The generation that has made EDM and D&B music mainstream isn’t interested in bass and aftermarket audio? LOL wake up.
The difference here is they have the Internet, and all the stupid questions we asked at their age are now cataloged for them to consume in a few minutes. They can buy brands off Amazon and have them installed without ever consulting you for advice.
The industry as you once remember it, install bays at circuit city, niche brick and mortar shops, dozens of brands competing in weekend sound-offs is clearly dead. OEM stereos decimated the “entry level” aftermarket industry…but not really…aftermarket brands just made deals with auto manufacturers and instead of selling a few thousand speakers, they make a few hundred thousand speakers and let the manufacturers install them for customers. You can get Alpine in your Jeep, Rockford in your Subaru, JBL in your Ford, etc.
However, the high end market likely hasn’t changed all that much in the last 20 years. If anything, I bet manufacturers sell MORE top shelf products. They just aren’t going through brick and mortar stores anymore. Shops that cater to high end customers survived, rich people still want their white glove service for their brand new sports and luxury vehicles. Crutchfield has also survived and expanded…I’d love to see their stats on the industry…but they still remain a private company. When we see them go public or sell out, that’s when we know the industry is dead.
As for this particular buy out, I think it’s just one business person cashing out. XS might be able to use some of the patents to produce SD designs in larger volume, but I’m guessing we’ll just see a mix mash of rebranded products over the next few years, increased volume, and decreased quality. Time to move on if SD was your hidden gem.
.... I care about other ppl. I interact and socialize daily with co-workers and random people in the public. I'll buy that bum a beer, ill hold the door open for the next person, I even use my blinkers when changing lanes. I do it cuz I care.
.... I care about other ppl. I interact and socialize daily with co-workers and random people in the public. I'll buy that bum a beer, ill hold the door open for the next person, I even use my blinkers when changing lanes. I do it cuz I care. 
