It was the first indicator that something was different with this election as compared to the usual process.

I read this announcement carefully, as only hours before it was distributed I had received a cryptic message from a source exhorting me to find and read “the current Cedia [sic] bylaws.” Something was definitely brewing…

See more on the CEDIA Board elections…

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What to Expect at CEDIA Expo 2022

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CEDIA Expo 2022 will be in the Kay Bailey Hutchinson convention center in Dallas

Finally, after two years without a real show – absolutely no show in 2020, and a very tiny one in 2021 – the industry comes together again for its one big show of the year – the CEDIA Expo 2022. Although not technically post-COVID, at least the situation is improving to the point where the world is beginning a return to something that approaches normal. And that brings us to now, the relaunching of live in-person events like the CEDIA Expo in Dallas, TX. But what can you expect if you head to Dallas and Expo?

See what to expect in Dallas at CEDIA 2022…

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Layoffs Hit Premium Audio Company as It Right-Sizes Ops; To Skip CEDIA Expo

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Onkyo receiver, part of Premium Audio Company

BREAKING NEWS

Premium Audio Company, a division of VOXX International and operator of brands such as Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Elite, confirmed today that it has instituted a round of layoffs to “right-size” company operations based on current macroeconomic trends. The company has also confirmed that it has decided, for the second year in a row, not to participate in next week’s CEDIA Expo 2022, due to product roadmap cycles.

See more on these Premium Audio Company decisions

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VOXX Int’l Launches E-Commerce Platform Selling Premium Audio Co. Brands

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Voxx Int'l home page

VOXX International Corporation (VOXX), owner of Premium Audio Company (PAC) and many other brands, announced this week that it has launched a new e-commerce platform. This new platform is initially being rolled out at Premium Audio Company – the division that operates brands such as Klipsch, Jamo, Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, Elite, Magnat, and Heco.

Learn more on Voxx’s top brands being sold through e-commerce

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Masimo Names Blair Tripodi as Replacement for Former Sound United CEO Kevin Duffy

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New Masimo W1 smart watch

Tripodi to Head New Masimo Consumer Division

Masimo, a medical products company that acquired Sound United in February 2022, announced on Monday that it is naming Blair Tripodi as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for its new Consumer division. At this time, the Masimo Consumer division consists almost exclusively of the Sound United business. Tripodi moves into the role originally given to former Sound United CEO Kevin Duffy, although Duffy was offered the title of President.

See more on Tripodi’s ascension to COO of Masimo Consumer division

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First PrepTECH Grads Hit Dallas Market; Company Seeks More Sponsors

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PrepTECH, a for-profit workforce service company that finds, vets, trains, and places new entry-level techs into the custom integration space, has had its first graduating class enter the industry in the Dallas market. A “pilot” or proof-of-concept initiative, the company says it was quite successful and a great learning experience for them – as well as for their participating students and the industry.

Now the company is looking to scale the concept.

Learn more about PrepTECH…

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Is Sonos a Patent Infringer? U.S. Int’l Trade Comm Launches Investigation

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Is Sonos a patent infringer? the U.S. International Trade Commission will find out

The tables have apparently been turned on Sonos, Inc. which now finds itself the subject of an investigation into alleged patent infringement by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). The agency decided to launch an investigation of Sonos after receiving a complaint from Alphabet, Inc.’s Google division. There is one simple question: is Sonos a patent infringer?

Learn more about the USITC investigation of Sonos

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How You Can Thrive in the High-Performance Stereo Music System Segment

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a high-performance stereo music system

A Guest Post by Keith Dowd, Vivid Audio

Is it possible for a speaker company that doesn’t sell architectural speakers, or home cinema speakers, or soundbars, or outdoor landscape speakers – to grow and thrive in today’s market? I would argue that YES, it is very possible. And it is equally possible for dealers to thrive in the segment as well, if they are willing to take just a few simple steps. I make that argument based on my direct experience in the high-performance stereo music system segment in my role as U.S. Brand Director for Vivid Audio.

You might ask…how is this possible? Read on to find out…

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