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MBL Insolvent

I apologize if someone else has started a thread I missed, but reports indicate that MBL has initiated insolvency proceedings under German law. Not all businesses succeed- its a feature not a bug in a free enterprise system- but hopefully new investors will come in and save the company. This seems to be following the way of Audio Research (fortunately saved) and others-lots of uncertainty surrounding Dartzeel, Krell, etc, which is unfortunate. So many of these manufacturers are small businesses, obviously without huge capital reserves and sometimes without a good succession plan when the founders move on. I hope MBL successfully restructures, it makes great products. I think we all benefit from a healthy, vibrant group at the top end that has the resources to create and innovate. Good luck MBL.

kerrybh
yyzsantabarbara
5,123 posts
 

They should have raised their prices to attract the clientele that they are after. 

rlj
68 posts
 

I don't know how many moving parts there are in a MBL speakers, but I'd guess that service would be frequent and expensive.   

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
3,086 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara   While you may be sarcastic, there are folks in the high end industry that think that business plan is a solid one. I know of a high end manufacturer who was told by his Far East dealer/rep to increase prices considerably, because that would impress his clientele and add value to his line. Unfortunately, as soon as he raised prices to the levels that he was requested of, the sales dried up..

yyzsantabarbara
5,123 posts
 

I was not being sarcastic. I also see where something is not considered desirable unless the price was higher. Case in point, was the TAD ME-1 that went from $15k to $10k then back to $15k. I lost interest in buying that after that play.

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,185 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara They are an excellent speaker at $10.5 including stands. 

As for MBL of which i have significant seat time listening to at dealer not a show with appropriate front end Wadia > CJ GAT > MF AMS-100 amp > MBL is the correct sized room which is going to cost a lot… Top five systems in have heard wandering globe…. Sorry to hear of demise. I know the midrange dosent scale well up or down…

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