Get the weekly hi-fi digest — new gear, best reads, and deals.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, founded in 1921 as a spin-off from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was once a significant player in consumer audio equipment through its Diatone speaker brand. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company developed its first Diatone loudspeaker in 1945 at the Ofuna factory, with the trademark registered in 1946. Diatone speakers gained prominence as monitor loudspeakers for Japan's public radio station NHK-Radio and featured innovative washi paper cones. Mitsubishi Electric also manufactured televisions, VCRs (Black Diamond series), and various audio-visual products from the 1950s through early 2000s. However, the company ceased consumer audio manufacturing in 1999 when it closed the Itami factory. Today, Mitsubishi Electric focuses on industrial systems, air conditioning, semiconductors, and automation, with no active consumer audio product lines. Their only current audio involvement is through research at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories and automotive partnerships.