Sound United to Purchase Onkyo

[Dylan Seeger]

Just read this in the newsletter AVScience sent out:

Sound United to Purchase Onkyo

Audio giant Sound United LLC, owner of brands including Denon, Polk Audio, Marantz, Definitive Technology, HEOS, Classé, and Boston Acoustics, has entered into an agreement to acquire Onkyo Corporation’s consumer audio division, including the Onkyo, Pioneer, Pioneer Elite, and Integra brands.

Under the deal, Sound United would acquire all worldwide third-party distribution agreements under which Onkyo products are currently sold and Onkyo Corporation would retain the rights to the Pioneer and Onkyo brands for its Digital Life and Embedded Audio businesses.

The deal is subject to approval from regulators and Onkyo’s shareholders, who will meet at the company’s annual meeting in late June.

This is very interesting. I don't know how to feel about this. It would seem that Sound United almost has a monopoly on the AV Receiver market now. Now Denon, Marantz and Onkyo are all under the same parent company? This can't be good for the consumer. It makes it far easier to artificially raise the price on amps, pre-pros and A/V Receivers. There really should be better anti-trust laws to prevent this. Who's left as an alternative? Yamaha? Who else?

[AVSCraig]

Or, maybe they will be less expensive due to economies of scale ? Hard to say. One can always hope. 

[Dylan Seeger]

I suppose the optimist in me wants that to be true, but this company purchased Onkyo in an attempt to make more money. We'll see how things pan out.

[David Vaughn]

The big keep getting bigger. There's always Anthem

[TRainH2O]

The big keep getting bigger. There's always Anthem

Anthem isn't a stand-alone company, are they? Aren't they part of the same group as Paradigm. 

[David Vaughn]

Anthem isn't a stand-alone company, are they? Aren't they part of the same group as Paradigm.

Yes...but not Sound United

[Dylan Seeger]

I forgot about Anthem. They're a great alternative too. Maybe things aren't quite as bleak as I thought. 

[TRainH2O]

I forgot about Anthem. They're a great alternative too. Maybe things aren't quite as bleak as I thought.

I've owned a few Onyko and Integra products over the years. I must say that after buying my current Anthem preamp, I can't see me going back.

Anthem takes it to a whole other level of refinement and a much better implementation of room correction, with ARC.

[AVSMike]

I am going to Sound United's North American Dealer conference Monday. I wonder if this will be discussed, as in new lines/products?