JM Focal and Naim Merging to Form Focal & Co...

[cmalak]

Interesting announcement. The two brands will still be managed separately but both firms will pool resources in R&D (and presumably other non-customer oriented function...think back office, although that is not explicitly mentioned in the article). Makes sense for a lot of high-end brands to join up to gain scale. Industry as it stands is too fragmented and nichey. Here's the article: SuperUniti as Focal and Naim join forces | AVguide

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Interesting announcement. The two brands will still be managed separates but both firms will pool resources in R&D (and presumably other non-customer oriented function...think back office, although that is not explicitly mentioned in the article). Makes sense for a lot of high-end monikers to join up to gain scale. Industry as it stands is too fragmented and nichey. Here's the article: SuperUniti as Focal and Naim join forces | AVguide

Good news.
Not many examples of cooperation between frogs and roast beefs !
Way to go !

[Audio 1]

Could yield some interesting products down the road for sure.

[cmalak]

My sense is Focal sees the future in the Life-style segment of the market of modern/clean designs at price points that can be afforded by the well heeled but not in the stratospheric high end zip code. So partnership with Naim will give them integrated solution (think one-box integrated with DAC that can stream music wirelessly to speakers or a preamp/DAC that can stream wirelessly to active speaker with on-board DAC). I think Focal introduced such a new product line recently and I read an interview with the head of Marketing recently where he proclaims the age of companies focused on one product segment over. I don't think they will abandon the super high-end because they have strong interest at the very top end in Asia and selectively in the US and Europe but I think the focus will be in the life-style segment. That's my take on this combination.

[cmalak]

Another perspective on this from Stereophile: Focal & Naim to Merge Operations | Stereophile.com

[turntable]

WTF. Julian would be turning in his grave !!!

Here's hoping it works in a similar arrangement to B&W & Classe

[turntable]

An interesting commentary by none other than Roy Gregory

The Audio Beat - Focal and Naim: The Beginning of the End?; Focal-Naim merger

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by turntable

An interesting commentary by none other than Roy Gregory

The Audio Beat - Focal and Naim: The Beginning of the End?; Focal-Naim merger

Thanks for posting that link.

A refreshing perspective from RG.

Jim

[JemHadar]

Originally Posted by turntable

An interesting commentary by none other than Roy Gregory

The Audio Beat - Focal and Naim: The Beginning of the End?; Focal-Naim merger

a quote from above article (BTW...THX for posting)

"-- the mantra is clear: if you want a new generation of customers to buy your products, then you need to make those products relevant to those customers. They need to deliver the functionality those customers seek and do it at a price that fits within their budgets."

A strategy, McIntosh seems to have missed by several lightyears.