Classe bought by SOund United

wgerman said:
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/sound-united-acquires-classé-audio


Joins Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Boston Acoustics........................Yeah:|
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Honestly, Sound United has done an excellent job with Polk and Def Tech. While those two definitely don't play at Classe's level, their products have improved drastically while maintaining a price point. With Polk, the new blood brought the brand back to its roots with the Signature Series and I'm expecting a big announcement at CES today. Def Tech's products continue to improve and the new 9 series are very stout for home theater.

I haven't heard much on the BA front and D+M merged less than a year ago, so I'm not sure what influence they have had yet on those brands. Still, I wouldn't dismiss this buyout as a negative simply because of the 'other' brands under that umbrella. My expectations are positive for this one.


Disclaimer: I began my journey in audio by joining the Polk forum when I was a wee teenager. I've become an ambassador for Polk Audio and was even personally invited to the Signature Series unveiling at CEDIA. I'm fairly certain I was the first dealer to get a shipment of the Signatures and still use them around the house. The glimpses I've had into the company's direction is what steers my comments above.
 
Unless the new owners paid next to nothing for the Classe deal I don't understand the need to keep them on life support (shades of Thiel). Dave Reich "Mr Clasee" left the company eons ago, its new custodians Grue & Co. did an alright job but once they moved production to China in 2011, IMO they lost any cachet it had left.
 
Building a product can take a few years. Building a name can take a couple of decades.
 
Maybe they need to dig up some of Dave's designs from the "glory years" as that was the sound that made them. The sound was much more important to them in those days than elaborate case work and digital add-ons. That path has not be all that kind to several of the "legends" from earlier days only a service department nightmare from getting in over their heads.
 
DSkip said:
Honestly, Sound United has done an excellent job with Polk and Def Tech. While those two definitely don't play at Classe's level, their products have improved drastically while maintaining a price point. With Polk, the new blood brought the brand back to its roots with the Signature Series and I'm expecting a big announcement at CES today. Def Tech's products continue to improve and the new 9 series are very stout for home theater.

I haven't heard much on the BA front and D+M merged less than a year ago, so I'm not sure what influence they have had yet on those brands. Still, I wouldn't dismiss this buyout as a negative simply because of the 'other' brands under that umbrella. My expectations are positive for this one.


Disclaimer: I began my journey in audio by joining the Polk forum when I was a wee teenager. I've become an ambassador for Polk Audio and was even personally invited to the Signature Series unveiling at CEDIA. I'm fairly certain I was the first dealer to get a shipment of the Signatures and still use them around the house. The glimpses I've had into the company's direction is what steers my comments above.
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Good to hear about Polk and Def Tech. I was a fan of Polk when owned by Mr. Polk, I believed the SDA (?) series put the company on the map. The build quality on the new Def Techs are definitely better with the latest series released, was that series under this new ownership?
 
Yes it was. Polk will never be a leading company like they were in their heyday, but they are still great products for the money (mostly). The new stuff they have come out with has been impressive. My favorite is probably the Magnifi Mini. At the current street price of $200, I don't think there is any other soundbar on the market that can touch it for close to that price tag.

The current direction of Polk is to get rid of the clutter - a good move. They are simplifying their lines to good, better, and best. Def Tech is a sister company and takes care of the true home theater enthusiasts, while the Polk lines will focus more on music with a full lineup for home theater if desired. They have quit trying to 'fight' their brand name as they are known as an entry company to the world of audio.

I'm still not a fan of the constant sales on Polk products (making it impossible for me to sell them), but they don't do that with Def Tech or Marantz and I doubt they would do anything of the sort with Classe.
 
DSkip said:
Yes it was. Polk will never be a leading company like they were in their heyday, but they are still great products for the money (mostly). The new stuff they have come out with has been impressive. My favorite is probably the Magnifi Mini. At the current street price of $200, I don't think there is any other soundbar on the market that can touch it for close to that price tag.

The current direction of Polk is to get rid of the clutter - a good move. They are simplifying their lines to good, better, and best. Def Tech is a sister company and takes care of the true home theater enthusiasts, while the Polk lines will focus more on music with a full lineup for home theater if desired. They have quit trying to 'fight' their brand name as they are known as an entry company to the world of audio.

I'm still not a fan of the constant sales on Polk products (making it impossible for me to sell them), but they don't do that with Def Tech or Marantz and I doubt they would do anything of the sort with Classe.
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Did Polk announce anything new at CES? I noticed on Crutchfield, like you stated some of their lines are on sale. Just wandering if they are trying to clear them out.
 
wgerman said:
Did Polk announce anything new at CES? I noticed on Crutchfield, like you stated some of their lines are on sale. Just wandering if they are trying to clear them out.
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Bud got it.

They aren't trying to really clear anything out, they are just loose with sales. I'd expect the new soundbar to go on sale about 2 months after actual release. It's what happens. The sad part is they make excellent products at list prices but don't know how to market them nor hold a price tag.
 
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