Top execs almost always feel the need to “make their mark” . This is where things sometimes go downhill.
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Ok, after a day to digest the news, here’s one theory. It is just one theory, but it’s mine.
Harman bought roon for RAAT and their server/dsp/multiroom tech, and the devs who dev’d it.
There are lots of ways Harman can exploit all that for their existing products.
But wait, you say. That suggests Harman just wanted the parts and not the whole and will soon dismantle roon and keep the best parts.
But here’s the best part of my theory. Harman can pay for all those parts, expertise, integration with their own products, etc. by keeping the roon team and product together as a going concern and have roon subscribers subsidise it all. And I would be good with that.
Of course there are other theories. Maybe Samsung wants to launch a streaming service or buy Tidal or something and roon would be the perfect front end. Or maybe they want RAAT for plaing music to their refrigerators or something.
Who knows? Nobody outside Harman/Roon knows, and maybe they don’t even know. It’s all speculation, and everybody is an expert.
Time will tell.
That’s the TL;DR of this whole thread…
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And it only took 317 posts
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Funny. Roon bought by the Big box brand dominator. Wonder what will become of this too complacent, self-aggrandizing brand in the real world where it will be facing mass market consumers.
Still happy I jumped ship.
That’s usually how it works down the road. 1-2 years
What ship did you jump to or from?
Not too big a worry. On the last Amazon prime days, I bought one: I’ve got one of these Wiim Pro Plus and Roon sees it now as a SqueezeLite player. So maybe not as high resolution as the device can support, but plenty good enough for my office system. And given the near-twin hardware compared to the Pro, should not face any long-term problems getting Roon-certified.
Just my humble $.02
Which we all hope will never happen.
But (with all fingers and toes firmly crossed) doesn’t a lifetime subscription still equate to about five annual renewals? If so (or something close), five years good use is still a ‘bargain’, isn’t it?
As a long time user of Sibelius then Dorico who’s watched both takeovers, I wholly concur.
Avid doesn’t understand the Sibelius market allowing Dorico under Steinberg to outpace it an become the market leader in well under a decade.
Why couldn’t that happen here?
If it’s to integrate with their own hardware at the exclusion of other vendors – or if other vendors drop Roon due to competitive pressure with Harmon – it will be a disaster for end-users.
Likley congratulations to the long term Roon Labs employees as usually in tech when there is a buyout the stock options are a once in lifetime windfall. Fingers crossed this is the case for you hardworking folks. The product is fantastic thanks to the employees. 
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A tech acquistion is fairly common. Conspiracy theories will abound, but the reality is likely the company will be run autonomously and things will go as they have.
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There are typically two ways acquisitions work:
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Majority of the acquired personnel are gone within the first 90 days of the acquisition
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Majority of the acquired personnel are gone within the first year.
I have been through many acquisitions and once the acquiring company thinks they “got this,” the exodus ensues.
If I was a current Roon employee I would get my CV ready.
That being said what happens with Roon next is not up to Roon or this community. Samsung sees a value in Roon and I suspect it is not the consumer facing portion of Roon but more of the audio transport IP of the Roon engine.
Changes is a coming and only time will tell how this all shakes out.
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Well said and absolutely true.I suspect this will be the 1 year version.
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Well stated. I, also being a lifetime subscriber, am going to not worry over what may happen in the future. Easier said than done, but a complete waste on mental energy.
Worst case- something else will come along…
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a tiny fraction of what Harman does in automotive.
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Agreed that bringing Roon’s best in class UI and artist info / album info to Samsung devices (including Samsung TVs) could well be a major motivating factor the buyer.
I’ll get back with you on that in around three years from now 
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