THE HI-FI INDUSTRY: SURVIVING THE COVID PANDEMIC
Both McIntosh and Sonus Faber have long, rich heritages that have become synonymous with high-end audio excellence – McIntosh for its extensive range of discerning electronics, Sonus Faber for its premium line of Italian-crafted speakers.
The former was founded in 1949 near Washington DC, while the latter surfaced just over 30 years later in northern Italy. But despite being oceans apart, the common ground is their ownership by US holding company McIntosh Group (formerly Fine Sounds Group), which also owns Sumiko and Wadia Digital.
We spoke to McIntosh Labs’ Charlie Randall and Sonus Faber’s Jeff Poggi about the importance of brand identity, the pandemic’s impact on the market, and the future of hi-fi.
The new ‘home economy’
The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated many businesses, but one ray of light amongst the economic gloom has been the success of many hi-fi brands.
“There is a new home economy that has developed with COVID,” says Poggi. “Consumers are spending
