Audioquest buys GoldenEar

As a owner of 2 pairs of GE speakers, I am not at all thrilled. 

stereo5,
No disrespect to you, but why do you feel that way? It sounds like Sandy Gross will still be part of the team with much greater financial resources. It doesn't sound like GoldenEar is under financial distress. As long as everything is on the up and up, this should be a good move.

Thankfully, the Vandersteen kids are involved in the business, so my speakers should be safe for another generation.
B

IMO GE must not be doing so well if they are merging with Audioquest.  Many times when audio companies merge, it spells disaster.  First the product gets cheapened a bit to save money and make the stockholders happy.  No good will come out of this and as a consumer with a heavy investment in GE products, I feel slighted.

Usually companies have to be doing very well for another company to buy them.  What good is buying a company that has bad products or services or is losing money?  Many founders dream of building something so that one day they can sell the company, cash out, and retire.

I can't believe they didn't ask you first.  The nerve!

@stereo5... I could understand your concern(s), if the company that bought GE was non-audio related.

I happen to know both sides quite well and IMHO, they will continue to innovate and provide excellent product in both value and performance for many years to come.

Bill and Sandy, (and their respective personnel) will make a fantastic joint organization.

Based on the info.released by the OP, Bill Low and Sandy have been  acquainted for 50+ years and AQ may want a well regarded speaker brand to mate with their cable line.  This could be a good move for both concerns.  Not hard to imagine promoting the speakers together with AQ cables as a bundle!

It also makes you wonder if GE was in need of some cash, to perhaps,take the next step? Of course I'm just speculating. I have no idea of their financial health.

I don't want this to end up like when Clarion bought out McIntosh.  That was a disaster.  Thank God McIntosh is on solid footing again.  I hope it works out but I know there is more to this than what has been explained by Golden Ear and Audioquest.

Having done something like that myself, maybe a time in ones life where a price, joint venture and or an exit strategy was the right move for the company.  

Sandy Gross was involved with two other speaker companies over the years.

It looks like there may be some actual synergy in this acquisition. AQ will gain a high value, well known brand of speakers and GE will gain access to a larger, more well developed distribution network plus additional capital for expansion. The fact that the two CEOs know each other well is another good sign.

There are plenty of examples of acquisitions or investors that have hurt or even destroyed audio companies - Krell and Thiel are examples. This one looks very different to me. If I was in the market for GE speakers I would be more likely to buy them now than before the acquisition.

I have always liked AQ cables and they are heavily used throughout my 9.2 A/V system along with various Golden Ear A/V speakers and subs.  It has been a good marriage.

Last year at AXPONA I met Sandy and demo'd his GE Triton One.Rs  which led to coming home and getting a demo of the full size GE Triton R's and again the Triton One R's ...  I had to have the One R's for my stereo system , so to the dismay of my dealer (Speaker & Stereo Store ),  he got payment in lieu of return towers .  My win !  

Long story short ... GE is not/ was not in a financial dilemma. Their Tritons series are still in high demand as well as their A/V speakers & Subs, with short wait on the One.R's .   I believe the AQ purchase assisted GE in their continued growth in the market and improved service & distribution channels through AQ's well matured infrastructure. 

I for one, congratulate Sandy & Bill , hope to see them in April at AXPONA , and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. 

Happy Listening & Happy New Year ! 

Shad    

"American classic: "

Made In China.

So does this mean GoldenEar will try to reinvent the wheel with a new line of speakers every six months?

I know many here love  these speakers. I went to an audition when their speakers were introduced around 3-4-5 years ago. They were very underwhelming. I was very disappointed.

There is consolidation in the industry.  There is consolidation in every industry, including service industries like Banking and Health Care.  In Healthcare, it’s bad—the one one percenters suck the life out of everything and make everyone work like bees and suck money out of taking care of people.  In manufacturing, it doesn’t have to be bad, if there are shared interests and economy of scale.  I don’t see the synergy myself between Audioquest and a Speaker Manufacturer, but I’m a Doctor, so what the hell do I know about it?

What are some examples in audio of where one company was acquired by another and it worked out better going forward for the company acquired?

This is a serious question, and I’m only asking because I’m not aware, not because I think it can’t or hasn’t happened. Many above say it’s encouraging, so I’m just looking for some exemplary precedent.