In an extended meeting with Russound CEO Charlie Porritt and Vice President of Product Development Colin Clark, Strata-gee had the opportunity to learn details of the relatively dramatic developments at the company – many taking place behind the scenes – that management has undertaken over the last few years to better position the company for the future. Like a fighter with a new trainer who has put him on a strict diet and rigorous training regimen, Russound has emerged from an at-times painful multi-year process leaner and meaner…and ready to rumble.
Posts
Bowers & Wilkins Notifies Dealers of Henderson’s Departure
STORY UPDATE
Shortly after we published our BREAKING NEWS report on the Bowers & Wilkins dismissal of President Doug Henderson, we obtained a copy of an email that was apparently sent by the company to all B&W dealers explaining the situation. We’d like to be able to say this note answered all questions surrounding the upheaval their actions caused, but it raised as many questions as it answered.
See the email Bowers & Wilkins sent to their dealers on Henderson’s departure… [Read more…] about Bowers & Wilkins Notifies Dealers of Henderson’s Departure
Bowers & Wilkins Dismisses President Doug Henderson
BREAKING NEWS
We have learned that Doug Henderson, President of B&W Group North America, was dismissed from the company earlier this week. There has been no official announcement from the company and B&W executives and employees have been unusually tight-lipped about the matter.
See what we’ve uncovered so far on this move by Bowers & Wilkins… [Read more…] about Bowers & Wilkins Dismisses President Doug Henderson
Management Turnstile Turns Again at Thiel Audio
BREAKING NEWS
We learned this week that Thiel Audio (Thiel) has had another significant round of layoffs, including CEO Tom Malatesta, Chief Revenue Officer Stuart Levine, Director of Music Industry Relations Mark Mason (no relation to engineer Mark Mason who left much earlier), as well as two other lower level staff – who have all been let go within the last six-to-eight weeks. Furthermore, Chief Brand Officer Rebecca Abrahams, who led the launch of their Aurora live music performance and streaming studio, left the company in January of this year. No reason was given for any these separations and, true to form, Thiel has made no official public announcement regarding the dismissals.
See more on this new turn of the turnstile at Thiel… [Read more…] about Management Turnstile Turns Again at Thiel Audio
Teens & Affluents Struggle with Addiction to Tech
New research from GfK indicates that more than 1 out of every 3 people in the U.S., as well as in seventeen other countries around the world, struggle with addiction to technology. This is especially true with a young demographic segment like teens, but also with the upper income group.
See more on this research about technology addiction… [Read more…] about Teens & Affluents Struggle with Addiction to Tech
Samsung Display Plans to Build the World’s Largest OLED Factory
In news out of Korea, we learn that Samsung Display is planning to build the world’s largest OLED manufacturing facility in a bid to hold off Chinese competition in the increasingly popular technology. Samsung’s board of directors are expected to meet this month to approve the plans and the investment.
See more on this major move on OLED by Samsung… [Read more…] about Samsung Display Plans to Build the World’s Largest OLED Factory
Crestron and Sonos Deepen Their Relationship
BREAKING NEWS
Crestron announced today that it is dramatically deepening its partnership with Sonos that was first revealed at last Fall’s CEDIA show. That partnership, which Strata-gee was the first to break the story on ahead of the 2016 CEDIA show, is now growing even stronger as Crestron is making the full line of Sonos products available directly to Crestron Technology Professionals through their normal purchasing system. Crestron dealers can add as much Sonos product to their Crestron orders as they’d like…starting today.
See more on this growing partnership between Crestron & Sonos… [Read more…] about Crestron and Sonos Deepen Their Relationship
Gibson Brands Takes Control of Onkyo Corp.
BREAKING NEWS
In a filing with Japan’s JASDAQ stock exchange, Onkyo revealed this week that at the end of June, major investor Gibson Brands became the largest shareholder for the first time since its relationship with the Osaka-based manufacturer of higher-quality electronics began in 2012. This small announcement portends a potentially significant change in the relationship between the two entities.
See more on this news out of Japan about Gibson and Onkyo… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Takes Control of Onkyo Corp.
NAD to Implement Dirac Room Correction Technology
NAD Electronics announced this week that it will begin incorporating Dirac Live room correction technology in certain yet-to-be-introduced models in the near future. Saying that this development is a “Strengthening [of] its commitment to provide customers with an unparalleled home theater listening experience…”, NAD hailed Dirac as “the global leader in platform optimized sound enhancement technology.
See more on NAD’s decision to incorporate Dirac technology in its products… [Read more…] about NAD to Implement Dirac Room Correction Technology
AudioControl Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation
AudioControl, the Seattle,WA-based scrappy manufacturer of specialty audio electronics for both the automotive and residential markets announced that 2017 is their 40th Anniversary, marking a somewhat remarkable journey from outsider accessory maker to a brand of growing significance to many in the mobile AV and residential custom integration communities. And to what does the company attribute their success? It’s all about reliability, performance and value…
