Reminiscent Audio Guy
Member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2024
- Messages
- 44
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- 25
Hello, I posted here since this is not about a speaker review or specific question about speakers. Thanks again from my first post I think on speakers. I finally found an upgrade but was not expecting what I got.
Moving on. I looked on line and prices across the country were the same. Out of all the stores only one had these speakers in store as demo speakers. I drove 2 hours to get there. The store was pristine. I asked to listen to the smaller version of that line up. Was baffled how my older speaker were slightly better, so I said no. I then looked and the store had the flagship models of the companies premium brand ( ok it's JBL for those wondering) . I asked to hear them. I brought my wife - she has great ears. They sounded worthy of the purchase. They were floor models. The only floor model was in Grey, piano black and walnut were new in box at full price. Demos were perstine.
I bought them.
Arrived home.
I set them up and then did what we all love doing - getting on your knees to carefully plug those cable in.
Being the Dog that I am - dog see dog do - I have two mutts, I instinctively did the SNIFF test. I sniffed the back of the speaker.
The speakers smelt like they just came out of the box. What threw me off was the dust in the two ports in the back of each speaker. Got my wife to do the sniff test. She confirmed they smelt brand spanking new and not a nick or hair scratch...I mean literally they looked like they came out of the box!
Next: The bass was too much...10 hrs later it settled. Woofers were too stiff - not broken in yet at the store as demos?
Two days later I go on their website. Now the walnut colors is suddenly on the floor as a demo sale. So were the L82's and L100's and Marantz cd30scad. They were not on demo when I was there.
I thought what do they know that I do not know? I figured out they are pulling new speakers out of the box, lighting them up (plug them in and turn on the volume) and voila - demo speakers. No boxes, no papers, no spikes just demo sale. Again what does he know that I don't for clearing out inventory. Brief side note: the specialty hifi audio dealer near me - the cheapest speaker he had were mofi source point 8/10/888. No he is not caring them anymore. Then I read a few articles that all the legacy audio brands may cease operation in 2025.
1. Was the dealer really pulling out new speakers to sell them as demo because he knows a crash is coming?
2. Why is he the only one doing it?
3. I am not complaining... that was a killer deal for new speakers.
4. My fears are this .... it seems that it's happening. At the audio convention someone asked PS audio where they sourced the cd transports. They stated Marantz called them up and said they will no longer be making transports for cd players. PS audio bought the last 400 for there new scad player. Then I googled and found articles form 2024 stating what would happen in 2025 with legacy audio brands.
Opinion: why is that store pulling new speakers out of boxes? Not complaining because people who couldn't buy those speaker can. L82, L100s, HDI's less than half tax in and all smelled new out of the box!.
www.channelnews.com.au
www.headphonesty.com
www.channelnews.com.au
The future looks grim for the traditional brands Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, and others. As early as the beginning of 2025, business operations involving these well-known brands might come to an end....and this is the last bit I found here for the below right up:
The Hi-Fi world is on the verge of losing one of its most prominent players. The former parent company, Sound United, which houses brands like Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, Polk Audio, and Definitive Technology, has plunged deep into the red. Declining revenues, sustained losses, and no potential buyers in sight are casting serious doubt on the future of these iconic brands. At present, it seems likely that operations will be discontinued as soon as early 2025—a move that would undoubtedly cause lasting harm to the brands.
At a conference earlier this month, the current leadership discussed the future of Sound United. The term "closure of the business division" was already mentioned, and it was confirmed that there would be "no spin-off of the business," which could have provided Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, and others a chance to continue their operations. Unfortunately, no specifics were given about what this means for the brands. However, it seems the business will simply be shut down in spring 2025. Shareholders are fairly certain this will happen, as the company's stock surged significantly following the management conference.
Sound United had been struggling with problems for years, which worsened in April 2022. Around two years ago, the company was acquired by Masimo, a firm with no experience in the Hi-Fi sector, specializing in developing and selling medical monitoring equipment. The acquisition of Sound United appears to have been an impulsive decision by then-CEO Joe Kiani, who was ousted by shareholders in 2024.
Without the necessary expertise or shareholder support, it was virtually impossible to position brands like Denon, Marantz, and Polk Audio profitably in this challenging market. Additionally, the company was still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts agree that the lack of synergies between Masimo and Sound United, along with the removal of the "core DNA" of the company, led to this seemingly inevitable development.
The fate of Sound United and its associated audio brands seems apparent when reading between the lines. If business operations are discontinued, the chances of developing, marketing, and selling new products would be practically nonexistent. What would remain are the brand rights, which might be snapped up by an investor for a modest sum.
Moving on. I looked on line and prices across the country were the same. Out of all the stores only one had these speakers in store as demo speakers. I drove 2 hours to get there. The store was pristine. I asked to listen to the smaller version of that line up. Was baffled how my older speaker were slightly better, so I said no. I then looked and the store had the flagship models of the companies premium brand ( ok it's JBL for those wondering) . I asked to hear them. I brought my wife - she has great ears. They sounded worthy of the purchase. They were floor models. The only floor model was in Grey, piano black and walnut were new in box at full price. Demos were perstine.
