Naim & Focal join forces

[King Size]

News just in:

United by their passion for perfect sound, leading high-end audio brands Focal and Naim, today announce they are merging to create a new European leader in the audio industry. Focal & Co will own and manage Focal and Naim as independent brands, retaining their unique philosophies and product ranges.

Been watching this unfold in a rather pink and fishy site.

[got tinnitus]

oh-wha.

Interesting.

[chopper]

That is interesting. I'm guessing that in this financial climate there will be more and more of this.

[too_tall]

Interesting... Focal have been going from strength to strength overseas - maybe a bit expensive for here in NZ.

But to be honest ( and most of you know I highly rate Focal speakers ) am not sure that Naim and Focal are a sonic match made in heaven.

[chopper]

Interesting... Focal have been going from strength to strength overseas - maybe a bit expensive for here in NZ.

But to be honest ( and most of you know I highly rate Focal speakers ) am not sure that Naim and Focal are a sonic match made in heaven.

They don't really have to be do they?
Unless they're going to package them together - you know - get a free pair of Focals when you buy this hideously expensive Naim stack.
This is a business relationship pure and simple. I notice that Naims annual turnover is only GBP 18 million. That, to me at least, seems really low. I guess if they're making good profits it's OK but I wouldn't have thought that was much in the scheme of things considering how much it costs and all.

[Hutch]

I hope this means I can safely retain my two Naim stacks with servicing available in decades to come. It seems to me that they are pooling resources to help each brand move forward alongside the the ever increasing pace of R&D.

I wish them well.

Hutch

[bazza hallward]

I think a lot of these co-owned brands don't agree sonically - more like a business agreement. So I agree that Naim and Focal don't necessarily have a sonic harmony.

Having said that, many people assume that the companies that own speakers and electronics are supposed to go together... B&W and Rotel for example. Also, retailers may stock both Naim and Focal if there's some sort of supply conveniece.

So that will be interesting.

[chopper]

B&W don't own Rotel. The company that owns B&W distributes Rotel in the USA.
Rotel is a Japanese company