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

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Photo of Sharp solar panelWe’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?’

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

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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

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Pioneer LogoPioneer 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

Pioneer Fire Sale Continues – Dumps DJ Biz to KKR

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KKR logoPioneer surprised everyone back in June of this year when word came that it had decided to sell its AV business to Onkyo Corp. and a private equity company. But actually, the gears for this and other deals were set in motion last year when the company launched a new strategic plan to focus on their core business – car electronics, their largest and most profitable division.

Now we learn the company has sold off its once burgeoning DJ business to KKR. See more… [Read more…] about Pioneer Fire Sale Continues – Dumps DJ Biz to KKR

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

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GUEST POST

Pioneer slide showing Atmos logoIs 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…

[Read more…] about A Deeper Dive into the World of Dolby Atmos; Is This Audio’s 3D?

Atmos Attacks at CE Week 2014

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Dolby Atmos logoOne 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

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CE Week logoHeading 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…

[Read more…] about CE Week: An Odd, Undefined Show Actually Surprises This Year

Pioneer Sells AV Business to Private Equity Company & Onkyo

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BREAKING NEWS

Pioneer LogoWe 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.

See some very interesting details on this announcement… [Read more…] about Pioneer Sells AV Business to Private Equity Company & Onkyo

Pioneer Pulls Out of AV

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BREAKING NEWS

Pioneer LogoIn yet another sign of dramatic changes afoot that will literally change the face of the TECH industry for years to come – news comes out of Japan that Pioneer Corp. is planning to exit the AV business by selling off its entire AV division. This news follows a similar decision made by JVC Kenwood earlier this year to pull out of consumer electronics to focus on more commercial business.

Pioneer is said to be in active negotiations with Funai Electric, a large OEM manufacturer who recently took over Philips video business, as well as other potential suitors.

Does this deal make sense? Or has the AV world gone crazy?… [Read more…] about Pioneer Pulls Out of AV

HDBaseT Alliance Says It Has Doubled in Size in Less Than One Year

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Logo for HDBaseTOriginally founded in 2010, the HDBaseT Alliance – a group of companies supporting a whole-house connectivity solution widely viewed as an alternative to HDMI – announced today that it has doubled in size in less than a year and now boasts over 60 member companies. We reported on the addition of Pioneer and Onkyo at this past Consumer Electronics Show, and the organization continues to add new members.

See more about this announcement and HDBaseT’s plans for InfoComm… [Read more…] about HDBaseT Alliance Says It Has Doubled in Size in Less Than One Year