B&W is slated to purchase Classe’ electronics in the coming months for an undisclosed amount.
The deal is reportedly delayed over a decision as to where the R&D and executives would be located (Canada, U.K. or the U.S.). The deal would give B&W a more lofty brand of electronics to market above Rotel which will better suit the higher end speakers in B&W’s current line up. B&W now distributes Classe into most worldwide markets.
Before the deal is completed, B&W has already invested significant capital in Classe’ to develop a line of new high end audio and home theater products designed to challenge Krell, Mark Levinson and Meridian directly. At the recent CEDIA trade show Classe showed 12 new products in a 15 product lineup including 5 new power amps, 4 DVD-Audio/SACD players, 3 AV preamps, 2 stereo preamps, an integrated amp and a Red Book CD player. All of the products have a new look that is more indicative of a cost-no-object high end audio product. Classe’s goal is to make high performance audio-video components that are true to the standards that audiophiles historically demanded yet are nimble enough to be updated and modified quickly as technology changes.
Source: Audio Revolution
