Inside Track has revealed the winners of its Annual Supplier Loyalty Test Survey, the 27th annual survey measuring partnership behavior of industry vendors.
A total of 199 dealers from 40 U.S. states plus Canada graded, on average, 13 vendors on 16 distinct performance aspects – 5 of them product-related, 5 dealer profitability-related, and 6 dealer support-related.
To be included in the survey results, a vendor had to be evaluated by at least 15 dealers. This year, 64 companies, competing in 8 divisions (H.A./Electronics, H.A./Speakers, Home Video/Displays, H.V/Screens, two Custom Installation, one Wire&Cable and one Car Audio group) cleared this hurdle.
The Overall winner in each of the 8 groups was determined by computing the average of the 16 individual parameter grades.
No. 1 OVERALL-H.A./Electronics group: Peachtree Audio
A first time Overall winner, Peachtree finished in the top three of its group 11 times, including 3 first places.
No. 1 OVERALL-H.A./Speakers group: Magnepan
This is the third year Magnepan has captured the Overall winner’s trophy, finishing in the top three 13 times, including 7 times in first place.
No. 1 Overall- Home Video/Display group: Epson
The company has now taken 5 annual Overall winner’s trophies, this year based on a total of 15 top three places – 10 first, 3 second and 2 third.
No. 1 OVERALL-H.V/Screen group: Stewart Filmscreen
This company has been the Overall winner in the H.V./Screens group for 14 consecutive years. This year, they finished with 15 parameter first and one second place.
No. 1 OVERALL- Custom Installation/Advanced Control Systems, Lighting, Media Management, Automation (CI-ALMA) group: Savant Systems
Also a first time Overall winner, Savant Systems, this year, finished in the top three 11 times, including 6 times in first place.
Power Management, Accessories (CI-DAV-SPA) group: SpeakerCraft
SpeakerCraft battled back to first place Overall in the group after having slipped to 4th place Overall last year. In the current survey, SpeakerCraft finished in the top three 15 times, including 5 first places.
No. 1 OVERALL- Wire & Cable group: AudioQuest
This is the 4th time at the Overall top in the group for AudioQuest, and this year it is based on 13 parameter first places.
No. 1 OVERALL- Car Audio group: Memphis Car Audio
Memphis finished first Overall for the 9th year, this year based on 15 top three finishes, including 13 first places.
Some vendors were rated outstanding on some, but not on all, parameters. The following are runner-ups:
H.A./Electronics Companies
Bryston – 6 top 3, including 4 first places No. 2 Overall
McIntosh – 6 top 3, including 1 first place No. 3 Overall
Classé – 8 top 3, including 4 first places No. 4 Overall
Integra – 5 top 3, including 3 first places No. 6 Overall
H.A./Speaker Companies
JL Audio – 12 top 3, including 7 first places No. 2 Overall
GoldenEar – 8 top 3, including 2 first places No. 3 Overall
Def. Tech. – 5 top 3, including 1 first place No. 4 Overall
Klipsch – 1 first place
Home Video Display Companies
Runco – 12 top 3, including 4 first places No. 2 Overall
Elite – 13 top 3, including 1 first place No. 3 Overall
Sony – 4 top 3, including 1 first place No. 4 Overall
H.V./Screen Companies
Draper – 10 top 3, including 1 first place No. 3 Overall
CI/ALMA Companies
Lutron – 8 top 3, including 3 first places No. 2 Overall
Kaleidescape – 7 top 3, including 3 first places No. 3 Overall
Crestron – 6 top 3, including 2 first places No. 4 Overall
RTI – 6 top 3, including 2 first places No. 6 Overall
Sonos – 1 first place
CI/DAV-SPA Companies
Leon Spkrs. – 10 top 3, including 5 first places No. 2 Overall
Triad Spkrs. – 7 top 3, including 2 first places No. 3 Overall
Snap AV – 11 top 3, including 5 first places No. 4 Overall
Wire & Cable Companies
Tributaries – 16 top 3, including 3 first places No. 2 Overall
Car Audio Companies
JL Audio – 16 top 3, including 3 first places No. 2 Overall
Pioneer – 1 first place
Dealers also voted for the company offering the Best Price/Value in each group.
Those first places went to:
H.A./Electronics Companies: Integra
H.A./Speaker Companies: Paradigm (for an unmatched 22 years)
Home Video Companies: Panasonic
H.V./Screen Companies: Screen Innovations
CI/ALMA Companies: Lutron
CI/DAV-SPA Companies: SpeakerCraft
Wire&Cable Companies: Tributaries
Car Audio Companies: Memphis
For more information or to purchase sections of, or the entire, 2012 Supplier Loyalty Test report, go to inside-track-online.com or call 203-431-4540.
