September 4, 2006
Home Electronics |
| Announcement |
To commemorate its 60th anniversary, KENWOOD has completed development of the prestige pure audio system
"TRIO MODEL,"
and will exhibit and demonstrate this system's concept model at IFA 2006 |
The company will accelerate the reinforcement of high-quality sound models and
realization of "seamless entertainment" in anticipation of the coming
diffusion of digital media and increased demand for high-class pure audio systems |
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| At IFA 2006 (Berlin International Consumer Electronics Unlimited) to be held in Berlin, Germany between September 1 and 6, KENWOOD Corporation (President and CEO: Haruo Kawahara; Head Office: Hachioji, Tokyo) exhibits various home electronics products that will serve as the backbone of its high value-added strategy, including a concept model for the "TRIO MODEL" series which is scheduled to be launched within 2006 as a prestige pure audio system, bearing the highest levels of performance and class by employing a variety of technologies and expertise that it has accumulated over many years, in commemoration of the company's 60th anniversary. |
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| Background to our product exhibition at IFA: changes in audio market |
The audio market is continuing to scale down due to depressed prices brought about by intensifying competition. Recently, however, two major changes in the market have become increasingly noteworthy: one is the diffusion of new digital media including HDD and flash memory, and the other is the resurgence of high-end hi-fi audio systems.
As portable digital audio players using digital recording media have appeared on the scene, so users have become able to carry around a large amount of music and listen to the music they want, anytime and anywhere, which has caused the cultural base for enjoying music and hence the market for these audio players to expand rapidly.
At the same time, the market for high-end audio systems is also showing signs of invigoration given the facts that: the base of music listeners has expanded as a result of the diffusion of digital media; listeners' previously latent needs for "enjoying music with better sound quality" have risen to the surface; and more people in Japan, notably those baby boomers who used to have a refined taste in hi-fi audio systems, are once again becoming interested in audio systems. |
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| KENWOOD's initiatives and concept for exhibition/demonstration at IFA 2006: reinforcement of the lineup of high-quality sound models in anticipation of the market changes and realization of "seamless entertainment" |
Ever since its inception in 1946, KENWOOD has been pursuing high quality sound while upholding the concept of "reproduction of original sound." Today, in anticipation of the coming diffusion of new media, KENWOOD is devoting its efforts to upgrading and expanding the lineup of high-quality sound models that will befit the coming digital media age, and striving to develop products and technologies aimed at realization of a "seamless entertainment" through integration of home electronics and car electronics, something the company proposed at IFA 2003 ahead of other manufacturers.
At IFA 2006, KENWOOD will exhibit and demonstrate various concept models that should vividly bespeak its initiatives and efforts for "reinforcement of the lineup of high-quality sound models" and realization of a "seamless entertainment." |
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| Main products to be exhibited and demonstrated at IFA 2006 |
| (1) Concept model for the "TRIO MODEL" series, a prestige pure audio system commemorating KENWOOD's 60th anniversary |
KENWOOD will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in December of this year. KENWOOD has designated the period until its anniversary date, December 21, as a campaign period in its commemoration, and has implemented various campaigns. In appreciation of long-standing patronage for our products, KENWOOD is pleased to announce the upcoming sale for its 60th Anniversary Models, carrying our heritage in the areas of "sound" and "wireless radio."
KENWOOD has identified the "TRIO MODEL" series as a prestige model bearing the highest levels of performance and class, built on various technologies and expertise that it has accumulated over many years, in combination with cutting-edge technologies, in the fields of "sound" and "wireless radio" that have represented KENWOOD's core competences ever since its inception, and has decided to revive, in a limited way, the "TRIO" brand which used to be the classic high-class brand in Japan.
On the heels of the 60th anniversary commemoration model of the amateur-use radio which has created a sensational public response since its press announcement in July 2006, KENWOOD plans to launch another prestige model, from the field of "sound," which was originally marketed in 1993 and embodies the concept of "K's" that once led to the creation of a new category called "hi-class component."
This model is an upgraded version of the "K series," the pure audio system that has been selling favorably since its launch in 2004. KENWOOD is progressing with the commercialization of this model, built on newly developed sound-quality enhancing technology, as a high-end pure audio system that will befit the coming digital media age.
As a leading manufacturer of audio systems that has supported Japan's post-war economic growth from the perspective of helping people pursue sophisticated hobbies, KENWOOD is committed, through commercialization of this prestige model, to mobilizing the advanced technologies and expertise that it has accumulated over the past 60 years, in combination with cutting-edge technologies; to bringing enjoyment of life to its customers; and to striving for a resurgence of pure audio systems. |
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| (2) USB-compatible entertainment systems |
In anticipation of the coming diffusion of new media, KENWOOD is devoting its efforts to developing products and technologies aimed at realization of a “seamless entertainment” through integration of home electronics with car electronics that it proposed at IFA 2003 ahead of other manufacturers.
At IFA 2006, as a means of manifesting these efforts and initiatives more vividly, KENWOOD will exhibit and demonstrate concept models for entertainment systems that are compatible with portable digital audio players and USB equipments.
On the heels of USB-compatible car audio systems, which have garnered good reviews since their launch earlier this year, KENWOOD will seek to realize a "seamless entertainment" by promoting commercialization of USB-compatible models in the field of home electronics as well. |
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| The KENWOOD Corporation is "Reaching out to discover, inspire and enhance the enjoyment of life" as part of its bold, new vision for the future. A leader in "Mobile & Home Multimedia Systems", KENWOOD is comprised of three business units (Car Electronics, Communications and Home Electronics), 11 domestic and 22 overseas subsidiaries around the world. |
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For inquiries regarding this article, please contact:
Public & Investor Relations Office, Corporate Relations Division, KENWOOD Corporation
TEL: +81 42 646 6724 FAX: +81 42 646 1440 E-mail:pr.qa@kenwood.co.jp
Or visit our website at https://www.kenwood.com/ |
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