According to Sound United, the acquisition of Bowers & Wilkins added considerable expertise and experience in the automotive field gained over multiple years and dozens of highly regarded, successful audio system offerings. This includes relationships with BMW, McLaren and Volvo over the better course of a decade. "The company’s deeply rooted performance audio expertise will drive a range of premium automotive sound solutions, all with a focus on sound performance and a heritage in high fidelity audio," they state.
Sound United also says it remains committed to manage each of its brands independently, ensuring the preservation of respective brand identities, engineering practices and marketing strategies, which can be uniquely tailored to automotive solutions. And the group is no stranger to the automotive industry since it was founded in 2012 by DEI Holdings, originated from Directed Electronics Inc (DEI), a company focused on vehicle security, which included the Viper and Python vehicle security systems, recently sold to VOXX International. Following the acquisition of Definitive Technology and Polk Audio, the group was named Sound United, and now represents one of the world’s largest portfolio of home audio companies, including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Classé, HEOS, and Boston Acoustics. Denon, Marantz and Boston Acoustics are all brands with recognition in the automotive industry. Boston Acoustics, before being acquired by D+M Holdings in 2005, produced OEM equipment factory-fitted to Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles. They also supplied the premium 9-speaker system in the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.
"The car is a very private and controllable space, making it an ideal opportunity to deliver fantastic audio experiences. In our view, the car can be a more uniquely private and premium environment, which can often go further than many higher-end lounge spaces, in terms of how people can customize and engage with their entertainment," says Dave Sheen, SVP of licensing and partnerships at Sound United. "Together, the new and stronger Sound United portfolio will offer existing and new automotive industry partners tailored access to the skills of our individual brands plus new, greatly increased group resources."
By harnessing the scale of Sound United’s combined R&D, the newly expanded portfolio plans to extend research into next-generation technologies for all areas of automotive audio reproduction. "This formidable structure, along with a growing team of experienced car audio engineers and marketeers, puts Sound United on an exciting trajectory towards innovative in-car audio experiences. In the near future, customers of leading car brands will see and hear a suite of Sound United audio solutions offered in their vehicles, alongside the already-successful listening experiences available from Bowers & Wilkins," the company expands.
"We have a deep well of knowledge in terms of an existing team with years of experience executing against top-tier partnerships with great automotive companies. Now with the support of Sound United, which views partnerships as a core pillar for future success, we have more resources, support and expertise than ever before," adds Dan Shepherd, director of automotive partnerships at Sound United. "Each of Sound United’s respected brands are ready for the potential to collaborate in the automotive domain, many for the first time."
Bowers & Wilkins was founded in the United Kingdom in 1966 and currently designs and manufactures precision home speakers, headphones, custom installation and performance car audio products.
www.bowerswilkins.com
www.soundunited.com
