Latest news with #BowersWilkins
Geeky Gadgets
2 days ago
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
Sony XM6 vs. B&W Px7 S3: The Ultimate Headphone Showdown
When considering premium noise-cancelling headphones, the Sony XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 stand out as two of the most compelling options available. Both models are designed to deliver exceptional performance, but they cater to different preferences and priorities. Whether you're focused on sound quality, noise cancellation, or overall comfort, understanding the unique strengths of each model will help you make the right choice. The video below from Mark Ellis Reviews gives us a detailed look at the two headphones. Watch this video on YouTube. Price Comparison The Sony XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 are both priced at $399 in the UK and $449 in the US, placing them firmly in the premium segment. With identical pricing, the decision comes down to which features align better with your specific needs. Both headphones offer excellent value for their price, but their differences in design, functionality, and performance will guide your choice. Design: Luxury Meets Practicality Design is a critical factor when choosing headphones, as it influences both aesthetics and usability. The Sony XM6 and PX7 S3 take distinct approaches to design, appealing to different tastes and lifestyles. – Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3: These headphones exude a sense of luxury with their high-end materials and sophisticated design. The build quality feels robust and premium, making them a stylish accessory for any setting. – Sony XM6: With a sleek, minimalist design, the XM6 prioritizes practicality and portability. Its lightweight construction and foldable design make it ideal for users who are always on the go. The control mechanisms also differ significantly. The PX7 S3 relies on traditional button-based controls, offering tactile precision, while the XM6 combines buttons with touch-sensitive controls for a more modern and intuitive interface. Additionally, the XM6 includes a compact carrying case, enhancing its portability for frequent travelers. Comfort: Lightweight vs. Plush Padding Comfort is essential for long listening sessions, and both models are designed to provide a pleasant experience. However, their approaches to comfort differ, catering to different preferences. – Sony XM6: Weighing just 254 grams, the XM6 is one of the lightest options in its category. This lightweight design reduces fatigue during extended use, making it a great choice for users who prioritize portability and comfort. – Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3: At 300 grams, the PX7 S3 is heavier but compensates with deeper ear cups and plush padding. The premium cushioning provides a snug and luxurious fit, ideal for those who value a more indulgent listening experience. If you prefer a lightweight design for extended wear, the XM6 is the better option. On the other hand, if you prioritize a more cushioned and premium feel, the PX7 S3 is worth considering. Sound Quality: Precision vs. Immersion Sound quality is often the most important factor for audiophiles, and both models deliver exceptional audio performance. However, their sound profiles cater to slightly different preferences. – PX7 S3: Known for its rich, balanced audio profile, the PX7 S3 delivers exceptional clarity and depth. It excels in reproducing natural sound, making it a top choice for those who value precision and fidelity. – Sony XM6: The XM6 offers an immersive listening experience with its spatial audio capabilities, including 360 Reality Audio. This feature enhances the sense of space and depth, making it ideal for users who enjoy a more dynamic and engaging soundstage. While both headphones handle bass, treble, and vocals with finesse, the PX7 S3 edges ahead in overall audio fidelity, making it the preferred choice for purists. However, the XM6's immersive features may appeal more to those seeking a modern and engaging audio experience. Noise Cancellation: Superior Isolation Noise cancellation is a key feature for premium headphones, and the Sony XM6 takes the lead in this category. – Sony XM6: Equipped with advanced noise-cancelling technology, the XM6 effectively blocks out external noise, making it ideal for noisy environments such as airplanes or busy offices. – PX7 S3: While the PX7 S3 offers strong noise cancellation, it doesn't quite match the XM6's performance in isolating external sounds. For users who frequently find themselves in loud settings, the XM6 is the clear winner in noise cancellation. Battery Life and Charging Efficiency Both headphones offer impressive battery life, but their quick-charging capabilities set them apart. – PX7 S3: Provides up to seven hours of playback from a 15-minute charge, making it convenient for users who need extended listening time with minimal charging. – Sony XM6: Delivers three hours of playback from just three minutes of charging, offering unmatched convenience for quick top-ups. With up to 30 hours of battery life on a full charge, both models are well-suited for long listening sessions. However, the XM6's faster charging speed makes it a more practical choice for users with busy schedules. Microphones and Call Quality Clear communication is essential for calls, and both models excel in this area with advanced