"Pursuit for original sound" has been the much-touted motto of the world's audio system makers. A large number of them have been competitively engrossed in efforts to realize the elusive "original sound," which some believe is almost impossible to perfectly achieve. Despite the difficulties in this respect, there are many world renowned audio systems by the likes of Mark Levinson, and Mcintosh and Quad, that have become the symbol of world recognized masterpieces.
"Reviving music to the extent of approaching the original sound does not mean to create sound within a set standard. It means to allow audiences to hear music as if they are at the concert or performance and absorb the music in the most comfortable seats," said advisor Kim Yong-jin of Samsung Electronics. Kim has led Samsung's development of high-end pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers and speaker systems, which come with price tags higher than two or three passenger cars.
Few foreigners, however, seem to know that such high-quality audio products are even manufactured in Korea. The Korean people at large, except for a few experts, also appear to be caught unawares. The reason probably lies in the fact that the production history of audio products is rather short in Korea.
The first domestic audio appliance to appear in the Korean market was the A501, an electric vacuum tube radio developed by Goldstar (now LG Electronics), in 1959. The firm gave birth to the model under joint development by German technocrat H.W. Henker and a Korean designer and two engineers. At that time, the radio drew attention as it provided relatively good sound compared with the then foreign products which generated noisy sound under the prevailing conditions of poor electric supply, because the Korean radio was designed to be operated under either 100v or 50v.
So although the Korean audio industry began rather belatedly, it has grown today to the extent of being able to supply components to world class audio makers. In order to supply Hi-Fi component systems under original equipment manufacturing (OEM), a maker should be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, at least equivalent to the level possessed by the company making the order. In this vein, it is safe to say that the Korean audio makers are equipped with world-level technology.
From 1960 Korea began mass production and export of radios. But at that time, the confidence in domestic goods was not so high, mainly due to the strong position of the foreign products. The phenomenon, however, began to be corrected thanks to strenuous efforts by companies in the industry which, for example, conducted a campaign to introduce radios into rural areas. The government, for its part, also rolled up its sleeves to this end, coming up with a series of steps designed to boost the fledgling electronics industry. As a result, and based on the experience gained in the expanding domestic market, exports also began to increase sharply. Exports of radios, which stood at only $50,000 soared to $3 million in 1966.
But the audio products industry did not go into full swing in Korea until the 1970s, when the radio phonograph came into vogue. Among the firms representing the industry then were Chonil Company and Sungwoo Electronics, which were both engaged in radio assembly. Chonil was merged into the current Taekwang Industrial Company in 1978, making it one of Korea's top producers. In 1970, Electro Voice of Korea Inc. was set up as the first joint venture company in the nation specializing in the audio market. The company was later taken over by Dongwon Electronics which changed its name to Inkel, and was recently merged into Haitai Electronics Company. In 1973, Anam Electronics was also established as a joint venture with a Japanese company and began production of color television sets and audio sets from 1975. In 1980, Anam bought out the Japanese share and the company took the shape of today's 100-percent-owned Korean company. In 1973, Lotte Pioneer was also set up under a 50:50 partnership with Japan's Pioneer Company.
Other major electronics makers like LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics also prospered during this growth period. While aforementioned firms like Haitai, Anam, Taekwang and Lotte focused on the production of audio-related products, LG and Samsung diversified their business scope to the areas of home appliances in general including items such as television sets and refrigerators. Daewoo Electronics later threw its hat into the ring, completing what we know today as the "big-three" home appliance makers. Anam also diversified into television sets at the same time, which led them to introduce Korea's first AV system.
