MK Returns Without Ampersand By Mark Fleischmann October 7, 2008 — Remember Miller & Kreisel, also known as M&K? The once reputable American speaker brand is making a comeback as MK Sound thanks to a Danish startup company and an American retailer.

When M&K filed for bankruptcy in 2007, a Danish startup venture calling itself MK Sound, which included some former European M&K executives, bought out the intellectual property for the old company's world-beating speaker designs. Manufacturing was moved from California to China, though much of it had already been done there under the old regime.

Products are being imported to the U.S. via the Illinois-based Dolphin Group, an importer/marketer tracing its pedigree to the family-owned retailer Abt Electronics. MK is now selling 23 products through the Abt site and is expected to expand the brand to other retailers, including brick-and-mortar stores, next year.

M&K was founded in 1974 in Chatsworth, California by Ken Kreisel, Dr. Lester Field, and D. Jonas Miller. A pioneer in satellite speakers and powered subwoofers, the company first made its mark by supplying Steely Dan with the studio monitors and sub used to mix Pretzel Logic. It has also supplied reference speakers to Dolby Labs, an outfit with the highest standards, to say the least.

See MK site and TWICE.

Poster boy: MK Sound Xenon X-24T tripole speaker.