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Sound United to Acquire Onkyo’s Audio Division

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We seem to be in a week of big deals. First, we learned that SnapAV had acquired Control4, then we learned that the original founder of Paradigm has acquired back the Paradigm, Anthem, and Martin Logan brands from the private equity company that had bought the company from him some time back. Now we learn that Sound United, owner of Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, HEOS, Classé, and Boston Acoustics has entered into an agreement with Onkyo Corp. to purchase Onkyo’s premier lineup of brands, including: Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer and Pioneer Elite.

But does Sound United’s purchase of Onkyo make sense?…

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Classé Rises Again as Part of Sound United

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Sound United logoSound United announced yesterday it had completed the acquisition of shuttered high-end brand Classé Audio from former owner Bowers & Wilkins. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The announcement confirms the deal of which Strata-gee reported last month when Sound United quietly entered negotiations to buy the brand.

See more on this news which breathes new life into Classé… [Read more…] about Classé Rises Again as Part of Sound United

Surprise! Sound United Makes Bid to Acquire Classé

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BREAKING NEWS

Will High-End Classé Represent Sound United’s Crown Jewel?

Classe logoJust when you thought it was all over, Strata-gee has learned that a new suitor – Vista, CA-based Sound United – has emerged to make a bid to acquire Classé Audio from current owner B&W Group. Classé was shut down by B&W on October 6th, as we reported at the time. However, because the company was still sitting on a relatively significant level of inventory – and was considering producing an additional small run of certain models to balance out their inventory to facilitate liquidation – B&W executives often maintained it was still in business.

When deals with three previously interested parties failed to come to fruition, B&W made the decision to close Classé’s Montreal headquarters, dismiss all Classé staff, and turned over service and support functions to B&W facilities.

See more on this surprising development for Classé… [Read more…] about Surprise! Sound United Makes Bid to Acquire Classé

D+M Group Sold From One PE Company to Another

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Sound United logosWe learned Wednesday that private equity powerhouse Bain Capital has apparently found a buyer for D+M Group, selling it off to another private equity company – Boston-based Charlesbank Capital Partners. CCP is the owner of DEI Holdings, a division of which is Sound United LLC, parent company of Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Polk BOOM. It is Sound United that will now also take over D+M Group and its brands Denon, Marantz, HEOS by Denon and Boston Acoustics.

See more on what we know about this deal for D+M… [Read more…] about D+M Group Sold From One PE Company to Another

Marantz & Denon Add Auro-3D to Select Models

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Firmware Upgrade Brings New Technology to Top Models

Auro-3D Intro SlideMarantz and Denon both announced this week that they are offering a firmware update that adds Auro-3D, a popular surround sound system in Europe, to two top models in each brand. This upgrade will make these models the most comprehensive home theater center available today – featuring Auro-3D, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X – the most advanced surround sound technologies available.

See more about this move by Marantz and Denon…and about Auro-3D… [Read more…] about Marantz & Denon Add Auro-3D to Select Models

Industry Personality & Technology Enthusiast Len Schneider Passes Away

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Photo of Len SchneiderA truly unique industry personality – and unabashed technology enthusiast – Len Schneider passed away Monday, after a brief illness. Most recently known as the President of TechniCom Corp., an industry marketing company offering product development capabilities and technical writing services, Schneider had a long history working in largely product marketing roles for a variety of top brand names such as Sony, Marantz, and Onkyo. However, many more in the industry became aware of him through his well-researched and approachable writings, with many articles, white papers, books and posts – including one of the most popular posts ever on Strata-gee.com – having been published on a national basis.

See more about Schneider and his contributions… [Read more…] about Industry Personality & Technology Enthusiast Len Schneider Passes Away

D&M Holdings Borrows $25 Million to Build More HEOS

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HEOS logoAn 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

CE Week 2014 – As Others Talk Atmos, Denon Talks Heos

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Denon's Paul Belanger

At times during CE Week 2014 we felt as though we were caught in some kind of a clash of the unknown Greek gods – Atmos vs. Heos. In one corner – Pioneer and Onkyo announced, displayed, and demonstrated the all-new 7+ channel Dolby Atmos surround sound systems…with a fair amount of fanfare. In the other corner, calmly confident Denon executives showed HEOS, the company’s new wireless multi-room Sonos-killing (they hope) system. Who would win the day???

See more on Denon’s HEOS system… [Read more…] about CE Week 2014 – As Others Talk Atmos, Denon Talks Heos

D+M Group Cuts Licensing Deal for Denon & Marantz Professional Businesses

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D&M Group logoD+M Group (formerly D&M Holdings), continues their program of divesting businesses it determines are “non-core” to the company’s central focus on the consumer-based Denon, Marantz and Boston Acoustics brands. This week, we learned that the company has cut a deal to license the professional products businesses done under both the Denon and the Marantz brand names to inMusic Brands, Inc.. This move closely follows the announcement last month that the company was selling off the Calrec Audio business to Electra Parters.

See more on this new but not particularly surprising development… [Read more…] about D+M Group Cuts Licensing Deal for Denon & Marantz Professional Businesses

Deconstructing D&M Holdings; Company Sells Calrec Audio and Explores Other Options

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Former CEO Pacor Comments on Brand Acquisition Strategy

D+M Group logoWe learned last week that D&M Holdings, also known as the D+M Group, sold off its Calrec Audio brand to Electra Partners, a London-based private equity company. D&M received £14 million ($23.1 million) for Calrec, a designer of premium audio products and live-to-air consoles for the broadcast market. The move is part of a plan to divest itself of all non-core businesses, CEO Jim Caudill has said in press reports.

See more on the company’s aggressive strategy to unload non-core businesses… [Read more…] about Deconstructing D&M Holdings; Company Sells Calrec Audio and Explores Other Options