Guy Hammett

Big news in audio with one of the largest mass market audio brands acquiring one of the largest premium audio brands! Bose Corporation has announced the acquisition of McIntosh Group, the parent company of renowned high-performance and luxury audio brands like McIntosh and Sonus faber. This strategic move unites industry pioneers with more than 175 years of combined expertise, craftsmanship, and a commitment to reaching passionate music fans around the world. 

The consumer love affair with music and audio in the home shows no signs of cooling off. With audio hardware capturing the attention of shoppers, Futuresource Consulting’s latest round of international research points to a future of multiroom audio and a demand for even longer battery life from portable speaker owners. 

As cars become more intelligent and connected, the immersive audio opportunity is accelerating through the automotive industry. A new report from Futuresource Consulting reveals that more than 83% of new passenger cars will have embedded voice assistants by 2028. More than two-in-five will feature active noise control, and 3D surround sound will grow from less than 1% in 2021, to more than 26%. It’s a situation that is creating a raft of opportunities for the audio industry.

Many drivers and passengers now expect an audio entertainment experience which is in tune with home and personal offerings. And the expectation is growing. As a result, automotive brands are using their audio solutions as key differentiators, as well as adding increasing emphasis to branded audio in their advertising and promotion.

The home audio market has endured its fair share of turbulence after an unprecedented boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the market is wrestling with instabilities, Futuresource Consulting’s new report on the Global Home Audio Market indicates a re-strengthening from 2024 onwards.