Remember Classé Audio? It sure was a classy product which sadly disappeared from the scene soon after it was bought by EVA Automation in a package deal which included Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) in May 2016.
EVA Automation continued to make B&W products, but Classé Audio died a natural death and in July 2016, Classé’s factory in Montreal, Canada, was closed and all its workers, including President Dave Nauber, were rendered jobless.
However, yesterday at the CES in Las Vegas, Sound United LLC, the parent company to Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Polk BOOM, HEOS, and Boston Acoustics, announced that it has acquired Classé Audio.
In a press statement, it was revealed that Classé Audio will join the Sound United family of brands, representing some of the most renowned names in the industry.
“Through this acquisition, Sound United will continue to drive its global growth and recognition, spearheading innovation in the category and increasing its footprint in the consumer audio space.
Classé Audio’s suite of high fidelity amplifiers, pre-amplifier processors and integrated amplifiers are designed for movie and music enthusiasts who appreciate sound quality, beauty and elegance above all, the press statement said.
“Acquiring Classé Audio demonstrates Sound United’s continued focus on catering to our customers, who crave performance and innovation,” said Kevin Duffy, CEO of Sound United. “This acquisition opens opportunities to capitalize on new markets and niches within the high-end audio community, continuing Sound United’s evolution as a premium player. We look forward to partnering with the talented management team of Classé Audio to grow the combined business and bring our expanded capabilities to our employees and customers.”
Dave Nauber, who will continue to lead the Classé Audio brand at Sound United, added, “We’re overwhelmingly pleased Classé Audio is joining Sound United’s respected family of brands. With a strong resurgence of the audiophile community, and Sound United’s existing synergy with the recently purchased D+M Group, we’re confident our overall market positioning as a premium option will only strengthen. Ultimately, this is an excellent opportunity for Classé employees, customers and strategic partners to bring our energy and ideas to the forefront.” – By Lam Seng Fatt
