AVAD, one of the custom integration industry’s leading distributors, is in the process of going through a major transformation, out from under the – some would say – clueless shadows of its previous owner, monster I.T. distributor Ingram Micro…to a more focused posture under new owner Kingswood Capital Management. Now being managed by CEO Tom Jacoby and President Fred Farrar, the company has begun a series of initiatives to transform their geographic footprint, business model, and push to higher revenues.
Specialty
AudioControl Selects Home Audio Rep of the Year
Specialty audio and automotive electronics supplier AudioControl announced this week that it has selected Rich Jackson in Northern California as its Rep of the Year for their home products category. For AudioControl, Rep of the Year means that “independent sales organization that has delivered outstanding overall performance, dedication to the AudioControl brand and exceptional service” in their region.
Read more about Rich Jackson and AudioControl in Northern California… [Read more…] about AudioControl Selects Home Audio Rep of the Year
HiFiMan: Staking Out the Extreme High End of the Headphone Market
Launches $50,000 Headphone System
HiFiMan, the specialty maker of high-end headphones and portable music players, announced this week the launch of a “premium” electrostatic headphone system that they call Shangri-La. Calling it a “cost-no-object experience,” the Shangri-La system is priced to sell for $50,000 at retail. The price of paradise appears to have risen lately.
See more about what HiFiMan suggests is the ultimate listening experience… [Read more…] about HiFiMan: Staking Out the Extreme High End of the Headphone Market
SupplyStream Changes Name and Business Model
SupplyStream, the online aggregator of industry brands and products data, announced today that it has decided to change its name and business model in a move that they say will more properly align their branding with the reality of their business activities. The change takes place immediately.
See more on this surprising change… [Read more…] about SupplyStream Changes Name and Business Model
At High End Show, Bluesound & NAD Offer High-End Announcements
From the High End show now taking place in Munich, Germany, Bluesound and NAD, two specialty audio lines leading the charge into high-res and high quality audio, made several interesting announcements about their efforts. Both brands are marketed here in the U.S. by Lenbrook America.
See what Bluesound and NAD announced at the High End show… [Read more…] about At High End Show, Bluesound & NAD Offer High-End Announcements
Yet Another High-End Brand Turns to Internet Sales, But This Time’s Different
This Time Brand Takes Local Dealers With Them
Raleigh, NC-based Cary Audio announced this week that they will allow their high-end specialty electronics line to be sold online. At first blush, this looks like yet another specialty brand disrupting their bricks-and-mortar dealer base in favor of powerful online dealers – much like our recent story on McIntosh Labs doing just that. But this time, Cary took a completely different approach – one that takes their local dealers along with them.
See how Cary built an entirely different program in going online… [Read more…] about Yet Another High-End Brand Turns to Internet Sales, But This Time’s Different
In Eye of Storm, McIntosh Hit with Management Shake-Up
BREAKING NEWS
We have learned through multiple sources that McIntosh Labs, the high-end American brand that was thrust into the limelight recently when it came to light that the company was authorizing internet sales of its specialty brand, has experienced a bit of a management shake-up. Specifically, two top executives have resigned their positions at the company in just the last few days.
See what we’ve uncovered about this change at McIntosh… [Read more…] about In Eye of Storm, McIntosh Hit with Management Shake-Up
Former Specialist Darling McIntosh Opens Up Internet Sales
BREAKING NEWS
Multiple sources have told us that McIntosh Laboratory, Inc., a brand once deeply committed to the specialty electronics retail channel, has notified dealers by phone that for the first time in its history the company will allow Internet retailers to sell the brand. The list of online dealers that will be authorized to sell McIntosh products includes Amazon.com. The news has sent a shock around their dealer base and we have heard from several very loyal, long-time McIntosh dealers…who are very, very angry.
See more on this latest development from McIntosh… [Read more…] about Former Specialist Darling McIntosh Opens Up Internet Sales
Emotiva in Major Launch of New Models
Emotiva Audio Corporation is one of those ideas whose core elements initially seemed incongruous – high-end products…sold on the Internet? When we learned of their launch 12-years ago, we predicted doom and damnation. After all, high-end audio, we posited, was as much about the experience -the audition – as it is about the product. Founder Dan Laufman proved us wrong. This week, Laufman caught our attention again when we recently received information about an impressive roster of new models to be launched at CES.
See what we learned from our interview with Dan Laufman… [Read more…] about Emotiva in Major Launch of New Models
Digital Projection’s Dynamite Demo at EXPO
We saw many presentations at the 2015 CEDIA Expo in Dallas, but one stood head-and-shoulders above the rest – Digital Projection’s Insight 4K projector demo. Not only was the product line smokin’ hot, the company retained video expert Chris Chinnock of Insight Media who offered a very educational presentation on the key elements of projector performance, elements to which we often don’t pay enough attention.
