Do you remember?

Apogee speakers-the stages could do vocals like no other speaker I've heard.

Dunlavy speakers- another buyout and shut it down story.

Sonic Frontiers-I agree that was a shock.

Klipsch bought the name a few years ago, as I recall, then the Aragon name quietly disappeared into the audio abyss.

Many of these companies go out of business because they offer too much value. They are not getting enough monetary return on the quality they put out and cannot remain afloat. One has to make sure the profit margin is enough to stay viable.

John

Add Hales - a great speaker company

John, you have that back asswards: they don't gouge the buyer, so they don't reap the rewards of the fundamental equation of high-enders, that is more money always equals better sound. Designing, manufacturing and marketing hi-fi electronics is not what high-enders make it out to be. That people can't comprehend economies of scale and that they believe that companies who can only build things in small runs, and consequently sell at prices that are way too high, produce the best sounding equipment is what normally kills companies offering products with a superior price/performance ratio. The other outfits have latched on to this reality and are only more than willing to inflate their prices to sell their stuff to people who need to inflate their fragile egos.

Pbb, first of all it's bass ackwards. Secondly, I don't really understand how you said anything differently than what I said. Different words, but the same general philosophy. You are saying these companies went under because they didn't charge enough money for their products, correct? That is what I was saying.

Or are you blaming the consumer and not the company? I would tend to disagree with this. Ultimately, the company can only blame themselves for their financial liability. I cannot blame the company I work for if my finances aren't in order. It's simple economics, if you aren't making enough profit margin to stay in business, you either raise your prices, cut corners or go out of business. Especially if your theory is correct, and people out here are just dying to pay more money.

Obviously, designing, manufacturing and marketing hi-fi electronics is not what some manufacturers make it out to be either. Otherwise, they'd still be with us.

FWIW, companies that offer exceptional value and cannot stay afloat because of it is not limited to audio. That is why the Hudson automobile company went under many years ago. Naturally companies love to get their foot in the door by offering exceptional quality at bargain prices. Once in the door, you have to play the game in order to stay in the game. That would mean to lower quality and/or raise prices to pay the price of doing business.

Otherwise, you wind up in a "Do you remember?" thread.

John