Bose buys McIntosh

The blue meters are distinctive, but only mean anything to a small number of audiophile owners. Still, they set McIntosh apart and probably should be left alone, or at least kept where a Vu meter is expected and appropriate. Signature design features do matter, a lot. Meters are expected in high-end amps. Technics, now in its super-premium revival makes great efforts to place them on its $16k TOTL products.  VAC does the same, even more elaborately. Sure, it is theater, but necessary theater.

I too have some industry insider info regarding the purchase of McIntosh- it was primarily a play for car audio and especially focusing on noise reduction in vehicles to eliminate most ambient engine or road noise. Bose engineered an electromagnetic car suspension system and sold it off a few years ago to an active suspension company, so they are always thinking about that sector. I think we might expect to see an expansion of the Mc name for OEM auto head unit partnerships (beyond Wagoneer), since the Bose name in car audio has taken a hit in recent years. But I do not expect any major changes in core Mc home audio equipment EXCEPT an infusion of cash that should positively impact engineering of Mc home audio.

I surmise that the SF purchase was due to a cash-flush company that saw higher than normal gross margins, just like Bose, and a premium speaker company that might somehow improve Bose's portfolio and perception with high end audiophiles. They cannot say that for their own brand.

I agree with many of the posters that Bose does not need to dismantle or negatively impact either company - the strategy does not appear to be a race to the bottom for parts or quality savings. You may not be aware that Bose is owned by Massachusetts Institute of Technology - donated entirely by Amar Bose upon his death. MIT's endowment fund exceeds $23.5 Billion.

I’ve not been a fan of Mc, so my feelings about it are meh. I will tell you, I was gifted a pair of Bose ultra in ear Nc headphones and was blown away by them. I do a lot of shop things that involve power tool. Seriously good and sound quality while not true audiophiles is amazing.  I’ve never been a fan of Bose anything, but here I am, I like my little headphones.  As long as Bose doesn’t offshore the brands to china, (heck are they already made in china?) and leaves or retains the engineers who design the pre Bose mc stuff, all is not lost. 

Love my wave radio in my work shop. Can’t wait to get one with blue meters for the fish shack. 

Bose is certainly innovative outside the small audiophile space. Their automotive system brand is well-placed in the mass market, which isn't a bad place to be. They have made a significant bid in the consumer home audio market against Sonos. Their personal audio and industrial audio (professional noise cancellation systems) are solid. Getting a brand that is welcome in the high-end vehicle market in places where Bose doesn't have the cachet makes sense.