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Onkyo Promised and Now Delivers True Atmos Performance on Select Existing AVR Models

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OnkyoAtmos2This past June at CE Week in New York City, Onkyo was one of two manufacturers (the other being Pioneer…now part of Onkyo) who were the first in the industry to announce new Atmos-enabled AV receivers. Atmos, Dolby Labs’ latest surround sound technology that adds innovations such as “height” speakers and sound “objects,” promises to deliver to consumers an all-new, in-home entertainment experience.

But not only did Onkyo succeed in being one of the first manufacturers to introduce the technology to the market in yet-to-be-delivered new products – it went one step further and announced that it would offer owners of certain existing Onkyo A/V receiver models the ability to upgrade to Atmos (Atmos-upgradable models) through a firmware upgrade by the end of the third quarter.

Today, Onkyo announced that they will deliver on their Atmos upgrade promise… [Read more…] about Onkyo Promised and Now Delivers True Atmos Performance on Select Existing AVR Models

Bain Capital Fails in Its Bid to Restructure D&M Holdings Buyout Financing

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Bain Capital logoIn February, we told you about a report from Reuters that Bain Capital was seeking to restructure their financing package originally constructed when they purchased  D&M Holdings (now known as the D+M Group) back in 2008. The original package was said to total ¥74.1 billion ($725.2 million), the senior debt portion of which is maturing this month. Reuters suggested at the time that Bain may experience difficulties getting a new deal, despite their financial prowess.

Now we learn that Reuters was right – Bain Capital has failed in its attempt to restructure the D&M Holdings debt.

See more on just what happened when Bain went back to the well on D&M… [Read more…] about Bain Capital Fails in Its Bid to Restructure D&M Holdings Buyout Financing

Private Equity Kingpin KKR Invests into Savant; Sets $215 Million Valuation

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Savant logoThe Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday that private equity powerhouse Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) has invested $90 million for a 35% stake in Savant Systems, LLC (Savant). While this is a minority stake, KKR is obviously bullish on the home automation supplier making what the WSJ says is an “eight-figure bet” that places a $215 million valuation on the home automation supplier.

See more on this news on a rapidly rising home automation supplier… [Read more…] about Private Equity Kingpin KKR Invests into Savant; Sets $215 Million Valuation

Atmos Atmosphere Expands with New Speakers from Triad Speakers & Atlantic Technology

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Dolby Atmos logoOne of the bigger stories in our industry is Dolby Labs introduction of a new surround sound system they call Dolby Atmos. Launched at CE Week in New York City this past June, Atmos has already attracted a number of predominantly electronics manufacturers supporting the system in their latest models. Now the selection of Atmos products expands with new product introductions by both Triad Speakers and Atlantic Technology.

See the new Atmos speakers from Triad and Atlantic Technology, two specialty companies… [Read more…] about Atmos Atmosphere Expands with New Speakers from Triad Speakers & Atlantic Technology

Dolby Atmos – Take Two

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GUEST POST

My Take After a Dolby-Controlled Demo of
Both Commercial and Home Atmos Versions

Pioneer slide showing Atmos logoSomeone (even Google can’t tell me who) once said “Nothing is new, only rediscovered.”

Case in point: Dolby Atmos, now being touted as the Next Big Thing in surround sound technology. [See A Deeper Dive into Dolby Atmos and Atmos Attacks at CE Week] The two most definable points that are said to differentiate Atmos from earlier surround formats (height information and “sound objects”) are, in reality, surprisingly mature approaches to multi-dimensional sound reproduction.

But height may not be as important as you (or Dolby) may think… [Read more…] about Dolby Atmos – Take Two

Another OLED Breakthrough? Japanese Consortium Forms to Test New OLED Production Method

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Photo of early Sony OLED
An early Sony OLED TV.

A Who’s Who collection of significant panel and display manufacturers in Japan says they will collectively invest ¥20 billion ($193 million) into a test production line for OLED panels using a new manufacturing process that promises to move the industry closer to mass production of what many feel is the next-generation video technology. If all goes well, the consortium will be mass-producing large quantities of relatively inexpensive OLED panels by 2018.

Learn more about this significant effort to push OLED technology forward… [Read more…] about Another OLED Breakthrough? Japanese Consortium Forms to Test New OLED Production Method

Bodley Exits PPC to Start a Company Selling What? Why PPC, Of Course

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Bodley & Assocs. logoWhen Belden bought PPC at the end of 2012, Eric Bodley thought this was going to be great news for both PPC and its Perfect Path line, where since 2009 he had led the charge in establishing the cable and satellite connector company’s locking HDMI connectors into the custom integration channel. And while he would argue that this acquisition by Belden was, in fact, a good thing for PPC, he soon came to realize that there was a challenge for him that was difficult to address.

That realization led Bodley to leave Belden/PPC and start a new company – to sell PPC… [Read more…] about Bodley Exits PPC to Start a Company Selling What? Why PPC, Of Course

Wait Till You See What’s Coming, Core Brands VP Tells Us

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Nortek's Core Brands LogoLast week, Strata-gee was the first in the industry to report the financial second quarter results for Nortek, Inc. and while the overall news had many positive points – the results for the now-separately reported AV group was quite negative, driving the overall company into a net loss of $46.2 million. Our story hit pretty big, and drew a lot of “eyeballs” from around the industry.

One set of eyeballs belonged to a VP for Core Brands – who reached out to us… [Read more…] about Wait Till You See What’s Coming, Core Brands VP Tells Us

Put a Little Bounce in Your Sales with Spring Deck

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SpringDeck iPad & logoImagine this – your sales team heads out to meet with prospective clients for your integration business somewhere in your service area. In a meeting, the client likes what they hear, but wants to see just exactly what the salesperson is referring to.

Like magic – presto changeo – your salesperson whips out an iPad and instantly pulls up a sharp, colorful image of the key components being proposed. What’s that you say, Mr. Prospect? You’d like to know how many HDMI inputs this unit has? Another click and a pdf of a manufacturer’s product cut-sheet opens up to detailed specifications – ah, there’s the answer.

Oh wait! – your salesperson exclaims – let me show you this short video made by the manufacturer that demonstrates a key feature that would be perfect for you. A colorful video plays instantly and smoothly, without any “buffering” hesitation.

Is this a pipe dream? No…its Spring Deck – an all-new central resource for your sales team.. [Read more…] about Put a Little Bounce in Your Sales with Spring Deck

ProSource to Offer SVS Subwoofers

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ProSource LogoProSource, a national retailer buying group, will add SVS subwoofers to its product line-up, the company announced on Tuesday. According to a published statement, “SVS is being tapped to energize subwoofer sales for independent retailers…”

See more on this interesting development… [Read more…] about ProSource to Offer SVS Subwoofers