Toshiba

Founded in 1875 by Hisashige Tanaka as Tanaka Engineering Works and merged in 1939 to form Toshiba Corporation, this Japanese conglomerate was once a major force in consumer audio. Through its premium Aurex brand (early 1980s), Toshiba created groundbreaking hi-fi products including the world's first digital synthesizer tuner (ST-910, 1978) and pioneering adres noise reduction technology. Aurex produced 22 speaker models, world-class turntables like the sought-after SR-510E, and the first true hi-fi mini systems (System 10/12/15). However, Toshiba exited consumer electronics manufacturing in the 2010s, focusing on business solutions, semiconductors, and industrial equipment. While the Toshiba name remains active in corporate technology, their audio equipment legacy lives on through vintage Aurex products highly valued by collectors and audiophiles.