Onkyo
Japanese audio pioneer known for THX-certified receivers.
Onkyo is a Japanese company that makes high-end home cinema and audio gear, such as AV receivers, surround sound speakers, and portable devices. It was founded in 1946 as Osaka Denki Onkyo K.K. by Takeshi Goda, who worked in sound at Matsushita Electric. The name changed to Osaka Onkyo in 1947, and then to Onkyo Corporation in 1971. The word "Onkyo" means "sound resonance," but in Japanese it also broadly refers to acoustics or audio equipment. The company operated under the Onkyo brand as well as the Integra and Integra Research divisions. In 1969, it introduced the Integra amplifier series, and in 1993 it became the first to launch a THX-certified AV consumer receiver after acquiring Lucasfilm's certification. In March 2015, Onkyo bought Pioneer Corporation's Home Electronics Corporation, which made home cinema amplifiers and Blu-ray players, and Pioneer took a 14.95% stake in Onkyo. The Ohtsuki family held about 26% of shares, and Gibson Brands held 16.5%. After Gibson's bankruptcy in 2018, its Onkyo shares were sold. In May 2021, Voxx International and Sharp Corporation began talks to buy Onkyo's home audiovisual division. Their joint venture, Premium Audio Company (PAC), acquired the Onkyo and Integra brands for $30.8 million plus debt assumption and future commissions. PAC owned 75% and Sharp 25%, with PAC handling development and distribution, and Sharp managing manufacturing and supply chain. The deal closed in September 2021. Onkyo was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in August 2021 due to negative net worth. It filed for bankruptcy on May 13, 2022. A professor noted in The Asahi Shimbun that Onkyo's focus on manufacturing quality hurt its ability to adapt to market changes, especially as smartphones killed the mid-range hi-fi market. PAC and Sharp bought Onkyo's remaining assets two months later. Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Pioneer Elite products continue to be sold by PAC through its 11 Trading Company subsidiary.
Quick Facts
- Romanized Name
- Onkyō Kabushiki-gaisha
- Founded
- Osaka, Japan 1946-09-17 as Osaka Denki Onkyo K.K
- Hq Location City
- Osaka
- Hq Location Country
- Japan
- Area Served
- Worldwide
- Key People
- Munenori Ohtsuki / (Chairman, Representative Director, President) · Hiroshi Nakano / (Vice President, Representative Director)
- Industry
- Electronics
- Products
- Hi-fi and home theater Audio-Visual equipment, ICs, speaker units and related items
- Owner
- Premium Audio Company Voxx International (75%) / Sharp Corporation (25%)
- Num Employees
- 1,814 (2016)
- Divisions
- Integra Home Theater
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Onkyo was founded by Takeshi Goda in 1946 while he worked in sound at Matsushita Electric, originally under the name Osaka Denki Onkyo K.K. It was renamed Osaka Onkyo in 1947 and became Onkyo Corporation in 1971. The company's umbrella included the Integra and Integra Research divisions alongside the main Onkyo brand. In 1969, the Integra amplifier series was introduced. Onkyo acquired Lucasfilm's THX certification in 1993 and launched the first ever THX-certified AV consumer receiver. In March 2015, Onkyo purchased Pioneer Corporation's Home Electronics Corporation, and Pioneer took a 14.95% stake in Onkyo. The Ohtsuki family remained the largest shareholders with approximately 26%, just above Gibson Brands with 16.5%. After Gibson's bankruptcy in 2018, Onkyo's shares held by Gibson were sold. In May 2021, Voxx International and Sharp Corporation began negotiations to purchase Onkyo's home audiovisual division. A joint venture between Voxx's subsidiary Premium Audio Company (PAC) and Sharp acquired the Onkyo and Integra brands for $30.8 million plus assumption of certain debt and future commissions. PAC owned 75% and Sharp 25%, with PAC managing product development and Sharp handling manufacturing. The acquisition completed in September 2021. Onkyo was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in August 2021 due to negative net worth, and filed for bankruptcy on May 13, 2022. A professor noted in The Asahi Shimbun that Onkyo prioritized manufacturing quality to the detriment of adaptability, with the smartphone killing the middle segment of the hi-fi market. PAC and Sharp subsequently bought the remaining assets two months later.
Reader's Guide
Onkyo's significance lies in its pioneering role in home cinema audio, particularly as the first company to produce a THX-certified AV consumer receiver, which set a benchmark for home theater sound quality. The company's history reflects a trajectory from a post-war Japanese audio startup to a global brand that absorbed Pioneer's home electronics division. However, its bankruptcy in 2022 illustrates the challenges faced by traditional hi-fi manufacturers in adapting to market shifts, notably the decline of the middle segment of the hi-fi market due to smartphones. Onkyo's legacy continues through the distribution of Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Pioneer Elite branded products by Premium Audio Company via its 11 Trading Company subsidiary. The joint ownership by Sharp and Voxx International preserves the brand's manufacturing and supply chain capabilities while shifting product development and marketing to a specialized audio company. The company's name, meaning 'sound resonance' in Japanese, also broadly refers to acoustics and audio equipment, reflecting its core identity.
Did You Know?
- The word Onkyo translates as 'sound resonance' and is also used in Japanese to describe acoustics or audio equipment.
- The company filed for bankruptcy in 2022 and its brand is now jointly owned by Sharp Corporation and Voxx International.
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