For other uses, see Wega (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Vega.
WEGA
Native nameWuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh
IndustryElectronics
FateRebranded as BRAVIA
SuccessorBRAVIA
Foundation1923 (age 103)
Stuttgart, Germany
Defunct2005 (age 21)
Area servedInternational
ProductsRadio and LED television receivers
ParentSony (1975-present)

WEGA was a German audio and video manufacturer that manufactured some of Germany's earliest radio receivers.[1]

History

WEGA, pronounced "Vega", was founded as Wuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1923. In 1975, it was acquired by Sony Corporation.[1] They were then known throughout Europe for stylish and high-quality stereo equipment, designed by Verner Panton[2] and Hartmut Esslinger.[3] Sony continued to use the WEGA brand until 2005, when liquid-crystal displays superseded the company's Trinitron aperture grille-based CRT models.[4]

Starting in 1998, Sony released a television line called FD Trinitron/WEGA, a flat-screen television with side-mounted speakers and a silver-coloured cabinet.

Sony says that the FD Trinitron WEGA was named after a star ("Vega" in English) in the Lyra constellation, and made no reference to the original WEGA firm.[5]

Sony has also used WEGA as a name for flat-screen televisions with newer technologies than CRT. Their flat-panel LCD televisions were branded LCD WEGA until summer 2005[6][7][8] when they were rebranded BRAVIA. There are early promotional photos of the first BRAVIA televisions that still bear the WEGA label.[citation needed] Introduced in 2002, Sony's plasma display televisions were also branded as Plasma WEGA until the BRAVIA LCD line superseded it. Sony's rear-projection televisions, either Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) or LCD-based, were branded as Grand WEGA until Sony discontinued production of rear-projection receivers.[citation needed]

Importance

The quality of the design by Esslinger was highly appreciated, to the extent that the Museum of Modern Art in New York[9] exhibits one example, the Concept 51k sound system, for which a special stand was an available option.[10]

In 1980, Sony used half of the production in Stuttgart for its Trinitron televisions.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ "Wega, Württembergische Radio-Ges. mbH; Stuttgart manufacture". www.radiomuseum.org
  2. ^ "Design is fine. History is mine. (Stereo Bar 3300)". 2014-04-13. Archived from the original on 2021-09-05. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  3. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Hartmut Esslinger". EUIPO. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  4. ^ "Sony TV-Serie: Aus "WEGA" wird "BRAVIA"". Areadvd.de
  5. ^ Forums (2001-07-24). "Is it sony Vega or Wega?". Home Theater Forum
  6. ^ "Sony KLV-S19A10 WEGA - 19" LCD TV Specs - CNET". CNET. 2003-01-03.
  7. ^ "Overview of the TV buttons and indicators - Sony Wega KE-V42A10E anleitung". www.bedienungsanleitu.ng
  8. ^ "WEGA 26" LCD TV – Product overview – What Hi-Fi?". Whathifi. 4 October 2021.
  9. ^ "WEGA Concept 51K sound system". SFMOMA
  10. ^ "Concept 51K Radio Wega, Württembergische Radio-Ges. mbH; Stu". www.radiomuseum.org
  11. ^ "Eines Tages überflüssig" (in German). Der Spiegel (Online). 1980-07-27.
  12. ^ Unda Maris (2009-03-10). "WEGA & SONY: what's the story?". Audiokarma.org, Audiokarma Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums