Sad news. MBL has filed for insolvency.

[hvbias]

the problem is that this is the only form of promotion by most of the industry and to be honest it hasn't truly worked in many years. Promoting really high end products to a small market over and over and expecting different results is nuts. A previous poster said that speakers turn less than other components and I very much agree with that statement. Speakers generally stay longer in systems than other components.
In a world with more and more people having FU money audio has truly missed the boat since these people who can afford these products for the most part are clueless that any of it is available. If you are only going to show your products to the people who already know about them its truly difficult to grow . This is made worse by the fact that almost every company is making these uber priced products whether they should or not.
I keep asking where do all these products get sold?
Why has audio missed every opportunity to promote and only used the press? IMO being undercapitalized and lacking vision are the two major reasons.

This is a very good point; I belong to a private mostly dealer watch reseller group on Facebook where the minimum new post has to be for $10k and from my interactions with dealers and customers it seems like saying even 10% are into hifi would be a really great stretch. 5% or fewer seems more realistic.

Though this might also not be a representative market for hifi as the average age is older millennial/younger gen X with some dealers maybe slightly middle to late gen X. I would say clothes, cars, houses, and vacationing would be their other main interest. AP, Mille, Patek three of the most sold on that group do not advertise besides Instagram.

I love to mountain bike and that is another industry that got hit very hard by Covid. They over estimated demand from everyone buying bikes during lock down, then assumed that demand would continue and produced in huge quantities during lock down. The larger bike companies are sitting on tens of millions of years old inventory and many smaller companies folded.

In a world with more and more people having FU money audio has truly missed the boat since these people who can afford these products for the most part are clueless that any of it is available

Theater and custom installers that do full in wall lighting/controls that also sell high end equipment can sell to the groups I spoke about, I think these types of companies do better with this demographic than traditional two channel dealers. Even then I don't see many talk about their theaters, they generally just watch on their flat screens.

I turn 42 this year, I refer to our dealer's open houses as the fountain of youth, I feel like a virile young man! Then I get on Reddit and feel like I'm 70

 

[treitz3]

I wonder if you and microstrip are in a competition to see how many posts each of you can find a way to be contrary to purely for the sake of being contrary.

Yet here we are, doing the same thing.

Let's not pit members against each other. Let's find out where we agree or disagree and learn from one another. (Differing viewpoints).

Talk about differing viewpoints or observations versus said member. It is, after all, part of the TOS of the WBF.

Tom

 

[treitz3]

Of course the reason high-end is dying is digitally sourced systems don't warrant the high investment.

Lob thrown. Lob was unsuccesful and ineffective. Same story, different year....

Why not enjoy all sources?

Tom

 

[Rexp]

Lob thrown. Lob was unsuccesful and ineffective. Same story, different year....

Why not enjoy all sources?

Tom

How about giving your opinion as to why MBL, who are often 'best of show', are going bankrupt?

 

[thedudeabides]

Why has audio missed every opportunity to promote and only used the press? IMO being undercapitalized and lacking vision are the two major reasons.

My reasons for the economic state of various manufacturers.

1) Price.
2) Aging market and an absolute failure to attract the younger generation.
3) General growing disinterest in hi end audio.

 

[treitz3]

How about giving your opinion as to why MBL, who are often 'best of show', are going bankrupt?

Because I was taught to be kind. I was taught to, if you have nothing kind to say? Say nothing at all.

I will just leave it at that.

Tom

 

[Rexp]

Because I was taught to be kind. I was taught to, if you have nothing kind to say? Say nothing at all.

I will just leave it at that.

Tom

Well you're not saying nothing, you're saying all is good in the hifi world and we should enjoy all sources. This news should come as a massive wakeup call.

 

[thedudeabides]

You're just enabling the demise of high-end.

Assuming I understand the intent of your comment, I think you overstate the relevance of WBF.

 

[DasguteOhr]

It's unfortunate that a traditional company that's been around for over 45 years is in trouble. But that's just how it is when you manufacture luxury goods: one bad financial decision, and it's the end. I hope they're rescued.

 

[Vangelis]

Oh My, I sent a dealer a check for a new MBL C41 product five day ago. I could be out a lot of money. It’s hard to imagine the dealer was not aware of it three days ago when he replied to me about my order. ago. Stereophile announced this last month?

 

[Tuckers]

I don't know much about MBL, there is not much about the brand that resonates with me. While the big football speakers are super cool, and do some neat magic tricks, they're not what I look to for long term satisfaction. And the electronics just look like they are sold by the kilo, like a lot of Class A amps etc. Do they even make any entry level products with an upgrade path for new enthusiasts? They are not aspirational to me, which would be electronics like WestminsterLab, and MC Audiotech speakers.

