COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 33431

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1925–1988founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedBang & Olufsen Holding A/SFoundedBang & Olufsen Holding A/S
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedSennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedKenwood CorporationFoundedKenwood Corporation
1946
FoundedPioneer Electronic Corporation
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedBlonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.FoundedBlonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
1950
FoundedAiwa Co., Ltd.
1951
FoundedKoss CorporationFoundedKoss Corporation
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedImax Corporation
1967
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedPolk Audio, Inc.FoundedPolk Audio, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSensory Science Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedUniversal Electronics Inc.FoundedUniversal Electronics Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedMackie Designs Inc.
1988
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Bang & Olufsen Holding A/S →
Active · founded 1925 · Denmark
Bang & Olufsen Holding A/S (B & O) is a leading consumer electronics firm, manufacturing a complete line of…
Bang & Olufsen Holding A/S →
Active · founded 1925 · Denmark
Bang & Olufsen Holding A/S (B & O) is a leading consumer electronics firm, manufacturing a complete line of…
Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1945 · Germany
Based near Hannover, Germany, Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co.
Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1945 · Germany
Based near Hannover, Germany, Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co.
Kenwood Corporation →
Active · founded 1946 · Japan
Kenwood Corporation is one of Japan's largest and most successful consumer-oriented electronics companies.
Kenwood Corporation →
Active · founded 1946 · Japan
Kenwood Corporation is one of Japan's largest and most successful consumer-oriented electronics companies.
Pioneer Electronic Corporation →
Active · founded 1947 · Japan
Pioneer Electronic Corporation is one of the leading electronics firms in the world.
Pioneer Electronic Corporation →
Active · founded 1947 · Japan
Pioneer Electronic Corporation is one of the leading electronics firms in the world.
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., located in Old Bridge, New Jersey, manufacturers a comprehensive line of electronic…
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., located in Old Bridge, New Jersey, manufacturers a comprehensive line of electronic…
Aiwa Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Aiwa Co., Ltd.
Aiwa Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Aiwa Co., Ltd.
Koss Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
Koss Corporation is the leading U.S.
Koss Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
Koss Corporation is the leading U.S.
Imax Corporation →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Imax Corporation, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, is the pioneer and leader of giant-screen,…
Imax Corporation →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Imax Corporation, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, is the pioneer and leader of giant-screen,…
Polk Audio, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Polk Audio, Inc.
Polk Audio, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Polk Audio, Inc.
Sensory Science Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Sensory Science Corporation designs, develops, and markets electronic video and audio products, concentrating on…
Sensory Science Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Sensory Science Corporation designs, develops, and markets electronic video and audio products, concentrating on…
Universal Electronics Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Universal Electronics Inc.
Universal Electronics Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Universal Electronics Inc.
Mackie Designs Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Mackie Designs Inc.
Mackie Designs Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Mackie Designs Inc.
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