Sennheiser
Encyclopedia
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG (branded
Sennheiser) (ˈsɛnhaɪzər) is a private German
audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of both consumer and high fidelity
products, including microphone
s, headphones, telephony
accessories, and avionics
headsets for consumer, professional
, and business applications.
Founded as Labor W and family-owned since 1945, Sennheiser has 2,100 employees, 60% of them working in Germany. Major subsidiaries of the company are Georg Neumann
, which builds studio microphones, and Klein
+ Hummel
, a producer of high-quality studio monitor
s. In 2003 Sennheiser Communications A/S, Denmark was announced, a joint venture between Sennheiser electronic and William Demant
, to develop and produce telecommunications products. In 2006, revenues of Sennheiser totaled € 300 million.
, by Fritz Sennheiser
(1912–2010) and seven fellow engineers of the University of Hannover in a laboratory called Laboratorium Wennebostel (shortened, "Labor W"). The laboratory was named after the village of Wennebostel, where it had been moved to due to the war. Its first product was a voltmeter
. Labor W began building microphones in 1946.
By 1955, the company had 250 employees. Labor W was renamed 'Sennheiser electronic' in 1958. Sennheiser was transformed into a limited partnership (KG
) in 1973. In 1980, the company entered the aviation market, supplying Lufthansa
with headsets. The company began producing modern wireless microphones in 1982, the same year when founder Fritz Sennheiser handed the management of the company over to his son, Jörg Sennheiser.
, Germany (near Hannover). Its United States
headquarters is located in Old Lyme
, Connecticut
. The company has factories in Burgdorf, Germany; Tullamore, Ireland
(since 1990); and Albuquerque, New Mexico
(since 2000). Sennheiser's R&D facilities are located in Germany and Burbank, California
. Sennheiser has sales branches in France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, India, Singapore, Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Trade name
A trade name, also known as a trading name or a business name, is the name which a business trades under for commercial purposes, although its registered, legal name, used for contracts and other formal situations, may be another....
Sennheiser) (ˈsɛnhaɪzər) is a private German
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 company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of both consumer and high fidelity
High fidelity
High fidelity—or hi-fi—reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts to refer to high-quality reproduction of sound or images, to distinguish it from the poorer quality sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment...
products, including microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
s, headphones, telephony
Telephony
In telecommunications, telephony encompasses the general use of equipment to provide communication over distances, specifically by connecting telephones to each other....
accessories, and avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
headsets for consumer, professional
Professional audio
Professional audio, also 'pro audio', refers to both an activity and a type of audio equipment. Typically it encompasses the production or reproduction of sound for an audience, by individuals who do such work as an occupation like live event support, using sound reinforcement systems designed for...
, and business applications.
Company
Georg Neumann
Georg Neumann GmbH , founded in 1928 and based in Berlin, Germany, is a prominent manufacturer of professional recording microphones. Their best-known products are condenser microphones for broadcast, live and music production purposes...
, which builds studio microphones, and Klein
Klein
Klein may refer to:*Klein, Montana, United States*Klein, Texas, United States*Klein , a family name and persons so named*Klein Tools, a manufacturer*Klein , a lunar feature* A brand of bicycle owned by Trek Bicycle Corporation...
+ Hummel
Hummel
Hummel may refer to:people:* Arvid David Hummel , Swedish entomologist and notary* Arthur W. Hummel, Jr. , U.S. diplomat, ambassador to China from 1981 to 1985* Arthur W. Hummel, Sr...
, a producer of high-quality studio monitor
Studio monitor
Studio monitors, also called reference monitors, are loudspeakers specifically designed for audio production applications such as recording studios, filmmaking, television studios and radio studios where accurate audio reproduction is crucial....
s. In 2003 Sennheiser Communications A/S, Denmark was announced, a joint venture between Sennheiser electronic and William Demant
William Demant
The William Demant Holding Group is a leading international hearing health care company within hearing aids, audiometric equipment, and personal communication.- Beginning :...
, to develop and produce telecommunications products. In 2006, revenues of Sennheiser totaled € 300 million.
History
The company was founded in 1945, just a few weeks after the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, by Fritz Sennheiser
Fritz Sennheiser
Fritz Sennheiser was a German inventor and entrepreneur who founded and served as chairman of Sennheiser Electronic, a manufacturer of audio equipment.-Early life and education:...
(1912–2010) and seven fellow engineers of the University of Hannover in a laboratory called Laboratorium Wennebostel (shortened, "Labor W"). The laboratory was named after the village of Wennebostel, where it had been moved to due to the war. Its first product was a voltmeter
Voltmeter
A voltmeter is an instrument used for measuring electrical potential difference between two points in an electric circuit. Analog voltmeters move a pointer across a scale in proportion to the voltage of the circuit; digital voltmeters give a numerical display of voltage by use of an analog to...
. Labor W began building microphones in 1946.
By 1955, the company had 250 employees. Labor W was renamed 'Sennheiser electronic' in 1958. Sennheiser was transformed into a limited partnership (KG
Kommanditgesellschaft
A Kommanditgesellschaft is the German name for a limited partnership business entity and is used in German, Austrian and some other European legal systems....
) in 1973. In 1980, the company entered the aviation market, supplying Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
with headsets. The company began producing modern wireless microphones in 1982, the same year when founder Fritz Sennheiser handed the management of the company over to his son, Jörg Sennheiser.
Locations
Sennheiser is headquartered in the municipality of WedemarkWedemark
Wedemark is a municipality in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Wedemark is a historical landscape description for the area and is situated approx. 20 km north of Hanover...
, Germany (near Hannover). Its United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
headquarters is located in Old Lyme
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Old Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Main Street of the town is a historic district. The town has long been a popular summer resort and artists' colony...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The company has factories in Burgdorf, Germany; Tullamore, Ireland
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
(since 1990); and Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
(since 2000). Sennheiser's R&D facilities are located in Germany and Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
. Sennheiser has sales branches in France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, India, Singapore, Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Products
- Headphones
- Microphones
- Aviation headsets
- Multimedia headsets
- Business headsets
- Micro-Hifi Systems
- Surround Sound Amplifiers
- Conference and Information Systems
- Electronic sound-based components
- Speakers
- Amplifiers
External links
- Sennheiser Worldwide (English)