Could this be good? Klipsch buys out API (Mirage, Energy, Athena Tech.)

Danny Tse
Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
edited August 2006 in Speakers
Personally, I think API is one of the best speaker manufacturers on the planet....making good sounding speakers from budget models in the Athena Technologies line up to those Energy Veritas speakers. I wonder what would happen to those brands now, given Klipsch's history of dismantling the Mondial/Aragon brands once it was acquired.

Hmmm....more consolidation in the home audio industry.

Announcement on Klipsch's website
Post edited by Danny Tse on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited August 2006
    wow.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,858
    edited August 2006
    I kid about my Athena AS-P4000 sub, but for $149 it is a steal, IMO.

    It will be a shame if Klipsch decides to merely rebadge all those lines with a "Klipsch" nameplate in order to jack up the prices. If it were Bose doing the buyout, that would come as no suprise, but Klipsch has a better rep than that.
    From their website, it sounds like they're going to be hands off on API's engineering and design, so ..... it will be interesting.

    I'll have to keep an eye on Fry's site to see what affect, if any, this'll have on potential firesales.
    Sal Palooza
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JDOGG
    JDOGG Posts: 433
    edited August 2006
    You guys talk about Klipsch like you hate them. Not like I care though.
    Panasonic VIERA 46" 1080p plasma
    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Klipsch RF-7(bi-amped)
    Klipsch RF-25
    Xbox 360 with HD DVD
    Playstation 3
    Cobalt Cable
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited August 2006
    Interesting.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited August 2006
    oh crap.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • burdette
    burdette Posts: 1,194
    edited August 2006
    I wouldn't be surprised if Klipsch will use the acquisition - NOT to dismantle or fudge with API - but to come out with a "less Klipschy" line of HT theater speakers, maybe even some marketed more towards refined 2-channel music listening.

    Interesting question as to price-point - go after the lower price point to capture the guys wanting the Klipsch name, but who can't afford a current full HT lineup... or go after a higher price point, to catch the guys who have some money to drop, want to stay with the Klipsch name, but want to flaunt their 'more refined' loudspeakers. Heck, why not both? Go with the lower-price HT setup, and a more expensive refined music speaker (of course, with available center and surrounds just in case wifey wants to watch Remains of the Day after supper).

    Makes sense for Klipsch...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2006
    Klipsch will probably do what it said in the press release -- leave API alone and perhaps benefit from economies of scale and new innovation.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited August 2006
    Early B. wrote:
    Klipsch will probably do what it said in the press release -- leave API alone and perhaps benefit from economies of scale and new innovation.
    Yep...nearfield anyway.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited August 2006
    Yep, happened several years ago in the automobile industry and now it's happening more frequently in the electronics field. It's a shame all these smaller companies get gobbled up by the larger companies. That's when things start to become more generic and the creativity stops because everyline is catering to the same common denominator. It's sad, but it's the Walmartization of the world finally being realized. Speciality will be rare and when it does it exsist it will be out of most of our grasps when it comes to price.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited August 2006
    Didn't ya'll know about the Klipsch motto...."Our ultimate goal is to place a horn in every speaker sold in the free world":p
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited August 2006
    When powered correctly, Klipsch speakers are pretty good. Not for me but they have a colt following.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited August 2006
    I hate the damn double posts.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited August 2006
    mantis wrote:
    When powered correctly, Klipsch speakers are pretty good. Not for me but they have a colt following.

    Dan

    Saddle up!!!! See they're even selling Klipsch speakers to horses, now.

    Tube amps seem to be the way to properly power Klipsch speakers. Tubes have the ability to tame the horns, which, imo, are too harsh on sand. I'm sure that many enjoy their Klipsch on sand, it's just not for me.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited August 2006
    Interesting aquisition. I wonder what prompted this

    Anyway, I get a kick out of corporate talk...
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marker
    marker Posts: 1,084
    edited August 2006
    ND13 wrote:
    I'm sure that many enjoy their Klipsch on sand, it's just not for me.

    What about when on grass? :p
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited August 2006
    Interesting, But I fine myself asking this Q why isn't POLK in danger of this buyout world? Is POLK privately owned company?

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited August 2006
    Polk is a pretty big company also...if not as big as Klipsch, with their products being sold in CC, Fry's, and Tweeter.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited August 2006
    So BOSE doesn't have the balls to do it?

    I don't like where this world is headed at times.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter