<March 28, 2012> Azione Unlimited, the new buying group targeted at the integration and custom retail channels announced Tuesday that it has added two “founding” dealer members who will both join the organization and serve on its advisory board. The organization followed this announcement up today with another hailing the addition of two new vendors bringing the total number of vendors supporting the group to just under thirty. [Read more…] about New Group Azione Unlimited Continues Ramp-up with New Dealers & Vendors
Specialty
HTSA Appoints New Director of Marketing
<March 1, 2012> The Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) announced today that it has created a new Director of Marketing position that it believes will dramatically increase support for HTSA members with dynamic new programs. The new Director of Marketing is Kathleen Marini. [Read more…] about HTSA Appoints New Director of Marketing
Thiel Audio Names New Independent Reps in California
<February 29, 2012> Thiel Audio Products Company announced this past Monday that it
has appointed two new independent sales representative firms in the state of California – one for Northern California and another for Southern California. Both are well known with strong credentials for servicing the specialty and custom integration channels. [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Names New Independent Reps in California
Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s…HiFiMAN
See UPDATE below article…
>See a slideshow with images from the HiFiMAN press conference here<<
<January 25, 2012> One of the more pleasant surprises of the show was an opportunity to meet a company – new to me but apparently known amongst many high end aficionados for awhile now – with a name that struck me as a little goofy – HiFiMAN. But, as I was soon to learn, the name fits…owner Dr. Fang Bian is a man truly dedicated to high fidelity sound reproduction…even in the face of our portable, overly-compressed, MP3 digital music world. Bian is truly a HiFiMAN. [Read more…] about Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s…HiFiMAN
At CES – Monster Turns from Performance to Fashion Model Runway to Sell Headphones
>>See a full slideshow of the Monster Press Conference here<<
<January 25, 2012> In what had to be one of the more unusual press conferences we’ve attended, Monster Cable – who wants us all to drop the “Cable” from their name – launched a whole roster of partnerships including the clothing brand Diesel, and put on a fashion show for both their Diesel-related products and their new Inspiration headphone line. Yes, that’s right, we said a fashion show complete with models walking down a runway of sorts (a cleared center aisle) with music blaring and flashing colored lights, showing off various Monster headphones. [Read more…] about At CES – Monster Turns from Performance to Fashion Model Runway to Sell Headphones
Onkyo & Gibson CEO’s Give the ALERT the Inside Scoop on their New Partnership
Gibson Guitar Becomes Exclusive U.S. Distributor of Onkyo & Integra Brands
<January 18, 2012> As one of a select (and very small) group of reporters invited to a hastily-arranged private audience with the CEO’s of both Gibson Guitar Corp. and Onkyo Corp. to discuss their recently announced strategic alliance, I was intrigued. The interview was held on a custom Gibson tour bus literally and figuratively…as the Gibson CEO clearly drove the discussion. [Read more…] about Onkyo & Gibson CEO’s Give the ALERT the Inside Scoop on their New Partnership
Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind
<August 2, 2011> Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. (Velodyne) surprised many in the industry last week by summarily dismissing their independent sales representative force and announcing that they would begin selling Velodyne subwoofers direct to consumers via a new online ecommerce website. The webstore was already open by the time some of the sales representatives received their termination notice. [Read more…] about Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind
Russound Pulls the Plug on Colorado vNet
Colorado Town Council Plans Lawsuit
<December 29, 2010> In a move that will not surprise many in the industry, Russound has decided to close Colorado vNet fourteen months after purchasing it in October 2009. The move appears to be related to a breakdown in negotiations with the town of Loveland, Colorado which had provided the company’s previous owners with $900,000 in incentives to move operations there…and had renegotiated a $500,000 deal with new owner Russound. [Read more…] about Russound Pulls the Plug on Colorado vNet
Electronics Manufacturer ATI to Acquire B&K Components from Bank
SpecialALERT
B&K Components, Ltd., a small privately owned company founded in 1981 in Buffalo, NY, had carved out a niche for itself as a provider of a fairly wide range of stereo, home theater, and multizone audio components. But apparently B&K Components has also become the latest victim of a continuing industry contraction as sources tell the ALERT that, barring any unforseen last-minute glitches, Amplifier Technologies, Inc. (ATI) will acquire B&K soon…perhaps as early as by the end of this week. [Read more…] about Electronics Manufacturer ATI to Acquire B&K Components from Bank
Russound Hopes to Beat the Odds with Acquisition of Colorado vNet; But Some Question Deal
<October 7, 2009>Newmarket, RI-based Russound announced this past Monday that it had signed a letter of intent to purchase recently shuttered Colorado vNet in a deal for which terms were not disclosed and that is expected to close by the end of October. The deal was a surprise to many in the industry as Colorado vNet recently announced the collapse of discussions with multiple potential suitors causing the company to cease operations, lay off staff, and close their doors in late September. [Read more…] about Russound Hopes to Beat the Odds with Acquisition of Colorado vNet; But Some Question Deal
