Sound United buys B&W
Comments
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Sale of Sound United to Masimo cannot be good for Polk. How it's good for Masimo is beyond my pay grade.
How many companies survive two ownership-generations past the founder? I bet the statistics aren't promising. -
Those that do quality usually suffers greatly. The Acoustic Research name comes to mind.How many companies survive two ownership-generations past the founder? I bet the statistics aren't promising.
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https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/13/medical-error-patient-safety-joe-kiani/
There was actually some good interesting speculation* (i.e., I liked it
) on all y'all's favorite audio website (ahem., ASR) on what the new management might do. "Food for thinking" as a long-ago boss of mine (for whom English wasn't his native tongut) used to say.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sound-united-b-w-has-entered-agreement-to-been-sold-mid-2022.30956/page-3#post-1094977Well, I have an opinion and here goes. If they do not consolidate or kill off some brands they are most likely not going to do well. I don't know of any management team that can handle 41 companies. That is crazy. First off Boston Acoustics gets killed off or changed into an ear bud company. Second, I would double down on Polk and clean up their goofy product line. It needs to be cleaned up into a clear and definable low/entry level such as the T50 stuff. Then a mid-fi level and then a high end level. Then sell Polk everywhere and pump up the name and have the speakers measure well and get great press. They will also need mid fi and high end active speaker lines too. I agree with everyone that Marantz and Denon need to be one company and one name. Kill of the Marantz electronic boxes and just use the Denon (cleaned up and issues fixed) product line. Also, I think a huge move into seriously easy to use plug and play for the AVR/stereo units would be great. Maybe run it all wireless? Also, I would have Polk build some serious high end sound bars to go up against Yamaha. A $2000 sound bar is easy to do and can have great performance. So, if they do not get the 41 companies under control they will have issues. But, since the owner is so good at making money, I'm sure he will be making changes for the better. I'm hoping he has some audio sense. Most enthusiasts have none. Therein lies the problem. But, I'm hoping for the best!
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* as Mr. Spock might say:
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RIP Sound United
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I've always wondered why Polk continues to make Soundbars if they have so much trouble functioning. They weren't always that way when they were just simple plug 'em in devices where the only thing that could break would be the volume control.
Soundbars may be a big money maker and I can see that the integration of home healthcare may rely on such stuff working. Of course that may not be something the new ownership team is really thinking about. They may just be diversifying the portfolio with businesses that make money because so many people are now spending more time at home. -
I think it's a mistake to think that Masimo bought Sound United because they "wanted" Polk.
They bought Sound United for one or more of the other companies involved, Polk came along in the package. If I'm right, this makes Polk's position especially precarious. But Polk isn't the only company "along for the ride"; and I bet folks employed in multiple SU companies are crapping their pants. -
When this forum is shutdown then we will know the future of Polk.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
I think it's a mistake to think that Masimo bought Sound United because they "wanted" Polk.
They bought Sound United for one or more of the other companies involved, Polk came along in the package. If I'm right, this makes Polk's position especially precarious. But Polk isn't the only company "along for the ride"; and I bet folks employed in multiple SU companies are crapping their pants.When this forum is shutdown then we will know the future of Polk.
I think @Shurkey's right, but I also think Polk (or pieces of it) may well survive. The Legend & Reserve series loudspeakers are... pretty good, and some of them, at least, are high-value products.
Of course, it's always possible that the brand will be sold off as the dust settles -- in which case, anything could happen. Most of those scenarios are, unfortunately, pretty grim (cf. the fate of the "Altec [Lansing]" brand post-Sparkomatic)
I will reman uncharacteristically optimistic.
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Quote from The Boss last week...
“I have long been a fan (and proud owner) of Sound United’s iconic brands and am honored to steward them through the next generation of technological evolution,” Masimo Founder, Chair & CEO Joe Kiani commented. “Masimo shares Sound United’s commitment to providing innovative, best-in-class products and experiences, with a relentless focus on improving the consumer experience.” -
a relentless focus on improving the consumer experience.”
Better start with the Customer Service job #1
Give Kim Jasper a hefty raise job #2 -
This mean B&W will start making cheap crappy sound bars that don't work either?--Gary--
Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out. -
a relentless focus on improving the consumer experience.”
Better start with the Customer Service job #1
Give Kim Jasper a hefty raise job #2
Does this equate to no more vintage speaker support?Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists. -
That is already done....
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
I see alot of 'PL'-ed classic Polks on the horizon.
Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists. -
I don't Polk as a brand is going anywhere.I see alot of 'PL'-ed classic Polks on the horizon.
Little bit of black paint would fix that- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I see alot of 'PL'-ed classic Polks on the horizon.
That makes my anal retentive
s.p.h.i.c.t.e.r pucker 😱Sal Palooza -
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
White gloves, hat, large black glasses.
All he needs now is a big red nose and floppy shoes."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
I wasn't sure about the gloves either
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I was thinking the gloves are part of a Mr. Peanut or Mickey Mouse costume.
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What's wrong with you people? The gloves are used for a "digital" exam to check for irregularities in size, shape, and texture of the speaker ports. I thought you guys were supposed to be teaching me stuff about audio!
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Gloves are for when you put your finger in the port hole you don't get any on your finger2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Port chuffing is bad for good audio. Fact.
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I actually do concur, but it strikes me that port chuffing sounds like something kids at a very snooty prep school would do with a bottle of vintage Dow's or Taylor Fladgate...
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A bottle of Graham's and a wheel of Stilton is the only reason for Christmas. Makes me feel very chuffed.
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I have, unfortunately, a taste for very expensive port.
Needless to say, that's a taste in which I don't indulge very often.
Cheap ports taste like raisin juice.
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Aren't they all raisin juice?
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Might as well hit the Boone's Farm.Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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Aren't they all raisin juice?
Well, yeah -- but but that's like saying that a Ferrari, a Ford, and a Lada are all ways to get the groceries.
https://youtu.be/CIylDMqbf2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxjkFqGQLkY