Daniel J SaitA ‘rebirth of an iconic and legendary brand’ has been announced for Onkyo.
Onkyo, a player in premium consumer electronics since 1946, is unveiling a bold new vision for the future, says the company. Committed to raising the bar for technology and home entertainment, Onkyo aims to deliver innovative solutions that will captivate music, movie, and gaming enthusiasts across generations worldwide. With this renewed focus, Onkyo is poised to achieve new milestones in 2025 and beyond, says the maker.
At The Heart of Entertainment, Onkyo products are the central hub for all multimedia applications and offer superior sound performance regardless of source or format. They offer control, power, processing, enhancements and precise delivery for high-quality digital playback. For music lovers, vinyl record collectors, work-from-home creators and movie fans alike, Onkyo’s next generation of products will certainly exceed expectations, claims the company.
Onkyo’s Beginnings and Heritage
Onkyo founder Takeshi Godai embarked on his journey from his family’s humble bicycle shop. Amid the oil-stained floors and tinkling of tools, Takeshi watched his father closely and not only mastered the art of engineering, but also developed the skills to run a successful company. It was in those formative years that his eagerness to produce impeccable Japanese-made products first took root. At the time, the Godai family bicycle company employed a young entrepreneurial spirit, Konosuke Matsushita as an apprentice. In later years, Takeshi and Konosuke would cross paths again when Konosuke went on to build his own company, the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company. He hired his mentor’s son, Takeshi, who honed his skills and was eventually given charge of the speaker manufacturing factory. Later, the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company would become the consumer electronics powerhouse and worldwide household name: Panasonic.
Takeshi’s tenure at Matsushita Electric was marked by innovation and unwavering commitment to excellence. But a vision to forge his own legacy in a nation grappling with the aftermath of war drove him to start the Osaka Denki Onkyo Company in 1946. By the early 1970s, he had successfully improved Japanese craftsmanship, stimulated economic growth, and promoted post-war employment opportunities in a recovering nation. On the eve of its 25th anniversary, Takeshi gave his company a shorter name that would resonate worldwide for decades to come: Onkyo.
In 2021, Premium Audio Company and Voxx International Corporation acquired Onkyo Home Entertainment Company as its largest shareholder, investing in its research and development in Osaka with all engineers and manufacturing in place. Premium Audio Company kept Onkyo a leader in consumer electronics innovation with its renowned award-winning audio / video receivers, technologies and more.
Onkyo’s Present and Future
Within the walls of Onkyo Headquarters, the all-new global Premium Audio Company Technology Center (PACTC) has been established in Osaka, Japan. The establishment of PACTC is more than just a facility; it’s a hub for innovation where engineers, technicians and marketing teams collaborate to develop the next generation of ground-breaking audio products.
Technology Partnerships
Powered by Onkyo is a theme that the market will continue to see as in PAC-owned Klipsch products, are equipped with Onkyo-engineered electronics. Elevating the Onkyo brand as the reference audio name will continue through the future with even more co-branded endeavours. One example is a collaboration with Klipsch on the Flexus Sound Systems—powered by Onkyo.
Onkyo works with partners to deliver technologies as Dolby, dts, THX, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, Google Cast, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Spotify, Pandora, Roon, Dirac, IMAX Enhanced, TuneIn, Works with SONOS, Qualcomm aptX HD, Savant, domotz, Elan, Crestron, AURO 3D, Over C Pro, Luxul ProWatch, URC, Control 4, Josh ai to equip Onkyo products with the latest features and enhancements.
The Future
While Onkyo is synonymous with home theatre AV receivers, ambitions reach beyond that. Onkyo has announced that the development of an entirely new range of products designed to cater to both everyday audio consumers and high-end, premium Hi-Fi listeners. Onkyo will return to home speakers and advanced specialty electronics. Onkyo’s new home speaker series, and a new electronic separate series will be announced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.
Reaching A New Consumer
Alongside the rebranding, Onkyo is curating content that highlights the brand’s transformative power, showcasing real-life applications that enhance daily living. Collaborations extend beyond product partnerships; teaming up with creative influencers, renowned artists and industry leaders to create immersive campaigns that designed to reach across social media and digital platforms.
Marketing Collaborations
The brand has also announced collaborations with some of the most iconic names in entertainment, including several Marvel Television titles on Disney+. These opportunities to work together not only enhances product offerings but keep the Onkyo brand at the forefront of the entertainment experience at home. Onkyo was the official home audio system of Marvel Television’s Agatha All Along, now streaming exclusively on Disney+.