Is Martin Logan goin to Big Box stores?

Check this:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ymisc&1132459518&openusid&zzMuzikat&4&&

I have a friend who's husband is a best buy manager, and he tells me high end is coming to Best Buy. I forget which brands, but they were some of the big, established high-end approved brands. What I think that means is that a lot of high end manufacturers will sell a lot more stuff, become more successful, more people will have access to equipment they never heard of and get better systems, and the audiophiles will proclaim "Martin Logan is the new Bose" (I actually think there is some truth to this - both product lines have, to my ear, a similar upper mid range prominence). I'm sure we'll find some way to turn this into bad news, just to keep our status as superior high-end snobs

they are in a best buy-owned chain called "magnolia" as are several large hi end brands. when best buy 'started out'in minneapolis they were called 'the sound of music' as they were a single stereo shop that featured hi end brands....'cizek' anyone?.

Martin Logans have been sold in the Sound Advice chain store for years. Krell is also sold there. There are times when they have clearance sales when they have 70% off retail

There are also now being sold in Best Buy stores that have a Magnolia home theater section. Ultimate Audio, which is part of the Tweeter group is also retailing M/L these days.
Most of what they stock is the aimed at the HT marketing. Smaller M/L and on-wall models.

Very sad. I cant blame them though money talks.

The new cheap line of ML products is well represented in Tweeter and Magnolia. The line sucks but has the ML logo and fits nicely on the wall. On a store-by-store basis some are able to carry the higher end products. While some individual stores do have staf with teh appropriate background to sell the higher end line most do not. These stores often end up selling the Aeon or Ascent along with a Denon receiver (which promptly blows up or shuts down).

Other manufacturers have in the past, and are doing the same now. Coast on name recognition into mediocrity. Strike while the iron is hot and cash in on your success now audio manufacturers. Quality what?

Why is it sad that Best Buy might actually sell some decent equipment? :)

That would be the kiss of death. Have you seen what the merger with Chrysler did to Mercedes? Have you seen the two horrible new models: one looks like a van, the other like a Mazda 3? I thought people realized that cheapening the brand is what, in great part, caused the demise of Packard.

Like I said...

Mercedes bought Chrysler, so Mercedes did it to Mercedes. :)

More distribution could be a good thing.

It does not have to cheapen brands.

Cheapening products has a bigger impact on cheapening brands.

Although perhaps the two usually go hand in hand.

They've been at Tweeter for ages.

there have been hundreds of hi end companies in the last few years go 'belly-up', move manufacturing to 'built-to-spec' factories in china, or get purchased by investment groups(or larger companies),looking to turn a nice, quick profit. there will be rare exceptions to the later. mcintosh has been one of the few who have survived new ownership, and continued to build on the ideals that the company was founded on. most will not be so lucky, because most don't build a product for the ages. love bose or hate bose....whoever thought a table radio of any persuasion would be selling in 2005.

Bartinmi
Have you ever been in best buy? The sales people do not even understand what 5.1 is. Do you think you sales person at best buy will rember your name?

Imagine – a high quality, innovative, state-of-the-art, designed and built-in-America, piece of industrial art sold at Best Buy or a related store – what a shame, eh?

If you really give a hoot that a sales dweeb doesn’t remember your name, you must be terribly insecure. I find having my name forgotten preferable to having some audio sales-twit barely bother to acknowledge my presence because of some inflated sense of ego and self-worth because of the stuff he’s got on his shelf.

Yes, ML's (very) low end speakers have been in the "high end" room of Best Buy for some time, and better models (typically up to the Aeon level) have also been at Magnolia for some time, and the affect on the brand has been exactly what? I’m sure the reason why there’s a long wait list for the Summit is because it’s dreadful, right? Cheapening the brand. Sure, whatever.

Best Buy's derivative Magnolia Hi-Fi also handles Vienna Acoustics, Primare, McIntosh, Krell, REL, etc. Tweeter has B&K, Sonus Faber etc.

Anybody ignorant enough to post the "McIntosh at Best Buy" thread? Chad?

Hey I was just askin, I could care less...I just thought it was interesting......am I ignorant?

Whats next Radio Shack? This is sad news,as this will dilute the Martin Logan name.

Klipsch pulled this already with best buy, their line was dropped from several mid to high end locals because of the association and trying to compete with the big box store,,, will it effect klipsch bottom line? Nope, they will be in more dorm rooms than they ever would have reached being in the few exclusive dealers they use to be in... So is it good or bad, don't know but almost always this will cause a drop in quality in the long run of the product, but from a money standpoint, well its survival so if thats what it is, then thats what it is. I would not go so far to say even the huge name of Mcintosh will not be approched and see dollar signs from a best buy one day either, probably already happened but if it can be proven to sell this way any manufacture would probably jump on it.

Klipsch pulled this already with best buy, their line was dropped from several mid to high end locals because of the association and trying to compete with the big box store,,, will it effect klipsch bottom line? Nope, they will be in more dorm rooms than they ever would have reached being in the few exclusive dealers they use to be in... So is it good or bad, don't know but almost always this will cause a drop in quality in the long run of the product, but from a money standpoint, well its survival so if thats what it is, then thats what it is. I would not go so far to say even the huge name of Mcintosh will not be approched and see dollar signs from a best buy one day either, probably already happened but if it can be proven to sell this way any manufacture would probably jump on it.

There’s no reason for starting this thread other than to solicit disparaging remarks on a brand that has demonstrated excellence in design, engineering, production and customer service, year after year, even while its low end models have been sold for 3-4 years at “big box” stores, which make many of the statements here complete nonsense.

ML has demonstrated they can keep an excellent high-end product line while expanding their market so many who are the recipients of audiophile disdain can experience a taste of something better – and maybe even move up the audiophile food chain after exposure to something better –imagine.

If you really “just thought it was interesting”, then here’s your opportunity to start the (Vienna Acoustics, Primare, McIntosh, Krell, REL) at Best Buy threads – those are even more interesting, as those brands don’t apparently discriminate on what models their dealers can carry based on capability as ML does with their Signature, Full Line and Design Series dealers. Have fun.

Sorry I didnt know the rules of posting what was interesting to me at the time, my motive was never to bash Martin Logan...I had day freamed about owning some for a long time untill I got a pair of Innersound Eros. Also I never once said anything bad my only thinking was....nevermind. Please dont judge my motives, in this case you were way off base. I think I also made one or two very positive remarks on your system Snofun, was I bashing ML at that time?

Sorry for coming unglued Chad.
I've just seen far too many "why so many's", "how come they don't answer my call in 30 seconds" etc. threads that try to influence brand opinion that I'm apparently getting too touchy about one of my favorites.
My experience with ML, its products, service and support have been so uniformly outstanding that when I see comments regarding it's business model I get defensive. Comments on ML products are fine, but ML's business ethics are ones that every audio manufacturer should strive to achieve, and their approach to "big box" is another aspect where we'd all be better off if other manufacturers would emulate. Imagine having a low-end/high end choice at Best Buy instead of only ML vs. Blose.
I'm better now.

There's nothing out of line with your thread Chadnliz.

thanks Snofun for your reply