Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

You are here: Home / Archives for Lenbrook

Lenbrook

Bluesound’s Gender Bending Soundbar

by Leave a Comment

Close-Up photo of PulsePulse – A High-Performance Soundbar

Historically, the consumer electronics industry is broken down into basically two types (genders) of products. A product is either designed for the masses with affordability and popular technologies – think wireless Bluetooth streaming speakers for less than $50; Or, serious, high-performance specialty AV products – think a component home theater system with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X/Auro3D built-in for more than $20,000. Like East not meeting West – never the twain shall meet. Until now…

Meet Bluesound’s Pulse Soundbar – a true industry gender-bender… [Read more…] about Bluesound’s Gender Bending Soundbar

With BluOS, is Lenbrook the Apple of High-End Distributed AV?

by 2 Comments

Company Expands BluOS into NAD Line, Expanding Its Options

BluOS logoBack in the Fall of 2013, we told you about the birth of a new brand called Bluesound – a new networkable, high-quality wired and wireless multiroom music system. Almost simultaneously, and in response to the obvious success of Sonos we suspect, new systems from Bose, D&M Holdings (HEOS), and Lenbrook were all introduced. But Lenbook officials maintained that their system had an advantage over most of the other systems – they had created their own operating system called BluOS.

And now BluOS is expanding in very interesting ways… [Read more…] about With BluOS, is Lenbrook the Apple of High-End Distributed AV?

At High End Show, Bluesound & NAD Offer High-End Announcements

by 2 Comments

Hi-Res audio logoFrom the High End show now taking place in Munich, Germany, Bluesound and NAD, two specialty audio lines leading the charge into high-res and high quality audio, made several interesting announcements about their efforts. Both brands are marketed here in the U.S. by Lenbrook America.

See what Bluesound and NAD announced at the High End show… [Read more…] about At High End Show, Bluesound & NAD Offer High-End Announcements

NAD Launches New Masters Series Models Targeted Squarely at ‘Audiophile 2.0’

by Leave a Comment

*See update note below…*

NAD M12

On Wednesday, Lenbrook America, the exclusive distributor of NAD in the U.S., held a press presentation in a suite at the upscale Andaz 5th Avenue Hotel in Manhattan. It was a cool but gray and curiously humid day…still able to create enhanced perspiration for those rushing to the event from assorted train/subway/bus stops. But those members of the press who chose to attend were well rewarded for their efforts, as NAD launched a significant update to their Masters Series line – an update designed to further target a new customer that the company calls “Audiophile 2.0.”

See more on this update, including more specifics on what NAD calls a new emerging market… [Read more…] about NAD Launches New Masters Series Models Targeted Squarely at ‘Audiophile 2.0’

HTSA Announces Their Top Vendors for 2013

by Leave a Comment

HTSAlogoThe Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) on Tuesday announced their top vendor awards for 2013. These awards were handed out at their Fall 2013 dealer conference held last week and included a special Lifetime Achievement Award.

See who earned top honors from the national dealer group below… [Read more…] about HTSA Announces Their Top Vendors for 2013

Thiel Audio’s Bob Brown Sees ‘Lots of Opportunity’

by 2 Comments

THIEL Audio LogoAlthough things often move slowly in the world of high end audio – models stay in the line for years, product testing goes on for months, policies are practically carved in stone – upscale loudspeaker manufacturer Thiel Audio is undergoing an incredibly rapid series of changes in the wake of its purchase last November by a group of Tennessee-based investors. Their latest addition, the well-known industry personality Bob Brown as a Board member and Interim COO, generously granted strata-GEE.com an interview to discuss in detail just where Thiel is at – and where it’s going.

See what Brown told us about how he came to join the company, and where Thiel is going… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio’s Bob Brown Sees ‘Lots of Opportunity’

Reps: Are They On the Right Track? Or Have They Run Off the Rails?

by 13 Comments

Photo of Railroad TracksOn Tuesday last week, much like any other day, after arriving at my office I powered up my computer and began wading through the usual 100-150 emails that greet me every morning. Some of these are client-related emails, some are personal, but most are press releases or announcements. On that day, however, one in particular caught my attention – it was from Richard Glikes of Azione and it included a link to a video which was…remarkable.

This press release caught my attention not because it was from Azione, that is an common occurrence. Rather it caught my attention because it was from Azione on a topic that I am not used to dealer buying groups concerning themselves with – sales representative companies.

Little did I suspect that this would be the beginning of a strange turn of events… [Read more…] about Reps: Are They On the Right Track? Or Have They Run Off the Rails?

Lenbrook & Retailers Launch New Specialty Showroom Solution for Quality Digital Audio

by Leave a Comment

Little Guys Lenbrook i-Fi Showroom<April 25, 2012> Earlier this month Lenbrook America announced a new initiative it has launched in partnership with a select group of independent specialty retailers to roll out a stylish showroom optimized to display and demonstrate high quality digital audio solutions. Called the “Digital Music Experience Center,” the striking showrooms are designed to allow specialty retailers to tap into the burgeoning contemporary digital music phenomenon AND expose consumers to the wonderful (and probably unknown to them) world of higher resolution audio performance. [Read more…] about Lenbrook & Retailers Launch New Specialty Showroom Solution for Quality Digital Audio

Taking Sales Factory Direct at Lenbrook – One Year Later

by 1 Comment

Lenbrook Website Image<April 25, 2012> Almost exactly one year ago, the specialty electronics world was stunned to learn that Lenbrook America, the company that distributes NAD and PSB in the United States and often looked upon as a paragon of the specialty A/V community, had decided to fire its sales manager, public relations company, and independent specialty sales representative sales force to go factory direct. While not the first company – nor likely the last – to make such a decision…the company’s long time commitment to the specialty channel and abrupt announcement sent shock waves around the industry. [Read more…] about Taking Sales Factory Direct at Lenbrook – One Year Later

Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind

by Leave a Comment

Velodyne Logo<August 2, 2011> Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. (Velodyne) surprised many in the industry last week by summarily dismissing their independent sales representative force and announcing that they would begin selling Velodyne subwoofers direct to consumers via a new online ecommerce website. The webstore was already open by the time some of the sales representatives received their termination notice. [Read more…] about Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind