Gibson Looks to Grow Audio Lifestyle Footprint With Hi-Res-Focused Onkyo/Woox Partnership

Onkyo is teaming up with Woox Innovations, the Philips audio and lifestyle business that Gibson Audio bought last summer (see 1407010065), on a long-term partnership for product development and distribution. Initially the partnership will focus on high-fidelity Bluetooth speakers and headphones under the Onkyo brand, the companies said in a news release Wednesday. Consumers’ appetite for “hassle-free, high-quality music” at home and on the go in “Japan and the rest of the world” is a driving force for the partnership, which leverages Woox’s “extensive global sales organization” in more than 100 countries, said Onkyo President Munenori Otsuki. With both companies under the Gibson Brands' umbrella, the partnership “further advances Gibson Brands’ ambition to become the largest music lifestyle company in the world,” he said. Onkyo’s e-onkyo music, which launched in 2005, is the largest hi-res music download store in Japan, and earlier this month the company announced the launch of hi-res music download stores in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. Meridian, a company with a hi-res audio format, said at CES Onkyo was one of the companies it was in discussions with for music and audio products compatible with its MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) hi-res audio format (see 1412050023). It said Wednesday it's developing a "new method of enjoying Hi-Res audio in a non-PC environment and introducing products capable of working with Master Quality Authenticated (MQA)." Onkyo and Woox said the partnership will enable them to “respond quickly to changing user needs and rapidly advancing technology” in fast-growing market segments.