[Rob Babcock]

On a surprising and somewhat depressing note, I wanted to post that NHT is shutting their doors and going out of business.  I've only heard a few of their speakers, mostly budge entries, but I thought they were a pretty good value for the money.  I suppose most people here would consider them lower-end mass market but they were a good alternative to B(l)lose.  They seemed to be almost unique with regards to the quality of the finish they put on for the money- very good WAF.

It's a sad day when we lose another speaker manufacturer.

[Rashiki]

According to Stereophile, it's a temporary closure:
http://www.stereophile.com/news/nht_takes_a_break/index.html

[Kevin Haskins]

It is inevitable in this market.   This is just the beginning.   Look at the numbers.  If this economy last for 2-3 more years there are plenty of companies that will be joining them on the sidelines.    That doesn't worry me as much as it happening across the entire economy.   Hell... the speaker business is overpopulated anyway so some of this is necessary for a healthy market. 

[sts9fan]

i am pretty sure there is one speaker manufacturer for every audiophile.  Its bound to happen. 

[zybar]

According to Stereophile, it's a temporary closure:
http://www.stereophile.com/news/nht_takes_a_break/index.html

That was actually an encouraging note.

A company that understands that the market has changed and that they need to rethink their approach to be successful.

I hope that they indeed come back.

George

[Kevin Haskins]

According to Stereophile, it's a temporary closure:
http://www.stereophile.com/news/nht_takes_a_break/index.html

That was actually an encouraging note.

A company that understands that the market has changed and that they need to rethink their approach to be successful.

I hope that they indeed come back.

George

I agree.... that is smarter than doing the same ole thing.    They have designed a good speaker too.    Looking at the measurements I've seen of some of their designs, they know what they are doing and the price is reasonable with these closeout sales.   

[cruz123]

That was actually an encouraging note.

A company that understands that the market has changed and that they need to rethink their approach to be successful.

However, the most successful companies in any industry are those that realize the market is changing, not those that realize it has changed.

[Kevin Haskins]

That was actually an encouraging note.

A company that understands that the market has changed and that they need to rethink their approach to be successful.

However, the most successful companies in any industry are those that realize the market is changing, not those that realize it has changed.

The ownership just changed too.    You have to give some old companies a break.   It is easy for a startup to change, they don't have any legacy systems.    An older company has things like dealer relationships, customer history, and things that you cannot just snap your fingers and change overnight.     

[Wind Chaser]

...the most successful companies in any industry are those that realize the market is changing, not those that realize it has changed.

Well the changed happened pretty quick, wouldn't you say?  What companies do you know of that have already responded to the change?  Realizing that the market is changing is one thing... doing something about it quite another. 

[goldlizsts]

That was actually an encouraging note..............................

A company that understands that the market has changed and that they need to rethink their approach to be successful.

I hope that they indeed come back.

George

It's indeed shocking to learn of that.  Often, when I'm in the classical section at J&R, I'd hear what I personally think is intoxicating music coming out of an NHT box above head and on the wall.  There is some magic to the NHT speaker, or is it just that speaker, or the music.....  There's a certain warmth and musicality to the sound that I like very much.  Hi- Lo-fi, whatever other say NHT speakers are (by its price point perhaps, not a $6,500 kind of price tage of a Krell box), it'd be a shame to see it going out of business.

[Kevin Haskins]

It's indeed shocking to learn of that.  Often, when I'm in the classical section at J&R, I'd hear what I personally think is intoxicating music coming out of an NHT box above head and on the wall.  There is some magic to the NHT speaker, or is it just that speaker, or the music.....  There's a certain warmth and musicality to the sound that I like very much.  Hi- Lo-fi, whatever other say NHT speakers are (by its price point perhaps, not a $6,500 kind of price tage of a Krell box), it'd be a shame to see it going out of business.

There isn't any magic, they just measure good.    Look at this:

http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/measurements/speakers/nht_classic_three/

The distortion curve isn't that great but the on/off axis measurement is great.    They just have a competent engineer designing them.   

