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The first step toward pure audio.

Osaka Denki ONKYO K.K. is established and begins manufacturing phonograph pickups. The CP-1000—the first product to bear the ONKYO brand—goes on sale. It retails for ¥300—this in a period when the average monthly income is ¥500.

Selected as a “best buy” in Japan by “Kurashi no Techno”.

The ST-55 tabletop separate-component stereo system starts selling. Its performance, sound quality, and no-frills functional beauty make it a runaway best seller. A boom in tabletop separate-component stereo systems is triggered.

The slogan “four amplifiers” scores a big hit.

The MC2200 multi-channel stereo is announced. A multi-channel stereo boom grips Japan.

ONKYO wins first prize in the preamplifier category at the first Stereo Component Grand Prix.

The Integra A725 preamplifier system starts selling. New technical methods are employed for 90% of the design process, making the A725 the first of a new generation of products. MITI awards ONKYO the G-Mark for design excellence.

ONKYO achieves significant improvement in tuning accuracy through the use of quartz oscillators.

The TS-503 quartz-locked tuner is introduced. Automatic four-channel receivers start selling.

Automatic continuous playback, high-speed dubbing, and simultaneous mixing become available in consumer products for the first time.

The TA-W800—the world’s first high-speed dubbing, double-cassette tape deck—starts selling. Consumers are now able to enjoy a wide variety of tape-editing functions.

The world’s first CD player—the C-700—with optical data transfer is marketed.

This revolutionary CD player uses a method to link the digital and analog blocks by using optical switching signals to prevent digital signal interference. The result is an improvement in the sound quality of digital audio components.

ONKYO gains a strong reputation in the United States as an A/V receiver manufacturer.

The TX-SV7M A/V receiver equipped with Dolby Surround decoding starts selling. The lineup of quality products is topped by the super-deluxe and best-selling TX-SV909PRO.

Quest Integra and Quest Scepter marketed.

These products feature a new design concept and employ carefully selected materials and parts.

The world’s first THX™ certified A/V receiver released.

Onkyo joins forces with Lucasfilm to launch the world’s first THX™ certified A/V receiver, the two-channel TX-SV919THX. The Lucasfilm division later becomes known as THX Ltd, provider of the leading quality-assurance certification program in the home theater industry.

The world’s first THX™ certified 5.1-channel A/V receiver released.

Onkyo builds on the THX relationship with the TX-DS939, the world’s first THX certified 5.1-channel receiver. This model makes a huge impact in the world of immersive home theater.

Onkyo Micro Fiber (OMF) appears in speakers.

OMF is first used to construct Onkyo speaker cones. The fiber is shown to be effective in absorbing surface vibrations while enabling a fast, accurate response.

The world’s first 7.1-channel A/V receiver with THX Surround EX.

As Dolby Digital decoding enters the mainstream, the TX-DS989 pushes even further with THX Surround EX, which creates a truly immersive experience with effects steered behind the listener.

The world’s first fully modular A/V home network receiver introduced.

With back-side slots for replaceable modules, the TX-NR1000 gives a glimpse of the potential for A/V receivers to be upgradeable, customized components. The TX-NR1000 is also one of the first receivers to include network connectivity, as Onkyo’s proprietary Net-Tune interfaces with HDMI and IEEE1394 modules.

The world’s first receivers featuring Dolby® TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio™, and HQV Reon-VX introduced.

Representing the first generation of A/V receivers to handle both video and audio in high definition, the TX-NR905 and TX-SR875 decode studio master-quality sound using the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio codecs. These two receivers are also the first to incorporate the video processing power of HQV Reon-VX.

Nine-channel power amplifier is released.

Incorporating key technologies such as WRAT and Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, the PA-MC5500 nine-channel amplifier marked a milestone in Onkyo’s journey toward perfect audio. As well as improving the performance and efficiency of its circuit architecture, Onkyo made efforts to eliminate vibration in its nine-channel model. This culminated in a rigid chassis design that significantly improved sound quality. The PA-MC5500 was soon regarded as the ultimate in home theater surround sound.

Flagship “Reference” Hi-Fi Series makes its debut.

With the introduction of DIDRC (Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry), Onkyo set about producing a series of exclusive hi-fi separates for the committed audio enthusiast. The resulting Reference Series components showcase the DIDRC’s ability to reduce dynamic noise, and are noted for highly transparent, expressive stereo performance.

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