Freedman Group (Rode, Mackie, etc) acquires Lectrosonics

[Jim Feeley]

As you may have seen:

 

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The Freedman Group aquires Lectrosonics, world leaders in UHF wireless audio.

 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Friday, May 9, 2025

The Freedman Group, parent company of trailblazing audio brands including RØDE, Mackie, Aphex, SoundField, and Event Electronics, has today announced the acquisition of Lectrosonics, a globally renowned US manufacturer of professional wireless audio systems.

 

Founded in 1971 and headquartered in New Mexico, USA, Lectrosonics has been at the forefront of UHF wireless audio technology for film, broadcast, and high-end theatre applications for over five decades. With a reputation for unmatched reliability and refined technical excellence, the company received an Academy Award in 2017 for its revolutionary Digital Hybrid Wireless Technology – further cementing its status as the gold standard in professional wireless audio and the equipment of choice for audio professionals worldwide.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Lectrosonics to The Freedman Group family,” said Peter Freedman AM, Founder and owner of The Freedman Group. “For decades, Lectrosonics has been synonymous with the highest possible performance along with unmatched reliability and innovation in professional wireless audio. Their uncompromising commitment to quality perfectly aligns with our own values and strengthens our position as a global leader in professional audio solutions.”

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Rest of the press release here:

https://lectrosonics.com/the-freedman-group-aquires-lectrosonics-world-leaders-in-uhf-wireless-audio/

 

Thoughts on what it all means in the posts below (I presume).

Me, I'm hoping for the best for everyone. No FUD or innuendo on my part, btw.

[r.paterson]

Just now, Jim Feeley said:

As you may have seen:

 

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The Freedman Group aquires Lectrosonics, world leaders in UHF wireless audio.

 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Friday, May 9, 2025

The Freedman Group, parent company of trailblazing audio brands including RØDE, Mackie, Aphex, SoundField, and Event Electronics, has today announced the acquisition of Lectrosonics, a globally renowned US manufacturer of professional wireless audio systems.

 

Founded in 1971 and headquartered in New Mexico, USA, Lectrosonics has been at the forefront of UHF wireless audio technology for film, broadcast, and high-end theatre applications for over five decades. With a reputation for unmatched reliability and refined technical excellence, the company received an Academy Award in 2017 for its revolutionary Digital Hybrid Wireless Technology – further cementing its status as the gold standard in professional wireless audio and the equipment of choice for audio professionals worldwide.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Lectrosonics to The Freedman Group family,” said Peter Freedman AM, Founder and owner of The Freedman Group. “For decades, Lectrosonics has been synonymous with the highest possible performance along with unmatched reliability and innovation in professional wireless audio. Their uncompromising commitment to quality perfectly aligns with our own values and strengthens our position as a global leader in professional audio solutions.”

=====

 

Rest of the press release here:

https://lectrosonics.com/the-freedman-group-aquires-lectrosonics-world-leaders-in-uhf-wireless-audio/

 

Thoughts on what it all means in the posts below (I presume).

 

I am a long time heavily invested Lectro user in the last 2 1/2 years I've spent over $30k of Lectro Digital.. Along with all my previous Lectro kit.. To say I'm concerned is an understatement.. 

[Paul F]

Privately held since 1971, it had to be passed on to someone eventually.

[karlw]

2 hours ago, r.paterson said:

 

I am a long time heavily invested Lectro user in the last 2 1/2 years I've spent over $30k of Lectro Digital.. Along with all my previous Lectro kit.. To say I'm concerned is an understatement.. 

I'm happy to discuss any/all of this with you, Richard. Freedman plans to keep us where we are, manufacturing in Rio Rancho, NM, USA, and they'll be investing in our operations here. The management team, including me, will stay in place. Feel free to reach out with any other concerns. 

[PMC]

"… trailblazing audio brands including RØDE…"

[Jim Feeley]

56 minutes ago, karlw said:

Freedman plans to keep us where we are...

 

Great to hear Karl! 

[r.paterson]

1 hour ago, karlw said:

I'm happy to discuss any/all of this with you, Richard. Freedman plans to keep us where we are, manufacturing in Rio Rancho, NM, USA, and they'll be investing in our operations here. The management team, including me, will stay in place. Feel free to reach out with any other concerns. 

Thanks Karl , you have put my mind at ease and with your other  positive posts elsewhere  as well, in the UK Freelancers are very wary by default now, having watched what happened to Rycote and Timecode Systems in the recent past. really looking forward to the new  Improved version of Lectrosonics. Thanks Richard

[LarryF]

As another opinion, RODE may be the best thing to happen to Lectro in this decade.  After Covid19, various strikes, parts shortages, tariffs on certain critical parts and with sales outside the U.S. looking "unfriendly" , Lectro could use an enthusiastic  owner with huge {!!!} resources.

I have been with Lectro in various positions for 50 years and I think RODE is a positive thing for our brand, our employees and our customers.

Larry Fisher

Lectro's Previous President and sometimes Janitor

[codyman]

If I had to guess, they'll take Lectro more high end like Sound Devices did with Audio Limited but then hopefully also split the difference and make mid tier stuff.  Seems like our industry has either gone high end gear or low end "videographer" / podcast on us and there's a market in the middle going "But what about me?"

[Paul F]

5 hours ago, LarryF said:

Lectro's Previous President and sometimes Janitor

 

Does this mean 'Congratulations on a happy retirement.' is in order or no?

[IronFilm]

My initial knee jerk reaction was "this is bad news", but once I thought about it for a few more seconds I can see the potential silver lining here. 

Lectrosonics was #1 King for so long during the Analog and Digital Hybrid eras, but it feels like over the past decade they've been slipping behind vs the rising stiff competition from Wisycom, Shure, and others. (I'm a very big fan of all of the analog / digital hybrid wireless I own from Lectrosonics, but if/when I upgrade, I struggle to see myself sticking with and going next with Lectrosonics?)

 

Perhaps this now is exactly what they need? Being able to tap into a huge amount of extra resources of engineering talent, manufacturing capabilities, new supply chain efficiencies, extra deep funding, and more.  Am excited to see play out what this will mean for the future of Lectrosonics. 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Rode Wireless about to get a big upgrade.

[Jim Feeley]

I could see Lectro/Freedman expanding the Blue line (as in IFBlue: https://ifblue.com)

 

I have no insider information, but perhaps Lectro with Freedman's money and manufacturing contacts to build wireless systems priced somewhere between what Rode and Lectro currently offer. Seems like that could be a good synergy.

[codyman]

15 minutes ago, Jim Feeley said:

I could see Lectro/Freedman expanding the Blue line (as in IFBlue: https://ifblue.com)

 

I have no insider information, but perhaps Lectro with Freedman's money and manufacturing contacts to build wireless systems priced somewhere between what Rode and Lectro currently offer. Seems like that could be a good synergy.

Lectro needs a sub $1k digital transmitter that's reasonable in size.  Make it barebones / "traditional" with a AA battery / removable antenna / dweedle tones and let it ride.  Then focus on the more up market transmitters having remote capabilities such as being able to control gain / frequency remotely like so many other manufacturers have the ability to do now.

[drpro]

Maybe Freedman will buy Zaxcom and then we can all have transmitters they record while they are transmitting!!

[IronFilm]

5 hours ago, codyman said:

Lectro needs a sub $1k digital transmitter that's reasonable in size.  Make it barebones / "traditional" with a AA battery / removable antenna / dweedle tones and let it ride. 

Something like a "Lectrosonics LMc"? (a LMb that's priced sub $1K)

Maybe doing what @Jim Feeley suggested and releasing it under "the Blue range" like the IFBlue is (so call it a "LMblue"??), if they want to preserve "the Lectrosonics brand name" for transmitters that are exclusively $1K+

 

[Philip Perkins]

I wish Lectro well in their new attachment to Freedman.  They have certainly been among the Great Mensches of my audio career, and I've been very happy with everything I ever bought from them.  These are perilous times for small companies doing exacting work, and I hope being part of Freedman gives them the space and resources to come up with even more amazing devices for the pro audio industry.