Korea's audio industry began to see full-fledged development from 1980, as a foundation was laid for the industry's second leap during the 1980-83 period. And the industry saw a remarkable increase in the production of high-technology products with totally new concepts during the 1984-86 period. Hi-fi systems with completely separate components like amplifiers, tuners, record players and tape decks were introduced and began to gain wide popularity. Com-ponents were digitalized and CD players gained rapid acceptance while AV functions were included and dolby systems were adopted. These developments were closely related to the evolution of Korea's technology for manufacturing semiconductors. Vacuum tubes, which were used until the early 1960s gave way to transistors, then integrated circuits later in the 1960s. The LSI era ushered in the 1980s, enabling compact designs in a variety of forms as well as innovation in function.
Although Korean audio systems had been distributed around the world, few Korean brands were known overseas because the domestic firms had primarily exported goods under the OEM system, under well-known brand names like SAE, Sherwood, Philips, Telefunken, Tensil, TEAC, Akai, Kenwood, Yamaha and Duai.
Haitai Electronics (the then Dongwon Electronics), for example, got top prize for its CRD 150 model in the electronics exhibition in Chicago and began to receive orders to supply it to the United States's leading amplifier company, SAE. The Inkel/SAE3 products manufactured under the order received prizes at design and engineering fairs held in the US six times. Haitai then took over Sherwood, to which Haitai had supplied OEM products. Haitai gained considerably from the takeover, which gave them a recognizable brand. On that basis, Haitai began exporting 50 percent of its own-name products, compared with other firms which still depend on OEM orders for 90 percent of their exports.
The big three home appliance makers plus the four leading audio makers have refocused attention on the fast growing domestic market for quite some time now, and each of the companies has come up with its own unique products at various prices ranges. They include Haitai's Inkel brand, Topaz at Taekwang, Avante at Lotte, Anam's Holiday brand, LG's Fantasia, Kreuzer from Samsung, and Majesta at Daewoo. Their fierce competition has been activated by the booming domestic market.
Although Korea's audio industry went through a slump due to the oil shock which began in 1979, and saw negative growth amid economic slowdown and sluggish exports, the industry started to recover when its enterprises began employing measures designed to overhaul corporate structure and develop high-technology goods as a means to cope with the lackluster business trends. As a result, increased efficiency and productivity allowed the firms to produce goods with more functions and lower prices. The government's decision to lower the special tax on the industry's products has also led to remarkable growth in the audio market. Growth marked 104 percent in 1985 and maintained over 20 percent growth annually through 1989. The popularity of CD players also contributed to the market's growth.
The increasing demand for audio products has also led to the development of a wide range of models. Korea's main electronics exhibition held in 1989 presented a direction in which Korea's audio industry should go. The fair showed that the nation's audio industry was being classified into two categories, AV and high quality Hi-Fi systems. Until then, the audio producers had failed to see great profits because they were all producing goods with similar designs and functions. Newly aware of that, the leading firms began to focus on development of their own products with unique function and designs. New models designed like a music center drew popularity as they were equipped with CD players. Other popular items included those for which pre and power amplifiers could be completely separated. In the Hi-Fi system sector, Haitai continued to use the Inkel name while Taekwang began to closely chase Haitai by presenting a deluxe model of its Kohel line. Lotte's submission was the Mania series while Anam and Samsung came up with their Delta and Renaissance lines. Of them, Anam's Delta Classic 77, jointly designed by TEAC and Anam, received high appraisal from Hi-Fi magazines in the United States, Japan and Britain.
With the introduction of the dolby pro-logic surround system in the 1990s, Korea's audio industry reached a development milestone with the AC-3 format. In particular, the transformation from analog to digital systems also prompted rapid growth. Adoption of the Dolby AC-3 format into the DVD audio sets helped expand the scope of home theater. In addition, a large number of companies have proposed the development of high quality CD, brightening the prospects for the development of high-end audio systems. Once the DVD system is widely available, it may well be the case that the home theater system will become an essential part of every household. Although the products will have similar formats, Haitai began production of high quality amplifiers and receivers at high prices for home theater purposes.
