Codeack

You know this situation is not unique to Klipsch, or speaker companies for that matter. Put yourselves in the shoes of Klipsch's management. As stated back on the first page of this forum, over the last 3 years, there has been a general market decline in market segment for the high end component speakers that so many of the people on this forum so emotionally side themselves with. Although Klipsch's sales have increased about 8 times in the last 10 years, their name was built on the high end products that have built their reputation. But no company can just sit back and watch a decline in sales of their core product group and take no steps to adapt to the current marketplace to maintain profitability. In order for Klipsch to keep producing the highest quality line of speakers, they need to maintain profitability as a company. What other choice is there other than product diversification? The introduction of the Promedia series speakers has elevated the Klipsch name to become recognized by a much larger segment of mainstream consumers. From a business perspective, how can this be a bad thing? About the main complaint that I'm seeing on this forum is that some of you current Klipsch owners will now somehow feel as if their speakers are not as good anymore just because a portion of their brand of speaker is sold in a more mass marketed chain store. Do your Ref's sound any different today than they did 3 months ago? I think what alot of you are forgetting is that there is a difference between most people buying speakers at BB and those that make the trip to a specialty shop. In most cases, if you are in that specialty shop, aren't you shopping above the Synergy line anyways? How does this help Klipsch if they are just puting Synergy speakers in a specialty store to only make other speakers look better? Especially if the Synergy line is a viable product for a particular market segment. Klipsch needs to get each type of its products into the right people's hands. There are a couple of good things that will most likely become of the BB sales efforts. Remember that Klipsch Synergy series will probably be the best sounding speaker to sit on a BB showroom floor. And although the customer may not even begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the reputation of being the best will start to reside in the minds of the more average stereo users. And as most of you can probably relate with, your high fidelity passion didn't just start with the best. You start with something, then after a while, you want something more. If they don't have more at BB, is that gonna stop you from finding it? I don't think so. Don't forget that Klipsch is still continuing to center their business around what has made them what they are. They are continuing to produce and sell their top-of-the-line products. And give BB a little credit. If you maintain the opinion that they don't carry high end products, why not pat them on the back for going after a line like Klipsch. Just as this can help Klipsch, it can begin to draw another level of customer to BB. If that level of customer starts shopping at BB, then they will be forced to provide the level of sales person capable of demonstrating, selling, and supporting that level of product.