[LDstudios]

 

 

I can't seem to spin this into any kind of positive. Rode seems synonymous with buying companies for their intellectual property, stripping the intellectual property... then burying the original brand. 

 

It happened with Event. 

It happened with Aphex. 

It happened with Soundfield. 

It is hard to imagine their recent acquisition of Mackie means competing podcasting products on the market to Rode.

 

Lectrosonics wireless technology - coming to a Walmart shelf near you. 

 

 

 

[Johnny Karlsson]

 I don’t understand why some of you seem to be wishing for Lectro to start releasing some kind of cheapo stuff.

If you want low-cost plastic prosumer stuff, there is plenty to choose from already.

 

 I really hope Lectro will remain Lectro; reliable, solid, high quality gear that sound great, and stand up to the stress of professional use (and potato cannons!).
I will gladly pay a premium for gear that gives me peace of mind, and helps make me reliable for the people that hire me. Flimsy gear is not gonna help anyone build a career.

[BAB414]

3 hours ago, Johnny Karlsson said:

 I don’t understand why some of you seem to be wishing for Lectro to start releasing some kind of cheapo stuff.

If you want low-cost plastic prosumer stuff, there is plenty to choose from already.

 

 I really hope Lectro will remain Lectro; reliable, solid, high quality gear that sound great, and stand up to the stress of professional use (and potato cannons!).
I will gladly pay a premium for gear that gives me peace of mind, and helps make me reliable for the people that hire me. Flimsy gear is not gonna help anyone build a career.

I hope that with these new resources, Lectro can be more competitive with their product line versus Wisy, SD and Shure.

[Michael Wynne]

5 hours ago, Johnny Karlsson said:

 I don’t understand why some of you seem to be wishing for Lectro to start releasing some kind of cheapo stuff.

If you want low-cost plastic prosumer stuff, there is plenty to choose from already.

 

 I really hope Lectro will remain Lectro; reliable, solid, high quality gear that sound great, and stand up to the stress of professional use (and potato cannons!).
I will gladly pay a premium for gear that gives me peace of mind, and helps make me reliable for the people that hire me. Flimsy gear is not gonna help anyone build a career.

Agreed 100%! 

[Paul F]

More commentary from the buyer, Peter Freedman here. It provides some useful insight.  - https://www.forbes.com.au/covers/billionaires/peter-freedman-of-rode-buys-us-rival-lectrosonics/

 

 

[Olle Sjostrom]

Well... It's what I thought initially. Trump MAGA in action. And it’s working !

And just to be clear, I dont really have an opinion. I hope lectrosonics can grow and prosper as usual and keep making amazing stuff.

In the article he says:

Quote

 

Tariff buster

Freedman says it is among the first solid examples of Trump’s tariffs working the way he’d said they would. 

“Dude, 90 days. Within about 90 days, I’ll be making RØDE product, and we’ll have Mackie product there as well. So Uncle Donald’s tariffs are no problem for me. It’s a double whammy.

 

 

[IronFilm]

This is a worthwhile watch, an interview with the new owner of Lectro:

 

Quote

As for the 66-year-old Freedman, “I’ve been dreaming of this for 25 years. So I walk around with one of their little transmitters in my pocket, just pulling it out and going, ‘Holy shit!’ I’m like a kid with a Matchbox car in his pocket. If I could show you the gear, you’d open it and you’d go, that’s jewellery. As an engineer, this is special stuff. But it’s going to scare the living shit out of everybody in the game. Not that I’m competitive.”

 

[r.paterson]

2 hours ago, IronFilm said:

This is a worthwhile watch, an interview with the new owner of Lectro:

 

 

I am biased as a Lectro user.. But I still think now it will be a very good thing..look what happened to Aaton. If they had a friendly take over things could have been different..the guy wants to go places with Lectro as a top end product, the elephant in the room is, Lectro need to get over the Patent tx/rec issue for EU users tho, outside of feature film work,  all EU radio mic users need it as a norm now.