In fact, a main trend which has entered Korea's audio industry in the 1990s is the development of high-end products. From the mid-1990, companies began putting more energy into high-end manufacturing. Silvaweld Audio Lab's OTL Tube Reference power amplifier was chosen as one of the five best products at the Hi-Fi fair held in New York in 1996 through secret balloting by renowned experts. In addition to those products, the company, which focuses only on vacuum tube amplifiers, has manufactured a variety of goods in the sector of pre and power amplifier.
Electric amplifiers on the market include Haitai's Tema, and Taekwang's Honor, companies which have also produced CD players applicable to high-end amplifiers. Of them, Taekwang's TCD-1 was included on the list of audio's 10-best in a contest of worldwide audio sets now on sale in the Korean market.
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Left : The Best 10 audio products available in Korea
Right : Audio expert
Below : Silvaweld's power |
Another of the 10 best products, Samsung's Emperor, has received high appraisal from experts at home and abroad for its high quality performance. The product is now composed of pre and power amplifiers and speaker system. And Samsung plans to develop a CD player and integrated amplifiers to expand distribution of the goods. "I feel satisfied because we believe we have come to prove the superiority of Korean audio sets. I think the nation's high-end audio industry has a very bright future if we improve quality and strengthen advertisement in overseas markets," said audio expert Lee Young-dong. This means that the Korean industry must develop or acquire technology for production of high-end products in order to gain recognition for its Hi-Fi goods, according to Lee, who is well recognized for his expertise in the audio sector.
Along with the production of such high-end products, the development of speakers with high performance has also been pursued. Firms at the forefront include Marshall Electronics, Jin Sound, Criss Company, and Sonics Electronics. Marshall is manufacturing incombustible speaker units on the basis of its long accumulated know-how, and Jin Sound has engaged in the production of speakers which can match the quality of high-end speakers. The firm, with a speaker named Jins Mania, received silver prizes at invention contests held in the United States and Germany. Criss's CS 401 was developed by the company's president, Kim Ju-young, who designed both the network and enclosure by importing woofers and tweeters. Although a compact speaker, it has received good reviews from Korean experts, having been chosen one of the ten best products of 1996. The products by Sonics are equipped with comfortable design, in the shape of antique goods, for example, while realizing the original purpose of producing high quality sound.
Forty years have passed since Korea began producing its first radio. And despite its relatively short history in the area of audio systems, Korea has developed the capacity to manufacture audio sets of the highest quality. For some foreigners, that may seem implausible. But if they take the time to appreciate the music tradition that has been developing for 5,000 years, they nod their heads in understanding. Korea has its own unique music and performance styles in a variety of genre like symposia, concert and solo. The musical feeling arising from harmonious combination of quietude and cheer and soft and strong sounds is well reflected in the production of audio systems today.
Haitai Electronics, established in 1978, acquired specialized audio-making company Inkel in 1994, and a leading wireless telephone making company, Nawoo Electronics, in 1995. On a renewed mission after the mergers, Haitai has set off in a variety of fields such as AV with goods like audio systems and TV sets, information and communication goods like computers and telephones, and energy related goods like boilers. Inkel, established in 1970, was the first Korean company to introduce a Hi-Fi component system, and in 1980 established an overseas office in L.A. marketing their high quality "Sherwood" brand.
Haitai is running its two audio producing factories with a total of 32 assembly lines in Korea, as well as maintaining factories in the U.K. and in China. In addition to its American subsidiary, Haitai is running local companies in Germany, Japan, and Hong Kong.
Haitai products have been known by the Inkel brand name in the Korean market and by Sherwood overseas. The company manufactures high-end, mini, and Hi-Fi components. At the '97 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the company attracted a lot of interest within their own Sherwood exhibition hall with the world's first receiver adopting the DTS (Digital Theater System) function. And beforehand, the company held an unveiling ceremony at the Center Stage Lounge of the MGM Grand Hotel witnessed by a bevy of reporters from various newspapers and magazines.
