Kenwood Audio to Possibly Close

[KB3JUV]

Rumors surfaced today that Kenwood USA is closing their home electronics business. Contacts at Kenwood and their PR firm were not available for comment at the time of publishing.

Email correspondence confirmed by sources inside the AV industry imply that the brand manager for Kenwood’s home audio division, Dean Hutto, was let go by the company today. Kenwood is likely to stay the course in its car audio business where the company owns a much larger portion of the electronics market.

Kenwood is a legendary Japanese audio brand with tremendous brand equity. They were first to the market with many technologies. Most recently, they were one of the first home theater brands to incorporate Faroudja’s internal video processing chips inside a DVD player at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, their Sovereign line was never the success the company had hoped for. With $49 DVD players lining the shelves of Costco, it is easy to see how an added-value brand like Kenwood could get lost in the din of consumer electronics in 2005.

Other sources have suggested Kenwood Home Electronics could be sold to other international companies. With a brand that most consumers know and respect, don’t be surprised to see Kenwood make a comeback someday soon.

From Audio/Video Revolution

[ai4ep]

Well, it would appear that you can only sell junk for so long before the general public finds out and stops buying your merchandise.

[w5klb]

Used to be, back many moons ago, the two top names in home electronics were Kenwood and Pioneer. Their car audio systems were absolutly great.

I hope they don't do away with the amateur section. I like Kenwoods.

EP,

I can see that you have never been around a TS2K. I know from experiance that these are great trancievers.

[WA2ZDY]

I've had a few Kenwood rigs in the past 25 or so years. #TS511S, TS820S, TS130S, TS440S, TS140S (currently for sale,) and lastly a TS480SAT. # Additionally I was in charge of maintenance and rig selection for a radio club where we had the 599S twins and two TS700's - one A model and one S model.

I've also had a few Kenwood car stereos.

I can't say any of the equipment was junk. #In fact, Kenwood is my preferred brand of HF equipment. #One thing about Kenwood is their VERY superior noise blankers. #At my college radio club in the late 70's, we used to experiment and the noise blanker on the TS520S would totally eliminate interference from the Loran A then in use on 160m. #If two Kenwood owners had been so inclined (no ,we didn't try it) they could have had a QSO under the Loran and nobody else could have heard them.

The only Kenwood rig I ever owned that I would disparage was the 511. #That rig was seriously lacking. #But it was vintage 1971 or 72 or so and had had a few owners before me. #I also used a TS570 at Field Day a couple years back and i know I was not the only one to badmouth that radio.

Junk? #I don't think so.


Added note: The TS511S is listed as a TS515 on Rigpix.com

[KG4RUL]

Consumers today are beginning to shop almost exclusively to price point. #

Now, if we could just get Wally Mart to carry Amateur gear? #

Todays 'blue light special': Suyaki R2356 HF, 1000watt Transceivers with 40M Beam, rotator, and 70' tower - $298.95!

Dennis http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n0ov]

Quote[/b] (KG4RUL @ Mar. 30 2005,07:40)]Consumers today are beginning to shop almost exclusively to price point. #

Now, if we could just get Wally Mart to carry Amateur gear? #

Todays 'blue light special': Suyaki R2356 HF, 1000watt Transceivers with 40M Beam, rotator, and 70' tower - $298.95!

Dennis http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Sir, would you like to purchase a 90 day warranty with that?

The new price is $1,298.95

Have a nice day http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[WA2CWA]

ZDY wrote: Quote[/b] ]Added note: #The TS511S is listed as a TS515 on Rigpix.com

I thought the 511 and 515 were very similar in front panel style and over all performance. One was marketed in the U. S. domestic market and the other for the Europe/Asia market.

Pete, wa2cwa

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

"Well, it would appear that you can only sell junk for so long before the general public finds out and stops buying your merchandise."

If that's the case you're just about 20 years catching on. When was the last time you saw an American brand name on the shelf with American works inside? I guess about 20 years or so, that's all.

The Japanese can't compete with the Chinese and the Koreans are having a difficult time which is why you see fewer American names on Japanese home entertainment and more on Chinese. No, don't blame Wally Mart, EVERYBODY'S been doing it and I should know, as a tech I saw the rise and fall of American TV sets that now have all Pacific Rim guts under the name. My RCA TV is really a Toshiba identical in every way to the one "made in Japan" and my new RCA stereo receiver was made in China. My my Mr. Thompson, how you've changed!

Unless the Chinese start making Ham gear and undercut Japan 99% of our rigs will still come from the paddies of Japan. Then again don't be surprised when the manual comes printed in Chinese.

[WB2WIK]

Quote[/b] (kb2vxa @ April 01 2005,14:51)]My RCA TV is really a Toshiba identical in every way to the one "made in Japan" and my new RCA stereo receiver was made in China. My my Mr. Thompson, how you've changed!
My Mitsubishi large-screen (rear projection) TV has a huge product ID label on its backside proclaiming "Made in U.S.A."

Isn't that special?

In reality, I know where it's made, because I've been to their plant. It's in Mexico, and that's where the whole TV is made -- Guadalaraja. The "U.S.A." content is their Logistics facility in National City (near San Diego), where they screw the set into the appropriate container and load it on a truck.

But, it ain't from China.

Of course, half the components probably are.

The flat-panel LCDs are mostly from Korea (LG Electronics has the business nearly locked up) but private labeled for everybody.

Can't tell the players without a scorecard.

WB2WIK/6

[WB2WIK]

Guadalaraja.

Ha, ha! I even cracked myself up with that typo.

I meant, "Guadalajara."

[K7JBQ]

Quote[/b] (WB2WIK @ April 01 2005,15:19)]Guadalaraja.

Ha, ha! #I even cracked myself up with that typo.

I meant, "Guadalajara."
Isn't that the new mobile rig with the built-in leaf blower?

73,
Bill

[kb2vxa]

Hi again,

"It's in Mexico, and that's where the whole TV is made -- Guadalaraja.

The truthful label would read "Made in E.U. de M" Los Estados Unidos de Mexico.

"Guadalaraja."

Made in INDIA?

"Isn't that the new mobile rig with the built-in leaf blower?"

Pull start or push start? Dot is de question.