microphone technology. – PX7 S3: Features eight microphones with ADI Pure Voice technology, making sure superior voice clarity even in noisy environments. – Sony XM6: Uses MEMS omnidirectional microphones for reliable performance, delivering clear and consistent call quality. Both headphones also include pass-through modes, allowing users to hear ambient sounds when necessary. This feature enhances situational awareness, making them versatile for various scenarios. Which Headphones Are Right for You? Choosing between the Sony XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 depends on your specific priorities and preferences. Choose the PX7 S3 if you value sound quality, premium materials, and a luxurious design. if you value sound quality, premium materials, and a luxurious design. Opt for the XM6 if noise cancellation, portability, and quick charging are more important to you. Both models represent the pinnacle of modern audio technology, offering unique strengths that cater to different needs. By identifying what matters most to you—whether it's sound fidelity, noise isolation, or design—you can confidently select the headphones that best fit your lifestyle. Find more information on Sony XM6 by browsing our extensive range of articles, guides and tutorials. Source & Image Credit: Mark Ellis Reviews Filed Under: Gadgets News, Guides, Reviews Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Digital Trends
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Marshall's first soundbar will change how we think about home theater
With its gold accents, prominent control knobs, and guitar amp styling, Marshall's hefty Heston 120 looks like no other soundbar on the planet. But what fascinates me about the company's first TV speaker isn't the styling (it looks exactly like I'd expect from a Marshall product), it's how it's been engineered to work with the company's equally iconic portable Bluetooth speakers: It uses Bluetooth. Wait, I know that sounds obvious, but bear with me because this is actually a new and intriguing change to the way soundbars work. Recommended Videos Marshall Heston 120 First, a quick 101 on the Heston 120. It's priced at $1,000, which should tell you right away that Marshall isn't messing around. That's the same price as the Sonos Arc Ultra and Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3, and only $100 more than the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. It packs 11 drivers, including two dedicated subwoofers, and can process both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in a 5.1.2-channel configuration. It has onboard mics that are used for room calibration, and it supports a wide array of protocols, including Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. On the back panel, you get an Ethernet jack, an HDMI passthrough input with 4K/120Hz/Dolby Vision support, stereo RCA analog jacks (for a turntable or other gear), and a dedicated subwoofer output — something you rarely find on soundbars. Marshall has redesigned its mobile app to give people deep controls over the Heston as well as the company's full range of existing headphones, earbuds, and speakers. Expansion via Bluetooth Where things get interesting is on the wireless side of the equation. The Heston 120 supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. That's not unusual — all three of its competitors I mentioned above have the same or similar specs. What *is* unusual is how it uses these connections, specifically Bluetooth. Marshall considers the Heston 120 an all-in-one speaker that's designed to work equally well for movies and music. However, the company also recognizes that some people want even more immersion from their TV sound systems, so it offers expansion via wireless speakers. Normally, when a soundbar is expandable with additional speakers, those connections are made via Wi-Fi (Sonos, Bluesound, Denon) or dedicated onboard transmitter/receivers (Bose, Sony, Klipsch). Bluetooth has never been considered a viable option because of issues around latency and limitations on transmitting multiple audio channels (e.g. low frequency, surround left, surround right) simultaneously. However, the Heston 120 is Bluetooth Auracast compatible — as far as I know, that's a first for a soundbar — a technology that overcomes traditional Bluetooth limitations. Unlike earlier Bluetooth standards, which could create audio lag of 100-300 milliseconds, Auracast can achieve a latency of as little as 30 milliseconds. That should be almost imperceptible for dialogue synchronization, and even less noticeable for low-frequency bass or surround sound effects. Moreover, an Auracast device, like a TV or soundbar, can transmit multiple discrete broadcasts. In theory, it could handle multiple wireless subwoofers, two or four surround speakers, plus one or more wireless headphones or hearing aids — each with a dedicated sound stream. More choice, more flexibility So what does this mean? Marshall's ultimate goal is to let you use any pair of Auracast-capable Bluetooth speakers as your Heston 120 left/right surrounds, and an additional Auracast subwoofer for low-frequency effects. Initially, however, the plan is more conservative. At launch, the Heston 120 will support a single Marshall-built wireless subwoofer and later in the year you'll be able to add two Marshall Bluetooth speakers as left/right surrounds. You'll have a lot