Sherwood products are mainly produced at factories in the U.K. and China, the former targeting the European market and the latter Asia and the Americas. Their audio system has been awarded for the highest quality in 1996 among all audio systems produced in China. As this event is the most official in China for evaluating consumer products, the recognition means that Sherwood is the best at quality, after-sales service, etc.
As a leading audio producing company in Korea, Haitai is developing and producing items such as amplifiers, receivers, speaker systems, Hi-Fi and Mini components.
17-10, Youido-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel: 82-2-708-6312/78
Fax: 82-2-765-8514
Established in 1973, Anam was the first Korean company to produce color televisions, and they have a similar history of manufacturing audio systems. It is Anam that first introduced an integrated AV system in Korea on the basis of their accumulated technology in producing TVs and audio components.
Anam put an emphasis on overseas markets from the beginning, so they had mainly exported on an OEM basis to companies such as TEAC. Due to this strategy, they didn't account for a very large share of the local market. But since the onset of the 1990's, they have changed that situation.
Anam's representative model, "Delta," has received good reviews from appraisers and consumers not only from overseas but at home as well. The Delta Classic 77 is a component system that has targeted a niche market between the existing Hi-Fi components market and the newly formed mini components market. This a typical model that exemplifies the motto, "Mini-size Hi-Fi quality," and so the model has been dubbed a Hi-combo. This model is one in which TEAC provides the external design and Anam designs the inner circuitry, and it has been applauded by renowned audio magazines worldwide.
The Delta Classic 3, consisting of a integrated amplifier, a CD player, and speaker system, is a high-quality component system designed to retail at a reasonable cost so that anyone and everyone can enjoy music. Anam's Delta series is a model reflecting the basic design concept, "Simplest Best," so that it provides maximum performance with minimum functions.
As the company that first introduced AV, Anam is now on a mission to develop and produce a home theater system.
Anam Bldg., 154-17, Samsung-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel: 82-2-222-9712
Fax: 82-2-222-9719
Though known well around the world for their home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions, Samsung hasn't been widely recognized for audio related products. Of course they have captured a worldwide market share of 2-3 percent with popular models, but they didn't achieve fame simply as a maker of cheap audio products.
By developing the most expensive high-end model, "Emperor," in 1995, Samsung has proven the level they've reached in producing audio systems. Samsung was well received at the '96 Hi-Fi Shows in New York and London with their components. "It's hard to believe that Samsung, which deals in inexpensive home appliances, has produced these high level, high-end audio components," was the sentiment of many of the participants and appraisers. Samsung has used its own "Samsung" name in part to enhance the company's image, rather than "Emperor" which is used for the Korean market. This was because they were full of confidence that its quality would give a good impression of Samsung as a renowned audio maker worldwide. It has showed Samsung's will to develop high-end audio components, even though the market is still relatively small. And the company also plans to not only improve the company's image through this development, but also their Hi-Fi and Mini audio-making techniques. Though they haven't run any special laboratory specifically for audio research, they are developing various softwares to use on their popular Hi-Fi and Mini component systems based on their experience as a world-leading semiconductor company.
Samsung has also invented a DVD player, only the second company in the world to do so, taking advantage of a new worldwide trend toward DVD. They have developed this product's high-tech parts such as an optical pickup, running mechanism, and a servo circuit on their own. With this, they have developed and have been producing an exclusive AV amplifier and speaker system. The exclusive AV amplifier, AV-860A, has adopted Dolby prologic and AC-3 formats, so the amp is of a quality that gives the users the illusion that they are at the theater.
Being the largest stockholder of Japanese specialized high-end audio maker, LUX Company, Samsung is making a significant investment to develop high quality and high-tech goods. They are producing and exporting various AV products, Hi-Fi, and mini components.
