(July 17, 2025) After several years of collaboration, Premium Audio Company (PAC) and Pioneer Corporation are officially going their separate ways. The two companies have confirmed they will not renew their existing home audio and home theater partnership agreement, ending a licensing deal that led to a range of Pioneer and Pioneer Elite products being developed, marketed, and sold under PAC’s control.
This marks the end of a multi-layered relationship that began after Pioneer split its car and home audio businesses more than a decade ago. In 2014, Pioneer sold its home AV assets to Onkyo, which then licensed the Pioneer brand for AVRs and related gear. After a brief termination period, that licensing agreement was renewed after Onkyo landed in the hands of VOXX International and its subsidiary, Premium Audio Company, giving PAC control over product development and branding. The result was a wave of new Pioneer and Elite products starting in 2023, gear designed from the ground up and well-received by enthusiasts for its performance and thoughtful engineering.
With the agreement now concluded, development of new Pioneer and Pioneer Elite home audio products will revert back to Pioneer Corporation. Meanwhile, PAC will focus its attention on its core brands, including Klipsch, Onkyo, and Integra. Notably, those are the only three brand names featured in PAC’s most recent home AV corporate branding.
According to PAC, it will continue to support all Pioneer and Pioneer Elite gear produced during the partnership. That includes ongoing customer service, support, and updates, with the pioneerhomeusa.com website remaining active. Purchases made through PAC-authorized dealers will remain eligible for model-specific service.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Pioneer and appreciate the collaboration we’ve had,” said Vincent Bonacorsi, COO of Premium Audio Company. “After thoughtful discussions, we have mutually agreed to part ways and are now focused on the exciting next chapter of growing our core brands.”
What happens next for Pioneer is less clear. Pioneer Corporation says it will continue to manage the brand, but without a licensing partner like PAC, the path forward is uncertain. Any future AV products would likely require a new licensing agreement, and it remains to be seen if or when that might happen.
One wrinkle here is ownership of technology. It’s likely that PAC and Onkyo retain the rights to much of the IP used in recent Pioneer-branded models. Given the overlap between Onkyo and Pioneer receivers, any new licensee may need to start from scratch or negotiate new terms for access to that technology.
For now, PAC says its focus will be on maximizing the potential of Onkyo and Integra, both of which have shown signs of growth and innovation in recent product cycles. With Pioneer stepping aside, PAC can concentrate resources and streamline its product offerings.
It’s also worth noting that, as of late June, Pioneer Corporation and its car audio division were acquired by CarUX, a Taiwanese maker of automotive smart cockpit solutions. That move, which saw Pioneer sold for approximately $1.1 billion, reinforces CarUX's focus on automotive and infotainment markets.
While it’s disappointing to see such a strong resurgence of the Pioneer AV brand come to a close, existing products remain available at retail, and PAC’s support structure is still in place. For those eyeing a deal on a Pioneer or Elite receiver, now may be the time to act.
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