of choice — all of Marshall's third-gen Homeline Bluetooth speakers are Auracast-ready — from the small but mighty Emberton III to the 120-watt Woburn III. Once they receive a planned firmware update, you can expect them all to work with the Heston as satellite speakers via Bluetooth. Typically, wireless surround speakers and subwoofers need to be plugged into a wall at all times. That provides power to the built-in amplifiers and their Wi-Fi network connections. Bluetooth, as a wireless technology, requires way less power than Wi-Fi, so if your Marshall portable Bluetooth speaker has a 20-hour battery, that's 20 hours of completely wire-free home theater listening. And if, for some reason, you don't have a Wi-Fi network, you can still assemble a multi-speaker system. Marshall points out that while Auracast is an open standard, each company can implement it as it sees fit, and that could mean that some Auracast speakers won't work with the Heston 120. JBL Auracast speakers like the Charge 6 — for example — can only share and access audio from other JBL Auracast speakers. Still, Auracast-enabled soundbars like the Heston are opening up a new era in home theater technology; one where we'll have a lot more freedom to choose the kind, number, and placement of speakers. It will also reduce the number of gadgets we buy. When your portable Bluetooth speaker can double as a surround speaker, that's one less device in our ever-expanding world of tech. More options coming soon Auracast-enabled soundbars are the first step toward greater flexibility and choice in home theater. Soon, there will be more alternatives. Dolby has promised it will launch a soundbar alternative technology called Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, which will let a compatible TV send multichannel audio to a variety of wireless speakers that you'll be able to place almost anywhere in your room. Fraunhofer IIS, the entity that gave us the MP3 file format, has its own version of FlexConnect — the somewhat awkwardly named UpHear Flexible Rendering. We haven't seen any commercially available systems based on either Dolby's or Fraunhofer's tech so far, but I expect that to change in 2025.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Telegraph
Philips OLED+959 TV review: A top-end OLED with a unique wow factor
What is the Philips OLED+959 TV? Released towards the end of 2024, the OLED+959 is Philips' best OLED TV. Its Meta 2.0 OLED panel uses billions of micro lenses to focus and brighten the image. Supplied to Philips by LG Display, it's one of the best TV screens currently available, but what makes this TV unique is its Ambilight system. With this, a ring of coloured LEDs project the on-screen colours onto the surrounding wall. This gives an immersive experience similar to being in the cinema. Philips have made this their hero feature since its debut in 2004 but the latest version, which can project four different halos simultaneously, offers a greater sense of depth and detail. This combines with a surround-sound system by British high-end audio company Bowers & Wilkins, with a total of 18 drivers delivering a combined 102 Watts of power and performance equal to all but the best soundbars. None of this comes cheap. The OLED+959 costs a fifth more than the competitors' flagship OLEDs, such as Samsung's S95D OLED and LG's flagship G5. Whether you think it's worth the premium comes down to how you feel about the Ambilight and the Bowers & Wilkins sound. Personally, I think they're huge assets. Read my full review below for more detail. JUMP TO: How we test TVs Every TV is tested at home for a minimum of two weeks (in this case, six). We play a variety of content in standard, high and ultra-high definition, from movies to nature programmes, sport and daytime viewing. We also assess the quality of 4K content and the upscaling capabilities, where applicable. We evaluate the picture and sound, see how easy the TV is to set up and operate and check how well it performs with gaming consoles and other peripherals. We're looking for everyday usability as well as the wow factor. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our tech experts continuously conduct in-depth, independent, real-world tests, scoring devices against pre-set testing metrics and industry benchmarks, so we can deliver definitive and comprehensive buying advice. Telegraph Recommended reviews are never shared with product manufacturers before publication, we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Design and technology Scored: 10/10 My videos above don't quite do justice to the Ambilight, which works best when placed against a wall. Even with the OLED+959 standing in a corner, it still made a sensational centrepiece, a cross between a flickering hearth and an old-fashioned cinema. Interestingly, the original purpose of Ambilight was to reduce eye strain. When you look at the back of the TV, you can see how it works: a ring of LEDs are each capable of projecting nine colours at four different distances. On the back, you'll also find the subwoofer in the centre of the TV. No other manufacturer offers Ambilight and only Panasonic, with their range-topping Z95A, can offer better built-in sound. All this top-end technology requires a screen five or six times thicker than the competition to fit it in, but the pale fabric covering gives it a 'posh hi-fi' vibe. Picture processing comes