What Harmon/Samsung bring to the table are financial and marketing resources, and that is precisely what the small, innovative companies lack. It's a tough slog for the small entrepreneur, with cash flow always threatening to end the dream. A roll-up like Harmon is doing is a way for the creative guy to cash out and go try something else. It's pointless to be romantic about business. The large acquiring company will be unlikely to hold onto the creative types or foster innovation - not impossible but not likely either. I, for one, do not lament the roll-up, but rather look forward to what the innovators will bring next.
Harman To Acquire B&W, Denon, Polk And Marantz From Masimo In $350 Million Deal
just saw the above announcement--of particular note is that masimo paid over a billion for the same brands just a few years ago. not sure whether harman will add any value--they've neither hurt nor helped revel or arcam--or what this move indicates about the consumer audio market generally, but this doesn't bode well for the future.