Oh my god!
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Wow. My McIntosh days have been over for a while but I've lately been dreaming about Sonus Faber. Hope for the best? Bose, really? Funny story: in 1982 I bought an MC225 from a stereo repair guy for $200. I sold it back to him a couple years later for $200. It was my first adventure in the hobby: bought a used amp, enjoyed it, sold it, didn't lose a penny. My pride in that experience diminished considerably a few years ago when I discovered that they are now selling for $3-$10k.... I'm always sorry to see companies bought up by big corporations. As a Vermonter, I can only think of Unilever's purchase of Ben&Jerry's .... |
Audio Research was bought by Acora Acoustics and Musical Fidelity was bought by Audio Tuning. In both cases the new owners stated they didn’t want to interfere with what the company was doing to keep the brand original (in many ways). Bose may do this as well. Dr. Omar Bose was a revolutionary person who did many things including inventing a very innovative automobile suspension system. |
I was just reading a few news releases on this move and personally as a McIntosh and Sonus Faber owner, I am fractured. I may turn my speakers to face the wall as a symbol of reluctant acceptance. I can only imagine that the value of existing equipment will drop if not plummet in value, I hope I’m wrong. I relate it to Chrysler that went from Diamlar-Benz ownership to Fiat and now Peugeot. But I also owned a MC7205 when McIntosh was owned by Clarion, that amp was a disappointment for any Mc owner. I never understood why Clarion didn’t offer a watch with blue backlight. |
I would "like" to think this would be a good move for both parties, but time will tell. They largely operate in two very different categories of audio. Bose has been more recently focused on personal audio, automotive, home theater, and pro audio. McIntosh Group has held steady with its brand and growth (if anything has improved upon it), while remaining largely in the premium audio space. I can see Bose wanting to purchase McIntosh Group in order to extend its brand efforts and also its portfolio offerings. I would like to think the positive direction the McIntosh Group has achieved with its brand efforts would be very valuable to Bose. On a larger scale, I think this is a move with consideration on how Harman has continued its growth trajectory and acquisition of recent brands, including Roon. |
It's true, but hard to believe. |