from a new, eighth-generation P5 AI dual engine, which can optimise the dynamic range to the brightness of the room. This made a huge difference when watching dark content during the day. It's also used to upscale lower-definition content to ultra-HD, although some competitor AIs can pull off this trick better. Finally, the AI can detect when you're watching football and turn on a dedicated motion-smoothing setting. This saved me a lot of trouble, since I hate motion smoothing on anything but sport and usually waste hours of my life turning it off and on again. Overall, the OLED+959's unique design easily justifies full marks, assuming you're on board with the whole Ambilight thing. Picture quality Score: 9/10 When it was released, the OLED+959's picture was as good as they come. It's only the imminent arrival of tandem OLED panels, with an extra light-emitting layer, that will make it look anything like second best. Here, brightness and dynamic range are boosted by a layer of 40 billion tiny lenses called a micro lens array, although Philips call it 'Meta'. I tested the OLED+959's dynamic range first by watching The Batman, a distinctly dingy film in which people dressed in black fight in the shadows. This is the kind of content that OLEDs are designed for, because their pixels can be turned all the way off to show 'true black'. Until recently, you'd have to be viewing in a darkened room to get the benefit, but the Meta 2.0 technology in the OLED+959 allows brighter peaks and a greater dynamic range in between, so that the fine gradations of shade are visible in a bright room. There's a setting to make them even more distinct, but I was impressed anyway with crispness and lack of smudge. At the other end of the dynamic range, Dune Part II has scenes set in the blinding glare of the desert where you need to be able to differentiate between white sand, white costumes and white smoke while also seeing detail in the shadows. Again, the OLED+959 impressed, although you may get slightly more subtlety at the peak end with non-OLED 4K TVs like the Panasonic MX950. Finally, I tested the colour gamut with ultra-HD nature documentary A Real Bug's Life. There was a gorgeous range and realism, with sparkling peaks and subtle hues, although competitor TVs from Sony and Samsung, which use colour-enhancing quantum dots can offer slightly more wow-factor here. The OLED+959 is compatible with most of the high dynamic range formats, including Dolby Vision, which Samsung TVs don't support. I'm a cinephile who hates motion smoothing, so I always test to see whether a TV has a smoothing setting that doesn't make everything look like a soap opera. The OLED+959, in common with all other OLEDs except the Hisense A85N, can't quite manage it. Where it definitely succeeded was in preventing colour banding, where large uniform areas like interior walls get divided into splodgy stripes. I only saw this once in six weeks of watching, which is way better than the 20 or so other TVs I've tested. Sound Score: 10/10 A big win here, although a hard one to illustrate with a photo. With the Bowers & Wilkins sound system hidden behind a fabric mesh, the best I can do is to show my cat mesmerised by the sound of squirrels. I can vouch for the realism and detail at the quietest end of the volume range. At the loudest end, action movies such as Dune Part II sounded thrilling. Its 102 Watts is a lot of power, but more important is the separation and sense of space. Hidden behind that fabric panel are front-firing left, centre and right speakers with tweeters to cover the mid-range and treble frequencies. There are two speakers on each side of the screen to fire left and right, while two more on top fire upwards. The big subwoofer at the rear has passive radiators to widen the sound. The combined effect is decidedly cinematic when watching Dolby Atmos films: you can hear jet planes passing overhead and explosions rattling the floor. Listening to music in isolation, heavy rock guitars and drums sound a bit indistinct, but classical, jazz and acoustic music are gorgeously detailed. Overall, this is one of the very few TVs that don't need an additional soundbar to create immersive surround-sound (although of course, it can connect to one or to any compatible home speaker via DTS Play-Fi). All this comes at a cost, but perhaps not such a high one when you consider that Bowers & Wilkins speakers can cost as much as £11,000. Operating system and usability Score: 9/10 The OLED+959 uses the Google TV operating system familiar from Sony, Hisense and TCL tellies, although there are a lot of modifications specific to Philips, not least the ability to choose various styles of Ambilight using one big button on the remote control. There are also a wider-than-usual range of settings for the 12-channel surround sound set-up. The remote itself is my favourite on the market. With a brushed metal finish, it feels solid and has paddles, rather than buttons, to raise and lower the volume and scroll through lists. There are dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime and YouTube and a fourth which takes you to all the other TV apps, such as Disney and Apple TV+. I found a response lag starting to creep in after three or four weeks, but a quick recharge via the USB-C cable fixed it. The Google OS is better than the proprietary systems used by Samsung and LG and roughly on a par with the Fire