Who Owns Who?

[matthewpianist]

I mentioned in another thread that Musical Fidelity are owned by Project Audio Systems, and it reminded me of how interest (to a nerd, anyway) it is to know who owns who.

Here's what I know, it would be good if anyone can add to this and/or share their thoughts on what it means for the audio market.

Harman Luxury Audio Group (owned by Samsung)

Arcam, Mark Levinson, JBL Synthesis, Revel, Lexicon

Sound United

Denon, Marantz, Classé, Polk Audio, B&W, Boston Acoustics, Definitive Technology

International Audio Group

Mission, Wharfedale, Leak, Audiolab, Quad, Castle

Gold Peak

KEF, Celestion Pro

Vervent Audio Group

Focal, Naim

Monitor Audio Group

Monitor Audio, Roksan, Blok

Voxx International

Pioneer, Onkyo

There are still independent manufacturers out there including, I believe:

Rotel (family owned still)
Rega
Leema
Linn

...and probably quite a few more

 

[Florestander]

In today's commercial markets, i guess hat this is an inevitable result of specialist market development and the push for profitability.
A positive benefit could be that as the groups expand, their products will take on more of a 'family' nature making an upgrade path easier to follow as 'in house' testing allows for new models to compliment each other in house brand, either from a aesthetic design or more likely capability and sound quality compatibility perspective.
Detractors may argue the opposite of course on the basis that the drive for probability will make the greater use of common internal components more ubiquitous, thus narrowing the availability of models that can be 'paired' in a system to finely engineer a preferred sound by the end user. i.e. common products become the enemy of consumer choice.
There are many more arguments for and against, too, I suppose, but in the end, personal choice is often governed by budget and that is perhaps where the larger conglomerates can add value, as long as the quality of the product itself does not suffer.

 

[plastic penguin]

Think Exposure, Sugden, Lavardin and Harbeth are still independent.

 

[daytona600]

Few large indepenents left $40/50million per annum
Project , Rotel , Ortofon , Audio Technica etc
Rega / Linn turnover for a year same as Kef/Klipsch/Technics/ Bowers & Wilkins weekly turnover

 

[plastic penguin]

I mentioned in another thread that Musical Fidelity are owned by Project Audio Systems, and it reminded me of how interest (to a nerd, anyway) it is to know who owns who.

Here's what I know, it would be good if anyone can add to this and/or share their thoughts on what it means for the audio market.

Harman Luxury Audio Group (owned by Samsung)

Arcam, Mark Levinson, JBL Synthesis, Revel, Lexicon

Sound United

Denon, Marantz, Classé, Polk Audio, B&W, Boston Acoustics, Definitive Technology

International Audio Group

Mission, Wharfedale, Leak, Audiolab, Quad, Castle

Gold Peak

KEF, Celestion Pro

Vervent Audio Group

Focal, Naim

Monitor Audio Group

Monitor Audio, Roksan, Blok

Voxx International

Pioneer, Onkyo

There are still independent manufacturers out there including, I believe:

Rotel (family owned still)
Rega
Leema
Linn

...and probably quite a few more

Mordaunt Short are owned Audio Partnership PLC, who also own Cambridge Audio, Gale loudspeakers, Opus Technology

 

[Roger_A]

Meridian Audio are still, I believe, a UK company with products made in this country although they have worked in collaboration with other companies, including LG for AV products and various motor companies for in-car systems. They don't seem to be mentioned here very often although they have produced some ground breaking products especially active speakers and have a high reputation for CD players amongst other products.

 

[Al ears]

Tom Evans Audio is still owned by Tom.....

 

[DCarmi]

Onkyo are now jointly owned by Voxx (75%) and Sharp

 

[Florestander]

I think Exposure are independently owned, by the fellow who previously ran Talk electronics, I believe....

 

[Gray]

PMC and Cyrus, independent AND their stuff is put together in England (as you can tell by their prices 🤨).

 

[Oxfordian]

Are ATC independent, my thoughts are that they are, ditto Hegel.

 

[jjbomber]

Edwards Audio are owned by Kevin Edwards, based near Wentworth golf Club. I think he started with cable TALK, but I may also be shot down on that one.

 

[Edbostan]

I mentioned in another thread that Musical Fidelity are owned by Project Audio Systems, and it reminded me of how interest (to a nerd, anyway) it is to know who owns who.

Here's what I know, it would be good if anyone can add to this and/or share their thoughts on what it means for the audio market.

Harman Luxury Audio Group (owned by Samsung)

Arcam, Mark Levinson, JBL Synthesis, Revel, Lexicon

Sound United

Denon, Marantz, Classé, Polk Audio, B&W, Boston Acoustics, Definitive Technology

International Audio Group

Mission, Wharfedale, Leak, Audiolab, Quad, Castle

Gold Peak

KEF, Celestion Pro

Vervent Audio Group

Focal, Naim

Monitor Audio Group

Monitor Audio, Roksan, Blok

Voxx International

Pioneer, Onkyo

There are still independent manufacturers out there including, I believe:

Rotel (family owned still)
Rega
Leema
Linn

...and probably quite a few more

The hoovering up of companies under one umbrella is common. When I worked for Ferguson in the 80s while under Thorn-EMI we had Ferguson, Ultra, HMV, Marconiphone and Goodmans. It was largely badge engineering but the sharing of resources lessened operating costs.

 

[Friesiansam]

Edwards Audio are owned by Kevin Edwards, based near Wentworth golf Club. I think he started with cable TALK, but I may also be shot down on that one.

At the bottom of the homepage on the website: "TALK Electronics Limited t/a Edwards Audio." You are probably right.

 

[nopiano]

I think Exposure are independently owned, by the fellow who previously ran Talk electronics, I believe....

I thought they had Far East ownership now. Talk Electronics was Kevin Edwards (might be wrong surname) who was ex-Exposure in the Farlowe days.

 

[nopiano]

Edwards Audio are owned by Kevin Edwards, based near Wentworth golf Club. I think he started with cable TALK, but I may also be shot down on that one.

Yes, he was Cable Talk withTony Hopper after he left Exposure. Then he founded TalkElectronics, which evolved to Edwards Audio.

 

[nopiano]

Are ATC independent, my thoughts are that they are, ditto Hegel.

ATC are, yes.

 

[nopiano]

@matthewpianist we can add Luxman to the IAG heading.

 

[manicm]

I mentioned in another thread that Musical Fidelity are owned by Project Audio Systems, and it reminded me of how interest (to a nerd, anyway) it is to know who owns who.

Here's what I know, it would be good if anyone can add to this and/or share their thoughts on what it means for the audio market.

Harman Luxury Audio Group (owned by Samsung)

Arcam, Mark Levinson, JBL Synthesis, Revel, Lexicon

Sound United

Denon, Marantz, Classé, Polk Audio, B&W, Boston Acoustics, Definitive Technology

International Audio Group

Mission, Wharfedale, Leak, Audiolab, Quad, Castle

Gold Peak

KEF, Celestion Pro

Vervent Audio Group

Focal, Naim

Monitor Audio Group

Monitor Audio, Roksan, Blok

Voxx International

Pioneer, Onkyo

There are still independent manufacturers out there including, I believe:

Rotel (family owned still)
Rega
Leema
Linn

...and probably quite a few more

Cyrus is still independent I think.

 

[manicm]

I mentioned in another thread that Musical Fidelity are owned by Project Audio Systems, and it reminded me of how interest (to a nerd, anyway) it is to know who owns who.

Here's what I know, it would be good if anyone can add to this and/or share their thoughts on what it means for the audio market.

Harman Luxury Audio Group (owned by Samsung)

Arcam, Mark Levinson, JBL Synthesis, Revel, Lexicon

Sound United

Denon, Marantz, Classé, Polk Audio, B&W, Boston Acoustics, Definitive Technology

International Audio Group

Mission, Wharfedale, Leak, Audiolab, Quad, Castle

Gold Peak

KEF, Celestion Pro

Vervent Audio Group

Focal, Naim

Monitor Audio Group

Monitor Audio, Roksan, Blok

Voxx International

Pioneer, Onkyo

There are still independent manufacturers out there including, I believe:

Rotel (family owned still)
Rega
Leema
Linn

...and probably quite a few more

Voxx owns Klipsch too.

 

[matthewpianist]

@matthewpianist we can add Luxman to the IAG heading.

Wow, I didn't know that!