Speaker Asylum

B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup

4.16.212.196

bquisp

Hmmm....
details here... (Open in New Window)

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And here comes a wireless speaker.... - MannyE 12:12:43 05/09/16 (0)
I guess if you love digital it's about time someone made a 5 figure wireless hifi speaker for you... who else but B&W?

Can't wait to see the B&W "Aspire" line next to the Coby speakers.
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - brush001 04:59:47 05/05/16 (0)
Oh dear
Almost forgot - fin1bxn@msn.com 12:38:08 05/04/16 (0)
What about Parts and Service.....
At least we kept it out of AXIS hands... Rolls Royce anyone? - MannyE 10:51:30 05/04/16 (4)
I mean... come on! It's almost as hard to find an English audio product as it is to find an American beer.
- hard to find an American beer?!? - M3 lover 09:57:28 05/05/16 (3)
  Are you aware of the surge in Craft Beer breweries all across America? The bonus is they can offer real variety and taste.
  
  "You can't know what the "best" is unless you have heard everything, and keep in mind that given individual tastes, there really isn't any such thing." HP
  - RE: hard to find an American beer?!? - MannyE 10:07:39 05/05/16 (2)
    Yes. Yes I am.
    - Come to San Diego, Manny. - Mr. Dick Hertz 11:31:45 05/05/16 (1)
      We'll show you some good American beer.
      
      Last year I was in Germany. Oh boy you say! Bet you had some great beer, huh? Well no, not really. Oh I guess if you're into Budweiser or Coors, you'd love Kolsch. Ever had a Rauchbier? You can do it at home. Grab some burnt wood from the fireplace and soak it in your Budweiser for a few days. Then, bottoms up! No, if you think American beers are insipid and bland, you need to be brought into the 21st. century. American craft beers are some of the best, if not the best in the world.
      
      There is no beer in food, but there is food in beer.
      - RE: Come to San Diego, Manny. - MannyE 12:27:40 05/05/16 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Come to San Diego, Manny. posted by Mr. Dick Hertz on May 05, 2016 at 11:31:45
        
        It was really a bad example. Who knew this sight would be full of beer nerds? Wait.... I should have.
        Just to redeem myself, here is my current favorite beer.
        
        Edits: 05/05/16
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - geezerrocket 10:21:31 05/04/16 (0)
I sure hope for the sake of all B&W owners that this doesn't turn into a "shit show" the way it did for Thiel.

Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - fin1bxn@msn.com 07:30:58 05/04/16 (5)
So does that mean their shipping all the manufacturing equipment to California? What about R&D. I'm glad for a new American company but feel bad for the 1100 losing their jobs.

Also taxes are Higher in the US and California, I hope they can make a profit and stay in business.

I have owned a few prs of B&W over the years..and this upsets me.
- Wait, WHAT? "Also taxes are Higher in the US and California, " - David S. 07:44:34 05/05/16 (1)
  Have you looked into the British tax system? Last I knew, the US is/was practically a tax haven!
  
  p.s.: Currently own B&W Matrix 805 in a home system, and have owned N805 & other B&W speakers. Colour me a fan.
  - RE: Wait, WHAT? "Also taxes are Higher in the US and California, " - Inmate51 11:32:31 05/05/16 (0)
    But, hey, they get "free" healthcare!
    
    :)
- Future product tags will read... - Steve O 09:07:10 05/04/16 (2)
  ..."proudly designed and engineered in USA" (or England) in a big bold font, "made in China to B&W specs" in a small font. FWIW, B&W already has a Chinese mfg arrangement for their lower end stuff so really nothing new.
  - RE: Future product tags will read... - DrChaos 10:25:10 05/04/16 (1)
    Well, many of their people are from Apple.
    "Designed by Apple in California"
    And manufactured nowhere near CA.
    Harman also used to manufacture Revel, JBL, etc in Northridge, CA.
    
    Edits: 05/04/16
    - RE: Future product tags will read... - Trouser Trout 01:38:16 05/05/16 (0)
      Don't be hard on Apple. They can't afford to give American's jobs. In order to keep the 200 Billion cash on hand stuff must be produced in China. Also give them credit for spending money on suicide netting on Foxconn buildings.
Venture capitalism? - layman 05:17:48 05/04/16 (0)
I don't understand how these venture capitalists work. Is this the way Bain Capital gutted so many companies?

Will Bowers and Wilkins end up just a brand name whose logo is stuck on products that bear no relation to the companies previous history?

I seem to recall the same fate for the UK's Rogers Audio. Bought out by Chinese investors. UK-based operations closed. Rogers-UK employees laid off. Brand name stuck on vacuum cleaners (and other tacky non-audio electronics) for sale in the far east.....
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - 6bq5 16:26:56 05/03/16 (1)
another perspective
Happy Listening
- SV Business Times (Open in New Window)
- RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - Mike B. 19:17:29 05/03/16 (0)
  I guess he made a offer they could not refuse. And, he got a well established company with good name recognition.
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - Trouser Trout 13:59:23 05/03/16 (0)
B&W group owns Rotel. Wonder if they're included.
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - fantja 10:22:47 05/03/16 (2)
Thanks! for sharing this story. We must know all facts, as in, is the start-up looking to improve the B&W brand? Or, simply turn a buck or two?
- RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - Steve O 10:45:26 05/03/16 (1)
  I suspect the new owners want to both "improve" B&W and also turn a buck. From the article, it seems that "improvement" will entail high end wireless capabilities with built in Bluetooth receivers, amps and Xover/signal processing. Probably much smaller physical size too. The future is here now.
  - Sadly for us, I think you're right nt - Frihed89 00:28:54 05/04/16 (0)
    nt
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - 6bq5 10:08:50 05/03/16 (0)
Looks like B&W may go the way of Meridian- powered speakers w/ DACs onboard...
a 'phone and some bluetooth tech with a pair of these New i805s for $75K...
Happy Listening
RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - SpotcheckBilly12345 10:02:18 05/03/16 (2)
Bye bye B&W :-(

All one has to do is to remember what the new owner did to the 49ers.
- Or Thiel Speakers...(nt) - mkuller 20:53:10 05/03/16 (0)
  (nt)
- RE: B&W Sells Out to a Tiny Silicon Valley Startup - Duster 15:03:35 05/03/16 (0)
  SpotcheckBilly12345 wrote:
  
  "All one has to do is to remember what the new owner did to the 49ers."
  
  I'm not a sports fan, but I'd be interested in your take on this issue.
  
  TIA

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