Bose Buys Mcintosh Group (Sonus faber and McIntosh)!

[pcking]

[StereoNET]

https://stereonet.com/au/news/bose-buys-mcintosh-sonus-faber

[Grizzly]

And (by default) Sonus Faber as well apparently

[ENIGMA]

Similar to how car brands are owned and run - Lamborghini for example with Audi. 

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

Just like Samsung owning Harman Luxury Group which owns JBL, Arcam, Mark Levinson, Revel, as long as the money keeps flowing will hopefully keep the brands thriving.

[Kaynin]

Hopefully moving from ownership of a private investment firm to an audio focused company is a good thing.

[Hertzgeek]

I just hope they don't cheapen the brands like Sonus Faber with Bose style tech being introduced.

 

[Kaynin]

1 minute ago, Hertzgeek said:

I just hope they don't cheapen the brands like Sonus Faber with Bose style tech being introduced.

 

 

What, you don't want Sonus Faber earbuds?  

[Hertzgeek]

3 minutes ago, Kaynin said:

 

What, you don't want Sonus Faber earbuds?  

That's actually funny...but a worry at the same time because I can see it happening. Especially by adding veneer to the outside to give it a lush feel. 

 

Or timber wrapped Bose soundbars. 

[Kaynin]

1 minute ago, Hertzgeek said:

That's actually funny...but a worry at the same time because I can see it happening. Especially by adding veneer to the outside to give it a lush feel. 

 

Or timber wrapped Bose soundbars. 

 

Lol, yes!  Maybe we'll see improvements in the Bose range...

 

Let's be honest, there's not many brands more polarising than Bose, but I'll say this - I owned 2 pairs of the 301's for twenty years, best party thrashers I've ever had.  Then when I sold them a few years ago, it was a feeding frenzy.  I've never sold something that made my inbox explode like it did.

[Hertzgeek]

31 minutes ago, Kaynin said:

 

Lol, yes!  Maybe we'll see improvements in the Bose range...

 

Let's be honest, there's not many brands more polarising than Bose, but I'll say this - I owned 2 pairs of the 301's for twenty years, best party thrashers I've ever had.  Then when I sold them a few years ago, it was a feeding frenzy.  I've never sold something that made my inbox explode like it did.

I cannot argue with you there about Bose. I personally don't mind some of their gear especially going back to the late 80s and 90s... I was always in awe of their design and sounds. 

 

And yes I would actually purchase some 301s 501s or even the 901 purely on nostalgia and how they would make me feel. 

 

[DSharp]

It seems a lot of other well know brands (Pioneer, B&W, Marantz & Klipsch) are up up for sale too: 
https://www.channelnews.com.au/vox-international-up-for-sale-as-consumer-sales-plunge-lost-pioneer-brand/

https://www.channelnews.com.au/former-sound-united-business-could-be-discontinued-next-year-after-falling-revenues-no-buyer-and-losses-claims-new-director/

[StereoNET]

Lots to consider next time you're haggling with a dealer over 5-10%.
This is the worst position most of the people I speak with in the industry have ever seen. 

Many of those have 2-3 decades on me.

 

Demand is low. Margins are (and already were) slim, despite some people's misconception here.

 

Far east manufacturers will continue to steal market share more often that not with their direct-sell model. 
Not knocking them, the products are generally very good, and the value proposition is very high. 

The industry will look vastly different over the next decade.

 

[metal beat]

[aussievintage]

On 20/11/2024 at 1:02 PM, StereoNET said:

Lots to consider next time you're haggling with a dealer over 5-10%.
This is the worst position most of the people I speak with in the industry have ever seen. 

Many of those have 2-3 decades on me.

 

Demand is low. Margins are (and already were) slim, despite some people's misconception here.

 

Far east manufacturers will continue to steal market share more often that not with their direct-sell model. 
Not knocking them, the products are generally very good, and the value proposition is very high. 

The industry will look vastly different over the next decade.

 

and yet, just last week, I bought an item (not hifi, but tech) from Aliexpress that is sold with 1000% markup in Australia by a huge store chain.  The whole market is topsy at times.  The US is talking tariffs.  Who knows what we'll do?     Yes, strange days ahead I feel.

[bzr]

1 hour ago, metal beat said:

Nasty! 

[David A]

It will be interesting to see how Bose incorporate McIntosh and Sonus Faber technology in their car audio gear going forward, which of course Porsche and other luxury car manufacturers use .

 

Edited November 22, 2024 by David A

[David A]

On 20/11/2024 at 2:02 PM, StereoNET said:

Lots to consider next time you're haggling with a dealer over 5-10%.
This is the worst position most of the people I speak with in the industry have ever seen. 

Many of those have 2-3 decades on me.

 

Demand is low. Margins are (and already were) slim, despite some people's misconception here.

 

Far east manufacturers will continue to steal market share more often that not with their direct-sell model. 
Not knocking them, the products are generally very good, and the value proposition is very high. 

The industry will look vastly different over the next decade.

 

 

I'm guilty as charged, as I'll likely buy my next pair of speakers from a US Manufacturer who has a strong presence in the far East and sells direct into Australia. However that's due to the fact that they don't have an Australian distributor - which I suspect is due in part to the small size of our market.

I have an opinion on the current demand for hifi gear and consumer electronics, but that would stray into content banned under SNA rules. So i'll abstain.