NHT (Now Hear This ®) shutting down on March 31, 2009

NHT HiFi is an audio company that was founded in 1986. The company since then has earned multiple product-of-the-year awards among other commendations. They are not particularly well known to common audio-video enthusiasts but definitely have a loyal following in the audio/speakers market.

Apparently the letter below was sent to NHT dealers:

Dear NHT Customer,

It’s time to turn down the lights… NHT is going quiet. Over the next 45 days we’re going to sell the remaining professional and consumer inventory through our existing dealers and distributors, pay our bills, and spend time rethinking the future of NHT. We’re not bankrupt and no, the car didn’t get hit by a train. In a way this difficult economy has provided the right opportunity for the change in strategy we have felt has been necessary for some time.

One thing is for sure, it’s not about your (or our) love for this brand. It’s not about this business either. It’s all about the realities of the world and how consumer attitudes are changing and the need for real invention. We’re eager to get moving.

NHT has always stood for something more than a great speaker. NHT’s philosophy has been a way of thinking – about value, about fair play, about paying attention to what matters, and integrity – really, it is a way of life for us. We’ve had a colorful history and our share of distractions, but we think we have made the speaker industry a little more interesting and helped in raising the bar.

This isn’t good bye, its just “see you on the other side”.

Thanks for everything!

Chris, John, Jim and the NHT gang.

Naturally, some loyal NHT buyers would want to get their hands on some of the last remaining stocks that NHT will be liquidating. I seriously urge those people to put in some second thoughts into the purchase because the products might need repair in the future and parts of course won’t be available anymore. A timetable of their products can be found here.

More information elsewhere: