S E771: 4K Experiences | AVWeek 781

First up, Bose Professional has acquired Fulcrum Acoustics, a Massachusetts loudspeaker manufacturer.

Fulcrum will keep operating under its own brand.

That means no changes to its products, support, or manufacturing.

Fulcrum builds and designs its systems in Wittensville, Massachusetts.

Three engineers founded the company in 2008.

Its catalog now runs to roughly 130 products, including coaxial designs and patented cardioid technologies.

Now, Fulcrum speakers show up in demanding venues worldwide.

Recent installs include Houston's NRG Stadium and the Rolls Bowl.

This is Bose Professional's first acquisition since it became independent in 2023.

Bose Professional CEO John Mayer says the goal is to preserve what makes Fulcrum distinctive.

He adds that Bose Professional's global reach can help accelerate Fulcrum's growth.

Bose Professional plans to transition.

into the 802 labs brand starting in february of 2027 fulcrum will stay a separate brand throughout that shift next up adi global distribution is now a standalone public company adi completed its spin-off from residio technologies this week its stock began trading on the new york stock exchange under the ticker a d i g Resideo shareholders received one share of ADI stock for every two shares of Resideo they held.

ADI, of course, distributes security, residential, AV, and fire and life safety products across North America.

ADI CEO Bob Arnes calls the spinoff a pivotal milestone for the company.

He says ADI now has a clear strategic path as an independent distributor.

Turning to the numbers, Avixa's latest pro AV business index shows a mixed picture.

The AV sales index climbed from 53.1 in May to 60.4 in June.

Any reading above 50 signals growth.

Outside of North America, 37% of respondents reported a sales increase in June.

Now that's up sharply from 19% in May.

Live events and data center work are driving much of that gain.

But the AV Employment Index dropped two points to 51.4 in June.

Some firms report budget constraints, hiring freezes, or unfilled positions.

Tariff pressures on displays, cameras, and computing hardware remains the industry's biggest drag.