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Big Changes Hit Sound United as Terminated President Duffy Exits Today

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Kevin Duffy, head of Sound United terminated by Masimo
Kevin Duffy

Sound United VP James Krakowski Announces Departure As Well

On April 11, 2022, Masimo Corp. appointed Kevin Duffy – then CEO of Sound United – President of the Consumer Division of Masimo Corp. as part of its $1 billion acquisition of Viper Holdings Corp., Sound United’s parent company. Duffy was offered a fairly rich package, with salary and certain other benefits and perks that could be worth millions of dollars, in some cases after a vesting period.

Then, just ninety days later, the company filed paperwork with the SEC saying that it had terminated Duffy “without cause.”

See more on Duffy’s exit from Sound United and Masimo

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Stunning Data on Housing Market Clearly Shows Why It’s Declining

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home interior

Just Two Charts Tell the Story of the Housing Market

For some time now, I have been dutifully reporting on the – at first subtle…now as subtle as a Mac truck – changes taking place in the housing market, clearly in decline after a stunning runup during the 2020-2021 COVID period. Certain economic segments, including Tech in general and custom integration specifically, benefitted from the COVID period forcing consumers to huddle in their homes.

But now, things are changing, starting with the housing market…

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Russound Partners with Jetbuilt; Also Reveals New Products for CEDIA Expo 2022

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jetbuilt logo

Russound announced this week that it is partnering with Jetbuilt, a project management software tool that is popular with custom integrators. Separately, the company announced the new products it will be focusing on during the upcoming CEDIA Expo 2022 event.

Learn more on these Russound announcements

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U.K.-Based Lithe Audio to Enter U.S. with Wireless AiO Speaker Systems

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Lithe Audio, a London, U.K.-based designer and manufacturer of unique, all-in-one, wireless streaming music solutions announced on Wednesday that it is entering the U.S. market for the first time at CEDIA Expo 2022. The company is experienced in supplying products to European commercial and residential channels since its founding in 2014 and is now expanding its distribution here in America. With a unique line of products, such as all-in-one powered in-ceiling/in-wall, surface mount, and outdoor speaker solutions, the company offers a new approach to system configurations.

See more on Lithe Audio solutions now available in the U.S.

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Gettin’ Tough Out There – Sony Cuts Net Profit Outlook for Current Fiscal Year

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Sony PlayStation 5 games

Late last week, Sony Group announced that they were cutting their net profit forecast for the current fiscal year, fiscal 2022 which ends March 2023. Why are they trimming their profit expectations? It appears that Sony is experiencing its version of a post-COVID Peloton/Netflix sales decline as video game sales are weakening and its costs related to a recent acquisition are rising.

See more on the declining profit forecast at Sony

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Housing: After a Bump in May, June New Home Sales Back to Downward Trend

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Photo of newly constructed home in housing

In the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, sales of newly constructed homes (new home sales) in June returned to their months-long downward trend after a brief bump up in May. Another sign of a housing market in decline, rising mortgage rates combined with rising home prices have thrown cold water on what had been a very hot housing market over the last year-and-a-half.

See more on new home sales in June, a key housing statistic

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Yamaha Corp Warns of Continuing Chip Shortage

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Shizuoka, Japan-based Yamaha Corporation – the world’s largest musical instrument maker that also offers pro, commercial, and residential audio gear is warning markets that the global chip shortage – while improving marginally lately – is still creating challenges that constrict manufacturers’ ability to achieve production goals. It is the first such warning I’ve seen from a company well known for acoustic pianos – but whose electronic instruments and audio gear generate more revenue.

See more of what the Yamaha President had to say about chips

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Tiny Koss Scores Big Win over Giant Apple in Patent Dispute Settlement

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Koss Corporaton headquarters in Wisconsin

Expects $10-$14 Million in Licensing Fees in Current Quarter

Back in August 2020, I told you about Koss Corporation filing patent infringement claims against Apple Inc, Bose Corporation, PEAG LLC (JLAB Audio), Plantronics, and Skullcandy. It seemed like an improbable journey for the relatively small specialty headphone maker, but they plunged ahead anyway confident that their wireless audio patents had been unfairly infringed.

This week, after two years of legal battles that had intensified in 2022 and on the eve of a jury trial with mighty Apple, Inc. the two parties reached an agreement settling all disputes in a deal that looks really sweet for Koss.

See more on the big win for Koss

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Turmoil Returns to Krell; COO Walter Schofield is Out Without Explanation

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Krell Solo 375 amplifier

Several Krell-related sources, such as dealers and others, reached out to me on Monday to share the surprising news they had just received in that morning’s email – top Krell executive Walter Schofield has left the company. Other than that basic fact, dealers didn’t know much more as the terse communication from Krell contained very little information. Speculation is running rampant…

See more on what I’ve learned about developments at Krell

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Emerald Expo Offers ‘Reinvigorated’ Education for CEDIA Expo 2022

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Emerald Exposition, one of the largest exposition companies in the U.S. and the owner of the CEDIA Expo (and CE Pro), announced this week that they will be offering “reinvigorated educational programming” at this year’s CEDIA Expo 2022. This initiative will include a range of more than 150 sessions, including seminars, panels, workshops, and manufacturer product training.

See more on education at CEDIA Expo 2022

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