OS used by Amazon and Panasonic. One handy feature is that if your old TV used the Google OS, all your preferences are ported over to the OLED+959 when you sign in. Gaming and peripherals Score: 8/10 I spent a very long time playing Assassin's Creed Shadows on the OLED+959. It's a very challenging game for a TV to do justice to, given that most of it takes place in pitch darkness, but Philips pulled it off. There were rich details in the shadows and zingy sparks on flashing swords, while brighter scenes of swirling cherry blossoms looked stunning. An indicator shows you the frame rate: in this case 59.9Hz, which I had chosen for the best picture quality, but serious gamers can choose 120Hz or even 144Hz for faster response times, with latency as low as five milliseconds. Philips' Game Bar, triggered when you start playing, lets you choose sound, picture and Ambilight settings and save them as a profile. Accessibility features include a crosshair, centre zoom and colour filter, while the shadow-enhancer and edge-enhancer functions come in handy on dark, moody games (of which there are a lot). Most of these features are available on the latest TVs from LG, Sony and Samsung and in all honesty, their game bars are better-looking. Many also offer four HDMI 2.1 ports, compared to the Philips' two, which means they can have more latest-generation devices plugged into them. Nevertheless, this is a seriously good gaming telly, with the sound system making a huge difference to the experience. Technical specifications The closest rival to the Philips OLED+959 is probably LG's flagship G5 OLED. They both use screens made by LG Display, although the G5's is a new generation with an extra light-emitting layer, making it much brighter. LG's television has a far less impressive sound system than the Philips and its operating system can be annoying, but it does have a thinner screen and costs considerably less. Here's how they compare: Should you buy the Philips OLED+959? Brighter OLEDs are being released this year and some offer more dazzling colours. Costing £600 more than even those newer competitors, it's hard to argue that this is a bargain, but it has a wow factor that you just can't find elsewhere. It's well built, with superb built-in surround sound and whether fixed to the wall or placed on a stand, it makes TV-watching a deeply satisfying experience. Yes, if: You're looking for an impressive centrepiece to the room You care about sound quality You love movies and games and like to be immersed No, if: You can't place it against a wall (Ambilight needs a wall) You'd prefer a 2025-generation OLED and separate surround-sound system Philips OLED+959 FAQs What makes the new Ambilight Plus on the OLED+959 different? In the new system, each of the coloured LEDs has four lenses which can spread light at four different distances. This allows for better immersion as the shifting on-screen colours spread to the wall behind. There is also a new AI algorithm that matches the Ambilight to the content you're watching, the lighting in the room and the colour of the wall. How good is the integrated Bowers & Wilkins 5.1.2 sound system and do I need a separate soundbar? It is superb, delivering 102 Watts of power through a total of 18 front, side and upwards-firing drivers, including a subwoofer. You can add separates (you can link your entire home speaker system using DTS Play-Fi), but this is one of the few OLED TVs that really doesn't need a soundbar. What is the picture quality like? Equal to any other OLED from 2024 and only beaten by the very recent 'tandem' OLED panels, which may dominate the next generation. What are the gaming features of the Philips OLED+959? Latency is as low as 5 milliseconds with 144Hz inputs. It's compatible with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync VRR formats, as well as Dolby Vision Gaming. The TV automatically detects gaming and activates AI-optimised sound, picture and Ambilight settings which can be tweaked in the Game Bar. Overall, it's the equal of any gaming TV except those that offer four HDMI 2.1 ports. This only has two. Does the Philips OLED+959 support all catch-up TV apps? It uses the Google OS, so it only has the apps Google supports. That currently doesn't include Freeview Play and in my experience there were a few problems with ITVX and BBC iPlayer: some episodes of ongoing shows couldn't be found on catch-up. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney + and Apple TV+ are all supported, but not the new Freely system, which allows live streaming of the terrestrial channels without an aerial.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Masimo finds buyer for consumer audio business
