Denon, a renowned audio and electronics manufacturer, is a prominent player in the consumer and professional audio equipment industry. Founded in 1910, the company has established itself as a leading player in designing and manufacturing high-quality audio systems and home entertainment solutions. You can read all this on dozens of websites, but in this article, I want to tell you about the products the company produces, who owns it, and where the production is located.
Who makes Denon products
Denon is a well-known audio and home entertainment product manufacturer for both consumer and professional markets. The brand’s product range covers the following categories:
- Audio/Video Receivers: Denon is known for its audio/video (AV) receivers, the central hub in home theater systems. These receivers feature advanced audio processing, support a variety of surround sound formats, and offer connectivity options, including HDMI, for seamless integration with today’s audio and video sources.
- Amplifiers: Denon produces various amplifiers designed for stereo and multi-channel audio systems. These amplifiers are known for their power, accuracy, and compatibility with high-quality audio sources.
- Speakers: The brand offers a variety of speakers, including book speakers, floor-standing speakers, and home theater speakers.
- Headphones: Denon produces a variety of headphones, over-ear and in-ear headphones.
Who owns Denon, brand history
Established in 1947 through the merger of Nippon Columbia and Japan’s Denki Onkyo, the Denon brand has undergone a complex evolution. The year 2000 witnessed a significant transformation in the electronics industry, marked by a global shift as several brands withdrew from markets. Concurrently, a trend emerged of acquiring brands and small companies, leading to the 2002 merger of Denon Ltd and Marantz Japan Inc. The resulting entity, D&M Holdings Inc., was established to oversee both brands.
In 2017, D&M Holdings Inc. underwent a pivotal change when it was acquired by Sound United LLC, aligning with the broader industry trend of consolidations. In 2022, Masimo Corporation entered the scene, acquiring Sound United LLC. This strategic move was part of Masimo Corporation’s expansion into the Consumer Audio sector, reflecting a broader portfolio strategy.
As of 2024, Masimo Corporation is the proprietor of the Denon brand.
It is worth noting that the Denon brand continues to operate autonomously within the Masimo Corporation portfolio. The corporation, now a key player in Consumer Audio, owns Denon and manages a suite of other renowned audio brands inherited from the Sound United acquisition. This impressive roster includes Bowers & Wilkins, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Classé, HEOS, and Boston Acoustics. Under Masimo Corporation’s ownership, the Denon brand maintains its distinct identity in the competitive landscape, source.
Where is the Denon factory?
In today’s world, it is standard practice for a brand owner to commission an OEM or ODM manufacturer to design and manufacture a product. Yes, such companies may have research centers that do the development. I searched for certificates of conformity on Denon devices and this is what I found out. Denon products are certified by D&M Holdings Inc. The company is registered in Japan.
Headphone manufacturing: Denon headphones are manufactured by Shenzhen Grandsun Electronic Co, Ltd. The address of the manufacturing park is East Park, Gaoqiao Industry Zone, Pingdi Street, Longgang, Shenzhen, China. It is an OEM/ODM manufacturer of headphones and speakers. Site Shenzhen Grandsun Electronic
Soundbar manufacturing: Soundbars are also manufactured by OEM/ODM manufacturers, depending on the model the soundbar can be manufactured in one of 8 factories, 7 of which are located in China and one in Vietnam.
- Guangxi Tonly Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
- Tonly Technology Co., Ltd.
- Tonly Technology Co., Ltd. Tongqiao Factory
- Tonly Technology Co., Ltd. Zhongkai Factory
- Tonly Electronics Technology Viet Nam Co., Ltd.
- Tonly Technology Co., Ltd. Chenjiang Factory
- TCL Technology Electronics (Huizhou) Co., Ltd.
- Huizhou Pully Acoustic Technology Co., Ltd.
Amplifiers and Receivers: Mainly produced in Vietnam, also by OEM/ODM manufacturers:
- ANAM ELECTRONICS VIETNAM CO., LTD is a Korean electronics manufacturer with factories in Vietnam
- Inkel Corporation is also a Korean electronics manufacturer with factories in Vietnam.
- D&M Shirakawa factory in Shirakawa city, Fukushima: is Denon’s own factory where high-end receiver and amplifier models are manufactured.
Denon is still manufactured in Japan?
Denon’s manufacturing landscape underwent a significant shift leading up to 2017. Historically, a notable portion of Denon’s receivers and amplifiers bore the “Made in Japan” label, highlighting the brand’s commitment to precision and quality. However, the economic imperative to optimize production costs prompted a strategic reassessment.
In this evolution, the Sound United acquisition of Denon in 2017 played a pivotal role. While Japanese-made electronics are recognized for their quality, the higher production costs necessitated a pragmatic approach to balance quality and profitability. Consequently, a gradual optimization of production in Japan transpired.
A noteworthy exception to this optimization strategy is the D&M Shirakawa factory in Shirakawa, Fukushima prefecture, Japan. This facility stands out as a dedicated hub for assembling high-end Denon models, exemplified by amplifiers and receivers in the price range of 5-7 thousand dollars. The DENON AVC-A1H, among others, is a testament to the precision and craftsmanship upheld at this Japanese factory.
Does Sound United own Denon?
Now Denon is no longer owned by Sound United; that company (Sound United) was bought by Masimo Corporation, which specializes in small consumer-oriented medical equipment. Masimo bought the owner of a major audio brand to expand its investment portfolio and created the Consumer Audio division. The companies continue to operate as before, supporting and manufacturing their products under Masimo’s leadership.
Is Denon a good brand?
Yes, Denon is not the wrong brand; quite a few products have been made by OEMs lately, but they keep an eye on manufacturing quality and are involved in product development. Of course, it needs to catch up in integrating its products with streaming services; this is a trait specific to Japan; despite being a leader in electronics, Japan has never been a flagship in software development and implementation of programs and services. Considering that Denon has joined the Masino family, which integrates its products quite nicely with mobile apps and cloud services, we expect it will also use cloud and streaming services on its devices.