 

[Gunnar]

I would say maybe 0.5% a day would be fair so 3.5K for 1 week for a 100K pair, would you pay that?

I wouldn’t pay 3,5 k per week. In 30 weeks the 100 k are paid off. I see renting as a more long term, 3-4 years. Like cars. To make it possible cost wise for the renter I think the manufacturer / importer himself needs to handle the rent with a small commission to the dealer. The rent must make sense both for the renter and the “owner”.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I don't know much about MBL, there is not much about the brand that resonates with me. While the big football speakers are super cool, and do some neat magic tricks, they're not what I look to for long term satisfaction. And the electronics just look like they are sold by the kilo, like a lot of Class A amps etc. Do they even make any entry level products with an upgrade path for new enthusiasts? They are not aspirational to me, which would be electronics like WestminsterLab, and MC Audiotech speakers.

Truth be told, some of of the top of the line MBL amps and speakers are much higher, "aspirational" (the absolute sound) level of gear, at least to my ears, than any Westminster Labs, or Mc Audiotech speakers, despite these latter brands being marvelous on their own... I TRULY hope they (the MBL) find an investor and continue on! I still hope to get the 101 Exteme Mk2 at some point....

 

[Vangelis]

MBL products start with the pretty affordable C41 at $11k, which was the Absolute Sound’s digital product of year 2025. This isn’t very helpful, now they may not survive reorganization. I wouldn’t say WestminsterLab, and MC Audiotech speakers, offer entry level products.

 

[Gunnar]

As a dealer/distributor I am not against the idea however it would have to make sense financially. Large products , speakers, etc. are not simple to pack, move deliver, unpack and do some set up.
I'm thinking of a weekly/monthly rental fee plus the delivery and pick up . I don't have an amount in mind but something like the cost of a boat or high end car rental would be equivalent.
I think something like a 100k speaker would rent for 2 percent a week plus, thoughts?

I answered a similar question. For me it would be too much. 2% per week means it’s amortised in 50 weeks. If I rent a loudspeaker I intend to keep it for a few years. Would see it as a possibility to get something I will not be able to buy but can afford on a monthly base. On a 4 years lease say totally 40% of the retail price.

 

[Rexp]

I wouldn’t pay 3,5 k per week. In 30 weeks the 100 k are paid off. I see renting as a more long term, 3-4 years. Like cars. To make it possible cost wise for the renter I think the manufacturer / importer himself needs to handle the rent with a small commission to the dealer. The rent must make sense both for the renter and the “owner”.

It's in the right ball park, could do for a bit less. If you rent some cars for 30/40 weeks, you would have paid the new car price.

 

[Young Skywalker]

I am not sure what this means. The problem isn't that a company has one extremely expensive product per se.

I think it is a problem if a company's whole business model is to sell fewer and fewer, but more and more expensive, products to fewer and fewer elephants. How is such a business model sustainable?

Indeed! The bulk of the industry, certainly based on what is exhibited at trade and public shows, has shifted towards this model. It is unsustainable. Perhaps the industry needs more along the lines of MoFi, where real engineers do their best to squeeze the most performance into products that most serious music lovers could aspire to own. Linear Tube Audio is another good example of great performance at somewhat more real world prices.

 

[ssfas]

That European manufacturer can always sell direct!

In the EU distributor/retailers are protected by the commercial agency regulations. The principle is that if a separate business entity spends time and money to develop a market for products you manufacture, you cannot just take away the product and sell it to that market without paying them compensation.

L_1986382EN.01001701.xml

MBL make extreme luxury products in a regressing market that has been significantly impacted in the last three years by inflation and high interest rates, which had been virtually non-existent for the previous 15 years. Besides macro economic factors, there are many reasons why businesses fail, it’s best usually to wait for the liquidators report to find out why.

 

[TooCool4]

That European manufacturer can always sell direct!

Sure they can, but I guess it’s not something they are interested in. Also selling direct means no one really get’s to listen to your products unless they buy first. From what a lot of people are saying, no one wants to shell out before sampling the goods.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Generally speaking
I m not talking about the MBL speakers which are quit unique.
Transducer choice is personal and if you dig the MBL sound its hard to find something like that elsewhere.

But talking solid state amps / Dacs most sound more or less the same to me .
I ll be trying a Hegel 590 with built in Dac streamer ahortly if all goes to plan .
Just to prove a point .
Ease of use / play of my smartphone

To me most astronomical Dac and solid state prices are not based on a solid performance versus price ratio.

Iow cheapest wins afaic , not caring about looks / box count.

High end installations have become religious altairs almost .

Huge speakers, as many boxes as possible, arm thick cables golden connectors .

Get back to basics please .
I use music mostly for background music