This Post may contain affiliate links, when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Here’s how it works.
Niles Audio was once a reputed name in the audio equipment industry, especially in outdoor speakers. Their products were popular among audiophiles and delivered clear, rich sound for outdoor spaces.
However, the company has undergone significant changes in recent years, leading to questions about its current status in the market. What happened to Niles Audio and is it still in business?
Niles Audio: A Brief History
Founded in 1978, Niles Audio quickly became a leader in the home audio market, known for its innovative solutions. The company built a reputation for producing products that combined high-fidelity sound with discreet installations, and outdoor audio systems.
Over time, Niles Audio expanded its product offerings, including in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, and outdoor speakers. Their products were often praised for their durability, weather resistance, and premium sound quality.
Niles outdoor speakers were designed to mimic natural rocks, blending seamlessly into outdoor environments. But in the current situation, it’s hard to find their speaker lineup on the internet.
The Decline of Niles Audio and Acquisition by the Bowers & Wilkins Group
Despite their earlier successes, Niles Audio faced increasing competition in the audio market. In 2008, Niles Audio was acquired by the Bowers & Wilkins Group, a prominent British company known for its high-end audio equipment.
At the time, it seemed like a positive step for Niles, as it gained access to Bowers & Wilkins’ resources and reputation. However, in the years following the acquisition, Niles Audio began to experience a shift. The Niles brand gradually became less visible in the marketplace.
They seemed to focus their attention on other aspects of the audio market, such as its flagship speakers and wireless sound systems.
Niles Outdoor Rock Speakers
Niles Outdoor Rock Speakers were one of the brand’s signature products. These speakers were designed for outdoor use, providing durability and high-quality sound.
They were perfect for those who wanted to enjoy music, podcasts, or movies outside while keeping their audio equipment hidden in plain sight.
Here are some key features of Niles outdoor rock speakers:
- Realistic Appearance: The speakers blend seamlessly into gardens, lawns, or patios.
- Durability: These speakers were built to withstand various outdoor conditions, including rain, wind, and sun exposure.
- High-Quality Sound: Despite their compact design, the Niles rock speakers are known for delivering clarity, bass, and overall fidelity.
- Easy Installation: The speakers were designed for easy placement in outdoor environments.
Niles’ outdoor rock speakers were extremely popular in those days. Over time it disappeared because of bad management.
Niles In-Wall Speakers
After outdoor rock speakers, In-wall speakers were one of Niles Audio’s signature offerings, aimed at homeowners who wanted high-fidelity sound without the bulk of traditional floor-standing speakers.
Key Features of Niles In-Wall Speakers:
- Discreet Installation: In-wall speakers were designed to blend seamlessly with home decor.
- High-Quality Sound: Exceptional sound quality, providing rich, full-range audio.
- Durability: Many Niles in-wall speakers feature moisture-resistant materials, a suitable option for bathrooms, kitchens, or other humid environments.
- Installation: Installing In-Wall speakers are not a easy task.
Niles Planter Speakers
One of the unique offerings from Niles Audio was Planter Speakers. These speakers were designed to look like outdoor planters, seamlessly integrating into gardens, patios, and decks while delivering exceptional sound performance.
Key Features of Niles Planter Speakers:
- Dual Purpose: The Niles Planter Speakers doubled as outdoor planters and speakers.
- High-Fidelity Sound: Despite their seemingly decorative nature, the planter speakers were built with high-quality drivers and audio components.
- Weather-Resistant: These speakers are designed to survive in sun, rain, and humidity exposure.
The Niles planter speakers were often chosen for poolside areas, decks, and other outdoor spaces.
Niles Ceiling Speakers
These speakers were designed to be mounted on the ceiling, offering high-fidelity sound without taking up any floor or wall space.
Key Features of Niles Ceiling Speakers:
- Space-Saving Design: Ceiling speakers allow sound distribution without traditional speakers. They could be installed directly into the ceiling.
- High-Quality Audio: Many of Niles Ceiling speaker models featured a wide frequency response, ensuring deep bass and crisp treble.
- Moisture and Heat Resistance: Similar to their in-wall speakers, Niles ceiling speakers were often built with moisture-resistant materials.
They were also popular in commercial settings like restaurants, hotels, and retail stores. You may experience discreet sounds in those places.
Other Notable Niles Audio Products
In addition to their in-wall, in-ceiling, and planter speakers, Niles Audio also produced a range of other audio products. These included:
- Amplifiers: Niles offered amplifiers that were designed to pair with their speakers to ensure that users received high-quality, powerful sound.
- Whole-House Audio Systems: Niles designed multi-room audio systems that allowed users to distribute music or sound throughout the house.
- Outdoor Speakers: Aside from their rock speakers, Niles also offered traditional wall-mount speakers and subwoofers.
Is Niles Audio Still in Business?
As of now, Niles Audio is a standalone brand and appears to be inactive. The brand’s legacy products, including the outdoor rock speakers, have largely disappeared from mainstream retail shelves.
Bowers & Wilkins no longer actively markets the Niles Audio brand, and it has not introduced new products under the Niles name for several years.
However, it’s important to note that some of Niles’ technology and products may still exist within the Bowers & Wilkins portfolio or under different brand names.
The outdoor rock speaker line, for example, might still be available through third-party retailers or specialized audio shops, but it’s not being actively promoted or updated.
Though Niles Audio may no longer be active, the impact of its products on the outdoor audio industry remains.
Alternatives to Niles Outdoor Rock Speakers
For consumers still interested in outdoor rock speakers or high-quality outdoor audio, several alternative brands offer similar products. These include:
- Sonance: Sonance offers a range of outdoor speakers, including rock speakers.
- Klipsch: Another high-end brand, Klipsch offers a variety of outdoor speakers, including rock speakers.
- Polk Audio: Polk Audio offers several outdoor speaker options, including models designed to blend in with outdoor landscaping.
- Paradigm: Paradigm’s outdoor speaker lines focus on high-fidelity sound and rugged outdoor durability.
These brands continue the legacy of outdoor audio equipment, providing consumers with alternative options for integrating high-quality sound into their outdoor spaces.
Conclusion:
Niles Audio was once a leader in the outdoor speaker market, particularly with its innovative outdoor rock speakers. As of today, Niles Audio is not actively operating as an independent entity, and its products have largely disappeared from the market.
While Bowers & Wilkins may still utilize some of Niles’ technology, the Niles brand no longer plays a significant role in the outdoor speaker industry. Many other companies continue to innovate in the outdoor audio space, providing high-quality, Niles Audio itself has been largely absorbed into the broader audio market landscape.
I’m sourav, a music lover and sound enthusiast. After experiencing multiple sound qualities, I thought many people searching regarding this topic, but there is not enough detailed information on it. That’s the main reason why I created this blog.