WEGA
Encyclopedia
WEGA (ˈveɪɡə) was a pioneering German
audio and video manufacturer, manufacturing some of Germany's earliest radio sets.
, Germany in the year 1923. In 1975, it was acquired by Sony Corporation. At this point, they were known throughout Europe
for stylish and high-quality stereo equipment, designed by Hartmut Esslinger
amongst others. The WEGA brand continued to represent Sony quality for thirty years until 2005 once LCD displays superseded the company's Trinitron
aperture grille
based CRT
models.
Starting in 1998, Sony released a television line called FD Trinitron WEGA, a flat-screen television
with side-mounted speakers and a silver cabinet. At its release, the television was considered revolutionary in its performance and minimalist design; the WEGA was a success in the marketplace to the point that almost every flat-screen CRT
television has copied its design.
Sony marketing materials for the television state that the FD Trinitron WEGA was named after the main star in the Lyra constellation (usually spelled 'Vega' in English), and made no reference to the original WEGA firm. Many products sold by Sony after its acquisition of WEGA shared much design language
with the television, notably the rather minimalist styling and silver metallic finish.
Although other European languages swap the V and W from German, WEGA is still pronounced "Vega".
Sony has also used WEGA to advertise flat-screen televisions with newer technologies than CRT. Their flat-panel
LCD TVs were branded LCD WEGA until summer 2005 when they were rebranded BRAVIA
(early promotional photos exist of the first BRAVIA TVs still bearing the WEGA label). Sony's rear-projection televisions, either SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display)
or LCD-based
, were branded as Grand WEGA
until Sony discontinued production of rear-projection sets.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
audio and video manufacturer, manufacturing some of Germany's earliest radio sets.
History
WEGA was founded as Wuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh in StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany in the year 1923. In 1975, it was acquired by Sony Corporation. At this point, they were known throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for stylish and high-quality stereo equipment, designed by Hartmut Esslinger
Hartmut Esslinger
Hartmut Esslinger is a German-American industrial designer and inventor. He is known for his design company Frogdesign, particularly his work for Apple Computer in the 1980s.-Life and career:...
amongst others. The WEGA brand continued to represent Sony quality for thirty years until 2005 once LCD displays superseded the company's Trinitron
Trinitron
Trinitron is Sony's brand name for its line of aperture grille based CRTs used in television sets and computer display monitors. One of the first truly new television systems to enter the market since the 1950s, the Trinitron was announced in 1966 to wide acclaim for its bright images, about 25%...
aperture grille
Aperture grille
An aperture grille is one of two major technologies used to manufacture color cathode ray tube televisions and computer displays; the other is shadow mask....
based CRT
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
models.
Starting in 1998, Sony released a television line called FD Trinitron WEGA, a flat-screen television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
with side-mounted speakers and a silver cabinet. At its release, the television was considered revolutionary in its performance and minimalist design; the WEGA was a success in the marketplace to the point that almost every flat-screen CRT
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
television has copied its design.
Sony marketing materials for the television state that the FD Trinitron WEGA was named after the main star in the Lyra constellation (usually spelled 'Vega' in English), and made no reference to the original WEGA firm. Many products sold by Sony after its acquisition of WEGA shared much design language
Design language
A design language or design vocabulary is an overarching scheme or style that guides the design of a complement of products or architectural settings...
with the television, notably the rather minimalist styling and silver metallic finish.
Although other European languages swap the V and W from German, WEGA is still pronounced "Vega".
Sony has also used WEGA to advertise flat-screen televisions with newer technologies than CRT. Their flat-panel
Flat panel display
Flat panel displays encompass a growing number of electronic visual display technologies. They are far lighter and thinner than traditional television sets and video displays that use cathode ray tubes , and are usually less than thick...
LCD TVs were branded LCD WEGA until summer 2005 when they were rebranded BRAVIA
BRAVIA
BRAVIA is a Sony brand used to market its high-definition LCD televisions, projection TVs and front projectors and for the PlayStation 3 , along with its home cinema range under the sub-brand BRAVIA Theatre. The BRAVIA name is an acronym of "Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture"...
(early promotional photos exist of the first BRAVIA TVs still bearing the WEGA label). Sony's rear-projection televisions, either SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display)
SXRD
SXRD is Sony's proprietary variant of liquid crystal on silicon, a technology used mainly in projection televisions and video projectors. In the front and rear-projection television market, it competes directly with JVC's D-ILA and Texas Instruments' DLP...
or LCD-based
LCD projector
An LCD projector is a type of video projector for displaying video, images or computer data on a screen or other flat surface. It is a modern equivalent of the slide projector or overhead projector...
, were branded as Grand WEGA
Grand WEGA
A liquid crystal rear projection television system using a patented "optical engine" made by Sony to provide a large image in a very compact chassis. Screen sizes in inches can range anywhere for 42" to 70"; with exceptional sharpness, composed of approximately 2.5 million plus pixels....
until Sony discontinued production of rear-projection sets.