"New" Sumiko Subwoofers by Sonus faber

[Capcom]

Sumiko Subwoofers

Mono and Stereo High-End Audio Magazine: Sumiko Audio Subwoofer NEW

[bart]

I heard one at my dealer 2 months ago.
A brave little sub (8" woofers).
It was standing next to a B&W DB1 and the dealer and I thought that one was playing, but it wasn't.
The Sumiko was connected to the processor!

[daveyf]

I find the fact that Sumiko and SF introduced a sub woofer line a little odd. As many know, Sumiko was, and I think may still be, the distributor of REL. The REL line has almost the same diversity as the new SF/Sumiko subs?? Why would you seemingly shoot yourself in the foot to add an exact same line and thereby insure competition for yourself? The people at REL must be a little "upset", I would think!

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by daveyf

...Sumiko was, and I think may still be, the distributor of REL...:

I'm not sure which came first, but REL no longer uses Sumiko, they took over direct distribution of their subs last year. See press release here: http://rel.net/news/rel-to-manage-no...tion-directly/

[daveyf]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

I'm not sure which came first, but REL no longer uses Sumiko, they took over direct distribution of their subs last year. See press release here: REL To Manage North American Distribution Directly | REL Acoustics

Interesting. No sooner does REL drop Sumiko ( or the other way around) and Sumiko goes into the biz of trying to compete with its former manufacturer. Nice....

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by daveyf

Interesting. No sooner does REL drop Sumiko ( or the other way around) and Sumiko goes into the biz of trying to compete with its former manufacturer. Nice....

[daveyf]

Par for the course these days.

[Glisse]

Think it is more convoluted than first appears.

REL was bought a few years back by the Sumiko principal, John Hunter. Then Fine Sounds group (SF/McIntosh/ARC, etc) decided to vertically integrate and bought Sumiko. But Mr. Hunter kept REL and left Sumiko.

Who knows (well, I suspect Bill/Metaphacts knows, but wisely is saying nothing) what sort of relationship, if any, might still exist. Because these new Sumiko subs look very similar to products within the REL range. I would not fall off my chair in surprise to learn these are all being produced in the same Chinese manufacturing facility. And this is all a branding exercise.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Glisse

Think it is more convoluted than first appears.

REL was bought a few years back by the Sumiko principal, John Hunter. Then Fine Sounds group (SF/McIntosh/ARC, etc) decided to vertically integrate and bought Sumiko. But Mr. Hunter kept REL and left Sumiko.

Who knows (well, I suspect Bill/Metaphacts knows, but wisely is saying nothing) what sort of relationship, if any, might still exist. Because these new Sumiko subs look very similar to products within the REL range. I would not fall off my chair in surprise to learn these are all being produced in the same Chinese manufacturing facility. And this is all a branding exercise.

When John Hunter and Donald Brody bought REL, John became a much bigger part of the REL design process. He had long assisted Richard in product concept and execution before the purchase. John really has shaped REL designs completely since buying out Richard.

Fine Sounds really don't want to be distributors. That they would emulate REL is not a surprise. They knew first hand what the REL approach brought to the table. If you're going to stick your toe in the water, why not follow what you know? and at the same time look to the most successful range of REL ever?

So much for being wise.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

When John Hunter and Donald Brody bought REL, John became a much bigger part of the REL design process. He had long assisted Richard in product concept and execution before the purchase. John really has shaped REL designs completely since buying out Richard.

Fine Sounds really don't want to be distributors. That they would emulate REL is not a surprise. They knew first hand what the REL approach brought to the table. If you're going to stick you toe in the water, why not follow what you know? and at the same time look to the most successful range of REL ever?

Some much for being wise.

Nicely handled Bil.