I bought them.
Arrived home.
I set them up and then did what we all love doing - getting on your knees to carefully plug those cable in.
Being the Dog that I am - dog see dog do - I have two mutts, I instinctively did the SNIFF test. I sniffed the back of the speaker.
The speakers smelt like they just came out of the box. What threw me off was the dust in the two ports in the back of each speaker. Got my wife to do the sniff test. She confirmed they smelt brand spanking new and not a nick or hair scratch...I mean literally they looked like they came out of the box!
Next: The bass was too much...10 hrs later it settled. Woofers were too stiff - not broken in yet at the store as demos?
Two days later I go on their website. Now the walnut colors is suddenly on the floor as a demo sale. So were the L82's and L100's and Marantz cd30scad. They were not on demo when I was there.
I thought what do they know that I do not know? I figured out they are pulling new speakers out of the box, lighting them up (plug them in and turn on the volume) and voila - demo speakers. No boxes, no papers, no spikes just demo sale. Again what does he know that I don't for clearing out inventory. Brief side note: the specialty hifi audio dealer near me - the cheapest speaker he had were mofi source point 8/10/888. No he is not caring them anymore. Then I read a few articles that all the legacy audio brands may cease operation in 2025.
1. Was the dealer really pulling out new speakers to sell them as demo because he knows a crash is coming?
2. Why is he the only one doing it?
3. I am not complaining... that was a killer deal for new speakers.
4. My fears are this .... it seems that it's happening. At the audio convention someone asked PS audio where they sourced the cd transports. They stated Marantz called them up and said they will no longer be making transports for cd players. PS audio bought the last 400 for there new scad player. Then I googled and found articles form 2024 stating what would happen in 2025 with legacy audio brands.
Opinion: why is that store pulling new speakers out of boxes? Not complaining because people who couldn't buy those speaker can. L82, L100s, HDI's less than half tax in and all smelled new out of the box!.
Former Sound United Business Could Be “Discontinued” Next Year After Falling Revenues, No Buyer and Losses Claims New Director
channelnews : Former Sound United Business Could Be “Discontinued” Next Year After Falling Revenues, No Buyer and Losses Claims New Director
Masimo executives are back calling their consumer audio business Sound United, with a senior executive on a conference call this week claiming that they will move the business into being a “discontinued operations” if and when the board decides “to no longer pursue a spin-off, of the this...
www.channelnews.com.au
Denon, Marantz, Klipsch, and Other Legacy Audio Brands Could Disappear by 2025 as Sales Crash
Denon, Marantz, Klipsch, and Other Legacy Audio Brands Could Disappear by 2025 as Sales Crash
Major audio brands may not survive another year as parent companies struggle to stay afloat.
www.headphonesty.com
Vox International Up For Sale, As Consumer Sales Plunge, Pioneer Brand Dropped
channelnews : Vox International Up For Sale, As Consumer Sales Plunge, Pioneer Brand Dropped
Sales at US sound Company Vox International the owners of Premium Audio Products, Klipsch, Onkyo, Acoustic Research and formerly Pioneer, is still spiralling downwards with their consumer audio category down 35%, overall sales which include their automotive business were down 18.6% in the last...
www.channelnews.com.au
The future looks grim for the traditional brands Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, and others. As early as the beginning of 2025, business operations involving these well-known brands might come to an end....and this is the last bit I found here for the below right up:
The Hi-Fi world is on the verge of losing one of its most prominent players. The former parent company, Sound United, which houses brands like Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, Polk Audio, and Definitive Technology, has plunged deep into the red. Declining revenues, sustained losses, and no potential buyers in sight are casting serious doubt on the future of these iconic brands. At present, it seems likely that operations will be discontinued as soon as early 2025—a move that would undoubtedly cause lasting harm to the brands.
At a conference earlier this month, the current leadership discussed the future of Sound United. The term "closure of the business division" was already mentioned, and it was confirmed that there would be "no spin-off of the business," which could have provided Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, and others a chance to continue their operations. Unfortunately, no specifics were given about what this means for the brands. However, it seems the business will simply be shut down in spring 2025. Shareholders are fairly certain this will happen, as the company's stock surged significantly following the management conference.
Sound United had been struggling with problems for years, which worsened in April 2022. Around two years ago, the company was acquired by Masimo, a firm with no experience in the Hi-Fi sector, specializing in developing and selling medical monitoring equipment. The acquisition of Sound United appears to have been an impulsive decision by then-CEO Joe Kiani, who was ousted by shareholders in 2024.
Without the necessary expertise or shareholder support, it was virtually impossible to position brands like Denon, Marantz, and Polk Audio profitably in this challenging market. Additionally, the company was still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts agree that the lack of synergies between Masimo and Sound United, along with the removal of the "core DNA" of the company, led to this seemingly inevitable development.
The fate of Sound United and its associated audio brands seems apparent when reading between the lines. If business operations are discontinued, the chances of developing, marketing, and selling new products would be practically nonexistent. What would remain are the brand rights, which might be snapped up by an investor for a modest sum.
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