A few years back Music Group (Behringer) was going to roll out HT gear,
I saw the web page--they had specs and everything. Then, it vanished without a trace. ???? Music Group also owns LABGruppen, Merlin (?) Tannoy and other pro brands so it would not be hard for them to break in. However, they pulled their claws back in and stayed out of the consumer market.
The largest audio company in the world, Harman/Samsung does not exactly go after AVRs and processors. They obviously have all their ducks in a row on the pro side, no problem with 9 channel soundbars but it's not like I see any Harman Kardon AVRs or anything of substance from them. Wonder why?
I did find a USB powered 5.1 processor for around $32 a few years back--they do exist so the Chinese can and will do it when it becomes a money maker. After all, they are dead center in the largest market for audio on the planet and when billions want something, I'm sure they will provide. The last time I checked, sending lunar landers to the moon, building supersonic stealth aircraft, nuclear power plants, being competive in call phones and building super computers is just a wee bit harder than AVRs. Don't kid yourself!
Mix Music Group pulling out before they jumped in and Harman/Samsung not really being worried about the consumer AVR market--that means something else. Why waste time, effort and money going after a market that is flat? I get it, they want to make money so go after the growth areas and HT is not one of those areas! Sound bars? Smart speakers? Blutooth? Car audio and nav? Sure, that is where the money is at so I'd say it's a profit thing.
I did see that HK released a new 2.1 amplifier that is very small, has all the goodies and was NOT released in the US. It is in the UK but maybe eventually make it to the US...maybe. They even went with the name Citation but it has nothing to do with the big hair amps of yore. The absolute opposite as it is Class D, full DSP, streaming etc. and not marketed to be "retro".
Something to ponder...