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. Masimo said Tuesday it agreed to sell its Sound United consumer audio portfolio for $350 million to Samsung Electronics' Harman International unit, freeing the company to focus on its professional healthcare business. The sale is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. The $1 billion acquisition of Sound United in 2022 was at the center of a proxy fight that ultimately led to the resignation of Masimo founder and longtime CEO Joe Kiani. Masimo lowered its 2025 earnings per share forecast due to the impact of tariffs but maintained its revenue outlook in its first-quarter earnings release. The patient monitoring company also disclosed a cybersecurity incident that is limiting its ability to fulfill orders. The sale price for Sound United, whose brands include Bowers & Wilkins, Denon and Marantz, is at a steep discount to what Masimo paid for the business three years ago. When Masimo bought Sound United, Kiani championed the acquisition as an opportunity to leverage the company's consumer expertise, but investors questioned the strategy. Activist shareholder Politan Capital Management, arguing the deal and subsequent selloff in Masimo's shares were the result of poor management, won a majority of seats on the company's board after a two-year battle. Kiani left the company soon after. In finding a buyer for Sound United, the new Masimo board has achieved one of its main objectives, said Vice Chairman Quentin Koffey. BTIG analyst Marie Thibault, in a note to investors Tuesday, called the Sound United sale a positive for the company and noted that Masimo would have increased its profit forecast if not for the impact of tariffs. Thibault believes the company's counteractions will likely be enough to achieve its financial guidance. Masimo expects tariff impacts would reduce its 2025 non-GAAP earnings per share by 45 cents to 50 cents, before any tariff mitigation, to a range of $4.80 to $5.15. The company said it has developed mitigation plans that it will reassess and modify as needed, including adjusting product sourcing and operations. The cyberattack on some of its manufacturing facilities, which Masimo discovered on April 27 and disclosed in a securities filing, disrupted the company's website and several computer systems but is not expected to affect its financial guidance. Recommended Reading Masimo, amid leadership transition, targets cost reductions
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Harman To Acquire B&W, Denon, Polk And Marantz From Masimo In $350 Million Deal
Bowers & WIlkins has shipped one million pairs of speakers from the 600 Series range since they were ... More first launched 25 years ago. Bowers & WIlkins Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI), a leading global medical innovator has announced today in a press statement that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Sound United consumer audio business to Harman International , a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The aggregate purchase price is $350 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. The sale includes the Bowers & Wilkins , Denon , Polk and Marantz brands which will now join Harman's portfolio of premium audio brands which includes JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Arcam, and Revel. The sale follows the previously announced review of Masimo's consumer audio business and will support the company's strategic focus on driving innovation in its core professional healthcare segment. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to receiving necessary regulatory approvals. Quentin Koffey, Vice Chairman of Masimo's Board of Directors, stated, 'Finding the right home for this business has been a stated priority of the new Board from day one, and this transaction represents an important milestone as we continue to position the Company to achieve our goals of accelerating revenue growth while delivering disciplined margins. Masimo has tremendous opportunities ahead and we are confident we have the right healthcare-focused strategy, experienced leadership team and culture of innovation in place to build on our significant positive momentum.' Dave Rogers, President of Harman's Lifestyle division, added, 'This acquisition represents a strategic step forward in the expansion of Harman's core audio business and footprint across key product categories such as Home Audio, Headphones, Hi-fi components, and Car Audio. It complements our existing strengths and opens new avenues for growth. Sound United's portfolio of world-class audio brands including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon and Marantz, will join Harman's iconic family of brands, including JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Arcam, and Revel. Built on a shared legacy of innovation and excellence in audio technology, this combined family of brands, together with the talented employees of both companies, will deliver complementary audio products, strengthen our value proposition and offer more choices to consumers." Katie Szyman, Chief Executive Officer of Masimo, said, 'Since I took over as CEO, a key objective has been refocusing our business to ensure we are allocating time and resources to areas of unmet clinical need and driving growth and operational efficiencies. This transaction aligns with these objectives. Our consumer audio business and its talented team will be well positioned for growth and success under Harman's leadership.' The transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, including the receipt of any required regulatory approvals. Centerview Partners LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisors to Masimo and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal advisor to Masimo in connection with the transaction. Comment: Harman is buying some classic and premium brands from Massimo and the financial resources of Harman International, backed up by parent company Samsung, will secure a long-term future and development for some of the world's best-known and well-loved audio brands.
