What happened to Berkeley Audio Design

I'm sure the folks at BAD are smarter than I am and perfectly aware of the market.

I have tried looking their office up, no dice.  Mind you, I don't really care if BAD is in fact a virtual company, this is the 21st Century after all and I may do just that sometime soon. BAD can stand on their products and reputation. 

By the way, I'm pretty surprised this thread hasn't blown up with input on new products, new directions, designers who work at BAD, dealer input, etc.

Honestly I thought there was a 90% chance the problem was I was completely disconnected (often true) and I was missing a lot of new information.  Perhaps all those with knowledge of this subject are busy at the convention or glued to CNN right now.

Of course, it's only been a couple of days since I posted, I should still be hopeful that new info will be unearthed speaking of BAD's dynamic present and future.  My posting, and the lack of data in this forum is no evidence really of anything at all. 

I do apologize for any BAD fans who may have felt I was attacking BAD, but I can't prove intention.  As I wrote before, data washes any such perceived accusations away like a tsunami.

Best,


Erik

erik_squires "I have tried looking their office up, no dice."

The company phone number is on its website.
(510) 277-0512
Why don't you just call them?
 

Call them and have a discussion?  No, it's much easier speculating on an on-line forum that they're a zombie company with no actual engineering talent.  It's the 21st century!

So, good news! 

I got an e-mail back from them within minutes. There IS active product development, including MQA decoding coming "before the end of the year."

They did say they were "small" though, so I think I'm going to have to get used to a more modest and hopefully high quality rate of new product introductions.

So, my bad! :)  I just have to be more patient.

Best,

Erik

If you have a question about a given audio manufacturer in the future, I'd have a couple suggestions:

1.  Don't make your headline sound like the company's dead.  Most audio manufacturers -- even the good ones -- are operating on a very low margin budget, so even the suggestion of a company's viability on a site like this can have a significant negative impact. 

2.  While you have every right to ask this question to this site's members, why follow it up with a question like "Just wondering if this company has ceased to exist as an engineering firm?"  Make an effort to at least contact them before you throw something like that out there. 

You may have very valid questions here, but the way you ask them is in such a negative tone it raises questions as to your motivations.  And that doesn't need to be the case here at all.  Most of the people who work very hard to produce honestly good niche products for us and our hobby and who so rarely get paid commensurately are unfortunately largely operating on a shoestring budget.  Especially when good high-end dealers are a cherished and vanishing breed, let's not shoot hard-working and well-intentioned manufacturers in the foot unnecessarily or unintentionally.  In any event, good to know BAD is still out there innovating and bringing products to market.