<October 13, 2010> B&K Components, Ltd., a small privately owned company founded in 1981 in Buffalo, NY, had carved out a niche for itself as a provider of a fairly wide range of stereo, home theater, and multizone audio components. But apparently B&K Components has also become the latest victim of a continuing industry contraction as sources tell the ALERT that, barring any unforseen last-minute glitches, Amplifier Technologies, Inc. (ATI) will acquire B&K soon…perhaps as early as by the end of this week.

http://stratecongroup.com/1010aw2ati2acquireBK.aspx

Wow, ATI also bought Theta Digital. They must have quite a technology portfolio.

Here's hoping they don't squander it.

ATI is also who builds Outlaw's multi-channel amps (just not their mono-block), if anyone has forgotten that fact.

That's the beauty in achieving (increasing) returns to scale in production. There might be a larger company involved that owns all the above which is able to provide this trickle-down effect. Based on Pontelle's excitement over their efficiently run factories, extensive OEM of multiple brands and like you mentioned technology portfolio, they are probably able to achieve this at high production levels.

It will be interesting to see where this goes.

I'm saddened.

Another business "bites the dust" in Buffalo. I guess they should be thankful for the cross-border shoppers. Incidentally, I have a couple of the Outlaw multi-channel power amps built by ATI and they are very good.

The only thing I wonder about with this purchase is back when ATI bought Theta Digital there was a considerable number of promises made by the company to introduce updated TD models which, the last I checked, had yet to materialize so they remained pretty well dormant and as a result ATI was severely criticized on the forums. Has anyone seen any new product recently and could the same happen to B&K?

At times when I see these purchases, it looks like rather than expanding their product line it seems more like just getting rid of the competition. A similar thing happened when Klipsch bought API(Mirage, Energy and Athena)and they essentially "gutted" the long standing innovative Mirage speaker line.

I like ATI amps. They are built like Soviet military hardware. I don't mean tubes, more like tanks. But, ATI amps also have wonderful sound quality.

I'm a fan.

On the other hand, I am not a fan of the Outlaw monoblocks and an Outlaw processor. My friend picked up a bunch for his 5 channel surround and to my ears the monoblocks sounded flat with a pair of Michaura M665s (like M60s) in front, a pair of Michaura M55s in the back (like M22s) and a customized center channel with a Merak cabinet and a pair of Axiom 6.5" drivers and 3/4" titanium tweeter.

I used the same speaker kit with a Sony TA E9000ES processor and Anthem PVA 5 amplifier. Sounded wonderful.