What is with B&W these days? soundbars, ipod doc..

My friends with B&Ws have kids.They listen to i-pods.It is a way to bridge the generation gap and expose them to the pleasures of owning an audio system.

We're living in an IPOD World. I think many growing up on IPOD's and soon to have nice incomes will look at your above example(s) as all they want or really need.

You can bet B&W has done their market research.

James63 is only looking at the situation from a US market perspective.

When I travel to the UK (where B&W headquarters are) I see B&W in the most unusual places, compared to the US. For example, I noticed that there are B&W ipod docks (Zeppelin) sold at Waitrose Super Store (the equivalent of a US Super Target). B&W is priced lower in the UK than over here in the US.

I don't think that B&W's main market is the high-end audiophile. In the UK one can see B&W speakers in many public places used for background music, etc. I have also seen computer speakers made by B&W in the UK.

With respect to James63 being saddened by B&W's marketing, perhaps he needs to get out more and see what is going on in the rest of the world - the US is not the only game for B&W. No, the average Joe in the US does not own B&W, but a huge number of Joe's in the UK do. Cheer up!

B&W marketing has been their primary forte from day one. This looks like a clever move to me.