High-end components
416, Maetan-3 dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon-shi, Kyunggi-do, Korea
Tel: 82-331-200-4407
Fax: 82-331-200-4406
Hi-Fi and Mini components
Joongang Daily News Bldg 13th Fl., 7, Soonhwa-dong, Choong-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel: 82-2-751-6691
Fax: 82-2-751-6589
Jointly developed by a speaker designer and a Korean potter, Cello+ is a representative model from Sonics. These speaker systems are also interior decorations, which achieve the very aim of reproducing original sound, too. With a phase-shift two way system design, this product goes well with vacuum tube amplifiers, and with its antique shape it can be harmoniously placed anywhere in a house.
Although Sonics Electronics, established in 1989, is a small company, they are running a sound laboratory and developing their own goods. Cello+, developed in 1990, is made totally by hand, so there is a limit in production of the goods, and so far the speakers have been exported only to Japan. Most believe that is is worth the price to have the speakers because Korea has the most brilliant skill in ceramic art. Sonics has also developed a less expensive model, "Vipa," and is now marketing it as well.
They are also producing other speaker systems for Hi-Fi and mini components, and have obtained a high level of technique in making karaoke speaker systems. Sonics is exporting karaoke speakers to China and South America.
40-430, Hangangro-3ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel: 82-2-794-0007
Fax: 82-2-794-4819
Taekwang, established in 1954, has gone full-scale in producing audio goods since 1970 when they acquired Chunil Company, one of the two main makers of the radio-phonograph, a popular model in Korea in the 1970's. They produce the well-known brands "Erocia" and "Kohel" in the Korean market, and they have also exported on an OEM basis to Kenwood, Akai, Marantz, and others. In 1987 they introduced the export model "Topaz" to the local market and became known as a real audio maker because of its high quality. KoĦ§hel is another ambitious model which reflects Taekwang's will to catch up with leading Haitai Electronics.
They aroused other companies' interest by producing a high-end vacuum tube amplifier in 1994 which big companies had avoided developing. After the great success of the early model "Mons series," they were well received with the new "Honor series" in 1996. The Honor series consists of amplifiers, CD players, and speaker systems. The TCD-1, a CD player, was evaluated as a top quality product, proving the expression that an audio system is not simply an object but a way to appreciate music. This CDP has been selected as one of the 10-best audio goods among all used in Korea for its reasonable price and high quality. In contrast with that, Taekwang produces the expensive "Pentagon" model. In terms of amplifiers, they are producing power, pre, and integrated amplifiers, and also a vacuum tube power amplifier. To produce high-end components, they have established exclusive assembly lines with limited production capacity.
In addition to this, they are producing bookshelf type speaker systems called "Consulting-1" which goes well with high-end components. Taekwang is producing a full line of high-end components.
191-1, Anyang-7 dong, Manan-gu, Anyang-shi, Kyonggi-do, Korea
Tel: 82-2-854-8212/4
(Hi-end: Ext. 312, Hi-Fi and Mini: Ext 222)
Fax: 82-343-43-3654/5
"Fantastic speaker of the show" and "Appreciated for real sounds of music," were a few of accolades showered on the Gins Mania products exhibited by Gin Sound Company at CES in Chicago and Las Vegas in 1991. Gin Sound also received silver medals at the Pittsburgh International Invention Show in the US in 1993, and at IENA 96 in Germany. Gin Sound Company, which has pursued unique design and live sound, has built a good reputation with its unique appro-aches to that end.
Gins Mania, one of the company's main lines, is endowed with outstanding framing which is hard to find in other speaker systems, because Gin Sound adopts the principle of metal horn's resonance. Gin Sound has obtained patents from several countries. This speaker system was brought into the spotlight recently at the New York High-End Audio Show in 1995 by reproducing original-like sound, along with the unique network and design.
Gin Sound, which deals in hand-made speaker systems, is producing and marketing other speaker systems such as Gins Orchestra and Gins IIA which both have greater capacity than that of Gins Mania. They are now developing new products to take part in new technology competitions and audio exhibitions around the world.
93-7, 3-Ga Jungang-dong, Iri-shi, Chollanam-do, Korea
Tel: 82-653-857-6639
Fax: 82-653-855-5052
