Onkyo

Bloomberg Reporter Asks ‘Why is Sharp Still With Us?’

March 10, 2015 by Ted 2 Comments

We’ve been reporting for a while now on the epic survival struggles of some of this industry’s biggest brand names in Japan…most recently Sharp Corp. Some of the changes we’re seeing now were unforeseeable even 24-36 months ago – Sony spinning off divisions, JVC Kenwood pulling out of the consumer business, Pioneer first shutting down A/V, then selling that division to Onkyo, Toshiba pulling out of TV biz, Panasonic dropping consumer business, and on and on…

Now a reporter for the respected Bloomberg View asks, “…why Sharp should still be in business?”

See more on this surprising declaration and criticism of the practices of Japan, Inc… [Read more…] about Bloomberg Reporter Asks ‘Why is Sharp Still With Us?’

Long-Time, Well-Respected Industry Executive Tom Ishii Passes Away

February 3, 2015 by Ted 29 Comments

Sadly, we learned at the end of last week that long-time, well-respected industry veteran Tom Ishii has passed away. Mr. Ishii was a long time Executive Vice President of Onkyo USA Corp. and we are told he passed away after a short illness.

Learn more about Mr. Ishii’s passing… [Read more…] about Long-Time, Well-Respected Industry Executive Tom Ishii Passes Away

Having Dumped Everything Else, Pioneer Makes Plans to Dominate Car Electronics

November 25, 2014 by Ted 5 Comments

About the AV biz? Hoping Onkyo Keeps the Pioneer Name…

Photo of Pioneer President — Susumu Kotani, President
Pioneer Corporation

In a revealing interview with the Nikkei in Tokyo, Pioneer Corp. President Susumu Kotani said that Pioneer – after spending several months selling off all of its divisions other than automotive – is considering resorting to acquisitions in order to build a dominant position within its chosen market. A radical shift after months of divestiture, he makes clear that the company is preparing to move to offense, in order to build a new – and expanded – future.

See more on the company’s plans – including just what areas Pioneer is considering entering… [Read more…] about Having Dumped Everything Else, Pioneer Makes Plans to Dominate Car Electronics

Pioneer Says Merger Talks with Onkyo Continue; But Equity Partner Appears Sidelined

September 18, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Pioneer Corporation released an interesting document on September 12th – while much of the tech media was in Denver for CEDIA – titled Notice with Respect to Basic Agreement for the Integration of Pioneer’s Home AV Business and Onkyo. This curious document, six pages long, gives an update as to the state of the discussions between the parties in the previously announced “basic agreement” between Pioneer, Onkyo, and Baring Private Equity Asia for a “Capital/Business Alliance” related to Pioneer’s Home AV business.

Now, apparently, the deal’s changed…with Baring PE pushed to the sidelines… [Read more…] about Pioneer Says Merger Talks with Onkyo Continue; But Equity Partner Appears Sidelined

Onkyo Promised and Now Delivers True Atmos Performance on Select Existing AVR Models

September 4, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

This past June at CE Week in New York City, Onkyo was one of two manufacturers (the other being Pioneer…now part of Onkyo) who were the first in the industry to announce new Atmos-enabled AV receivers. Atmos, Dolby Labs’ latest surround sound technology that adds innovations such as “height” speakers and sound “objects,” promises to deliver to consumers an all-new, in-home entertainment experience.

But not only did Onkyo succeed in being one of the first manufacturers to introduce the technology to the market in yet-to-be-delivered new products – it went one step further and announced that it would offer owners of certain existing Onkyo A/V receiver models the ability to upgrade to Atmos (Atmos-upgradable models) through a firmware upgrade by the end of the third quarter.

Today, Onkyo announced that they will deliver on their Atmos upgrade promise… [Read more…] about Onkyo Promised and Now Delivers True Atmos Performance on Select Existing AVR Models

Gibson Brands Opens Showroom in Tokyo

July 10, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Gibson Brands (née Gibson Guitars) announced last week that it has opened a showroom in Tokyo, Japan that it calls a “pioneering music lifestyle concept showroom.” Although Gibson Brands owns many different brands, this particular showroom focuses on just three of them: Gibson Guitars, TEAC and Onkyo.

See more on this unique showroom… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Opens Showroom in Tokyo

A Deeper Dive into the World of Dolby Atmos; Is This Audio’s 3D?

July 2, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

GUEST POST

Is Dolby’s new Atmos format the next frontier in surround sound processing? Or will it merit a repeat of Paul Klipsch’s famous line: “Ho, hum, another breakthrough”?

You’d certainly think the former after prowling the aisles at the just-concluded CE Week in NYC. Both Onkyo and Pioneer showed prototype Atmos-enabled A/V receivers (complete with demonstrations under what must be called “challenging” conditions) while Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, and Integra all indicate they’ll be ready with an array of products in late Q3 or early Q4 this year. But will Paul Klipsch be proven prophetic once again, even if posthumously? That remains to be seen.

The Thinking Behind Atmos…

Atmos Attacks at CE Week 2014

July 2, 2014 by Ted 11 Comments

One of the big themes at CE Week 2014 was the unofficial official rollout of Dolby’s latest surround sound technology – Atmos. Both Onkyo and Pioneer intro’d, displayed, and demo’d Atmos systems. However, since both companies showed prototypes, what we heard was only an approximation of what the final production units should sound like.

We participated in demos of, and closely listened to, BOTH the Onkyo and the Pioneer Atmos systems.

What did we think of our first Atmos demos? See more below… [Read more…] about Atmos Attacks at CE Week 2014

CE Week: An Odd, Undefined Show Actually Surprises This Year

June 27, 2014 by Ted 3 Comments

Heading to the train station at 6:15am Wednesday morning, I exited my air-conditioned home and was immediately slapped across the face with so much humidity my glasses instantly fogged up – momentarily blinding me. And although it was still somewhat cool this early in the morning, the sun rays made it clear we’d be headed into the mid- to upper 80s in just a few short hours. Here we go again, I told myself. Welcome to another hot, humid, sweaty June in New York. Must be time for CE Week.

I didn’t know it at the time, but CE Week was actually going to surprise me this year…

Pioneer Sells AV Business to Private Equity Company & Onkyo

June 24, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

BREAKING NEWS

We first told you about Pioneer’s plans to sell off their struggling AV division just last month in a SYNCH Breaking News exclusive. Now word comes out of Japan as to the identity of the buyer for this business – a group that includes a private equity company and Onkyo.