Monday, February 25, 2008

Happy Birthday and why are you still here?

NHT turned 21 on December 18, 2007.  Oddly enough, it was also the same month that I and another employee "lifer" bought our company back.  It has been bought and sold now 5 times since 1990.  Each buyer got caught up in the brand's reputation for great sounding products. Each had their own vision of how they could make us a big commercial success.  Each of them failed.
No company can withstand that many different strategies.  NHT should be dead and gone, but here we are... the cockroach of speaker brands lives on. There are lots of people that think they know the reason.  Some say it's the passion of those working here, some say we are the most stubborn folks on the planet.  Personally, I think it is because NHT is a craft.  We love music here in a big way and designing each new speaker is like making a new instrument.  We let our hearts and hands guide the development. This is not a recipe for big business and we "get" there is no chance of us ruling the audio earth.  That's ok though.  When it's all over for us humans, the cockroaches will be checking their tunes out on their NHT's.



4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Chris!!!

My heartfelt congratulations!

As one of the previously "failed" owners I'm in a unique position to state that no one understands NHT better than you, or has a deeper commitment to it's success, and to the people that work within the company.

I know you'll bring the bacon home now that it's yours. If there's anything I can do, let me know.

-EMS in NYC

udailey said...

Hi Ed. Just wanted to let you know that I wanted to audition some NHTs. I live in Rhode Island where these two are supposed to be selling NHT:

Innovative Home Systems
307 Oliphant Lane #28
Middletown RI 02842 Tel: (401) 841-9433

Toons Unlimited
291 Taunton Avenue
East Providence RI 02914 Tel: (401) 438-9130

The first one doesnt know what NHT is and they also do NOT sell ANY speakers. Only install but you have to have your own I guess. The second one doesnt answer their phone (the message claims they are to busy) and then when I get to the store it is appointment only and kind of a shabby place to be honest.
I am probably only complaining because of the long drive but it would be nice to see someone who takes music seriously also selling NHT in this area.

Anonymous said...

Hi. Let me start by saying that I don't follow the audio world enough to keep up with its shifts, and perhaps that's just as well. Had I known about the uncertainties swirling around NHT when I was weighing the purchase of a pair of Classic Threes in 2006, I might have passed on them. Boy, would that have been a mistake. I have not for one minute regretted the decision. I listen to music for a living, so I really appreciate the meticulousness that went into creating such an extraordinary product. Reading this blog I can see that the company has chosen to move forward by going with its aces; I'm quite happy to be among the folks who can attest to the glories of the Classic Three. Here's to a future fresh innovations and the tenacity to get the word out about them. I'll certainly do my part to help out on the latter front. -KLW in Brooklyn

Unknown said...

I am getting very near pulling the trigger on a pair NHT Classic 3's and found a reasonable web dealer. I wanted to go audition a pair locally, but found only one dealer in Houston. We are the 4th largest city in the US. Only one dealer?

I am basing my experience with NHT on a pair of Super Ones I heard 10 or so years ago in Austin, TX. I have a bigger room now here in Houston and was thinking the 3's are the way to go.

Why is it so difficult to convince the larger chains like Tweeter or The Home Theater Store to carry NHT? I guess the mass marketed B&W and Klipsch are too deeply engrained in their business plan(s)?

Rick in Houston, TX