[stereocilia]

There does seem to be as many audiophile manufacturers as audiophiles, yet I had thought of NHT as a fairly big player with excellent products.  Not that NHT is the Toyota of loudspeakers or anything, but I'm surprised.

[Kevin Haskins]

There does seem to be as many audiophile manufacturers as audiophiles, yet I had thought of NHT as a fairly big player with excellent products.  Not that NHT is the Toyota of loudspeakers or anything, but I'm surprised.

Bigger companies are the ones in the most trouble in this type of climate.   If you cut their revenue, they bleed.    In a highly competitive market like loudspeakers, there are a lot of companies hanging from a thread during good times.    In the current situation, most are just trying to take cover and last out the economic situation.   

[Cacophonix]

There does seem to be as many audiophile manufacturers as audiophiles, yet I had thought of NHT as a fairly big player with excellent products.  Not that NHT is the Toyota of loudspeakers or anything, but I'm surprised.

There is a huge thread on AVS where you'll find people complaining about NHT's business sense. They make great products though at reasonable prices. I had their NHT classic three, and i'm yet to find a pair of speakers to top these at this price range. Among the reasonably priced speaker manufacturers (PSB, paradigm, energy, epos, monitor audio etc), NHT was my favorite. Sad to see them go like this. Hopefully they'll make good on their promise of coming back.

[whubbard]

NHT Classic Three, Good sounding, great looking for $598 including shipping. Thats tempting.

-West

[Rashiki]

They just have a competent engineer designing them.   

I got to visit their facility in Benecia, California a little over a year ago as part of a tour arranged by the Bay Area Audio Society. Their R&D lab was small, but they were well equipped and they even had a small anechoic chamber. I got to speak to a couple of their guys and they definitely seemed to know their stuff.

 -Rob

[Rick Craig]

Jack Hidley, one of their engineers, was a smart guy and someone you could always trust when he posted  on the AVS site. The main problem for companies like this is that their dealer base is shrinking. For instance, when Tweeter was expanding and taking over local/regional chains imagine how many speaker manufacturers lost business.

[Rob Babcock]

Sure, the loss of NHT won't affect the country like the loss of AIG or GM would.  But you keep hearing it again and again, the cries that Hi-Fi is dying, being killed off by iPods and Limewire...the loss of any good B&M audio company with high end aspirations cuts deep.  I hope they do come back.  The High End won't survive if there are no "gateway drugs" left in the hobby.  Surely you've all had friends that say 'I want some good speakers, what should I buy?'  After you give them some suggestions and they're done spitting their beer thru their nose when they hear the prices, they say 'What can I get for $300?'  The answer you give may help determine if they become gearheads or audiophools one day.  NHT was one of those companies.  Personally I used to recommend the Polk LSi9 (think that was the model?) and the Athena towers.  If they would spend a bit more I suggest Monitor Audio Bronze B's.  We still have PSB and a smattering of Direct-Sales brands to choose from but if NHT doesn't return the list of good entry level speakers just got shorter.

[cujobob]

A lot of the problems happening around the country are because businesses were so focused on making numbers, that their product quality fell off.  Consumers in this economy aren't going to overspend for frivilous (sp?) purchases like in the past...and let's face it, the audio community is full of super-high markup products and many simply aren't that good, but their marketing says otherwise.  I do hope that NHT comes back and is successful, but to companies like Monster and BOSE, well...let's just say I wouldn't cry if they struggled some and had to 'restructure.' 

The IPod and similar products should increase interest in the hobby, if you ask me.  Part of the reason I feel that CDs have lacked great sales (last I heard, I don't keep up with it) isn't due to downloading online, but due moreso to the watering down of the entire industry.  The popular 'acts' in the music industry are generally created by Marketing, even moreso than in the past.  But because of the ability to see a group/artist on Youtube or download on Limewire, people may actually go out and buy a cd from a group that they'd otherwise never heard of.  Instead of borrowing a cd from a friend, they can simply email you a Youtube link to check something out.

Sorry to get offtrack but I guess my point is, if you have a good product at a fair price, and you're Marketing isn't HORRID, then you'll be successful in this economy.  If your company is relying on inferior products relative to the competition well...its not going to be as easy as its been.