Dr. Fritz Sennheiser founds ‘Laboratorium Wennebostel’ or ‘Labor W’ (Lab W) for short. The young company manufactures tube voltmeters.
Start of microphone production with the DM 1.
Lab W develops its first microphone, the DM 2 (MD 2).
The measuring equipment portfolio is extended significantly.
Manufacturing of geophysical equipment and geophones.
The ‘invisible’ DM 3 (MD 3) micro-phone and the first noisecompen-sated microphone, the DM 4 (MD 4).
Lab W manufactures microphone transformers.
Labor W shows its first mixing amplifiers and pre-amplifiers at the 1950 Consumer Electronics Fair Funkausstellung.
Lab W adds magnetic miniature headphones (HM 11, HM 21) to its portfolio. Miniaturization becomes key in all areas.
Lab W introduces miniature transformers as used in hearing aids.
The classic MD 21 microphone sees the light of day.
Lab W shows the first interference tube microphone for the movie and TV industry. Its successor model, the MD 82 “telemicro-phone”, results in a major breakthrough in 1956.
Ten years after its founding, Lab W employs a staff of 250. The foundation to a new building complex is laid.
The MD 93 microphone with reversible transducer acts as microphone and loudspeaker, e.g. in dictating machines.
Lab W exhibits an RF wireless system for professional TV and stage use, developed in cooperation with German broadcaster NDR. From 1958, the system is marketed with Telefunken under the name Mikroport.
Labor W is renamed Sennheiser electronic.
MDS 1 stereo microphone.
Hanover Technical University makes Fritz Sennheiser an honorary professor.
Introduction of another microphone classic, the MD 421.
Sennheiser builds its first answering machine for Telefunken.
At the German Industrial Fair, Sennheiser shows the first samples of a radio frequency condenser microphone - the birth of the famous MKH series.
Sennheiser manufactures the first baby monitor, the so-called "Babysitter".
M 101 mixer.
Launch of the audiophile Philharmonic Hi-Fi system - the first to use active loudspeakers.
To demonstrate the outstanding directivity of the new MD 411 super-cardioid microphone, the MD 411 was taken into a reverberation chamber with a cardioid and an omni-directional microphone, i.e. microphones with less or no directivity, respectively. The MD 411, however, still produced an acceptable recording even under these extreme conditions.
Sennheiser develops the world’s first open headphones. With more than 10 million units sold, the HD 414 remains the bestselling headphone ever.
The MK 12, the first professional condenser clip-on microphone for RF wireless transmission.
At the Consumer Electronics Fair in 1969, Sennheiser showed a completely new type of dummy head. Whereas early dummy head recordings (which used two microphones in a head-sized wooden ball) had always fallen short of expectations, dummy head Oskar had been shaped so naturally that - when listening to a recording via headphones - it became possible not only to distinguish between left and right but also between sounds coming from the front and the back, from above or below.
The microphone classic MD 441 is launched.
Sennheiser introduces its MKE range of prepolarized condenser microphones.
Sennheiser is transformed into a limited partnership (KG).
For amateurs who were unable to afford a dummy head costing several thousands of marks, Sennheiser launched the MKE 2002 in 1974. This lightweight ‘stethoset’ microphone was worn on the user’s head for making stereo recordings using the dummy head principle.
Sennheiser uses infrared technology for sound transmission.
Opening of a second production plant in Burgdorf.
Launch of the unipolar 2000, the world’s first open electret headphones.
In 1978, Sennheiser launched the VSM 201 sound effect vocoder. Following the huge success of electronic instruments, the VSM 201 took the human voice into the same world of electronic sound.
The first professional multi-channel rack receiver significantly improves transmission reliability.
Development of the HiDyn compander system.
The Sennheiser RF wireless classic SKM 4031-TV lays the foundation for the success of Sennheiser RF wireless systems in the follow-ing years.
Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser hands over the management to his son, Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser.
Development of the first directional clip-on microphone, the MKE 40.
Development of the smallest studio clip-on microphone, the MKE 2.
Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser is honored at the 59th Academy Awards for the MKH 816 shotgun microphone.
Sennheiser develops NoiseGard active noise eduction for Lufthansa.
Founding of Sennheiser France.
Introduction of synthesizer tech-nology in RF wireless trans-mission.
Development of the WM 1, the world’s first wireless mixer for outside broadcasts.
Founding of a third production plant in Tullamore, Ireland.
Founding of Sennheiser UK.
Founding of Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, USA.
Studio microphone specialist Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin, becomes part of the Sennheiser Group.
Founding of Sennheiser Belux.
Founding of Sennheiser Canada.
Launch of the best headphones in the world, the electrostatic Orpheus with tube amplifier.
Founding of Sennheiser Asia.
Launch of the world’s first digital infrared headphones, the IS 850 system.
Launch of the SKM 5000 radio microphone, a wireless classic.
Sennheiser launches its first RF wireless headphone system, the RS 5.
Opening of Sennheiser Nederland.
Founding of Sennheiser Mexico.
Emmy Award for pioneering developments in RF wireless technology.
Transformation of Sennheiser into a private limited company (GmbH & Co. KG).
Founding of Sennheiser Vertrieb GmbH, Germany.
Opening of a second R&D branch in Burbank, California.
Launch of the LUCAS/DSP pro, a surround sound system for headphones.
Sennheiser is the first company to launch stethoset headphones with RF wireless transmission (RS 2400).
Launch of the evolution microphone series which revolutionizes the MI market.
The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awards their Technical Grammy to Georg Neumann GmbH.
The Surrounder for personal surround sound.
Launch of the evolution wireless radio microphone series.
Sennheiser receives the German Industry Innovation Award for the optical microphone.
Sennheiser earns the German Industry Innovation Award for the AudioBeam directional loudspeaker.
Opening of a fourth Sennheiser plant in Albuquerque, USA.
Launch of the MKH 800, the first studio condenser microphone to fully utilize the wider frequency range of the new digital audio formats.
Sennheiser is Expo 2000’s product partner for professional sound.
Opening of the most modern production building for microphones.
First installation of the ground-breaking visitor information system GuidePort.
Development of the world’s smallest professional bodypack transmitter, the SK 5012.
Launch of the RF wireless Sennheiser/Neumann microphone SKM 5000 N/KK 105 S.
Founding of Sennheiser Vertrieb und Service GmbH & Co. KG, Germany.
Opening of a new, larger manufacturing building for Sennheiser Ireland.
Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser is award-ed the AES Gold Medal for his lifetime achievements.
Founding of the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S, Denmark.
Nomination of two Sennheiser employees for the German Future Award.
Georg Neumann GmbH develops the first digital studio microphone according to AES 42 standard.
The second generation of evolution wireless radio microphone systems is launched.
Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser is awarded the Diesel Medal.
Loudspeaker specialist Klein + Hummel joins the Sennheiser Group.
Opening of Sennheiser Nordic A/S in Holte, north of Copenhagen, with branches in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden
Launch of the headphone series Street Line, Sport Line and Style Line
Founding of Sennheiser Audio Ltd., Moscow
Founding of Sennheiser electronic India Pvt. Ltd.
Founding of Sennheiser Innovation (Schweiz) AG, with the aim to identify market trends and customer needs that will emerge in five or more years.
Official opening of Sennheiser Japan K.K.
HD 800 - New top-quality headphones with new converter technology and innovative earpiece design.
Official Opening of Sennheiser Electronic (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
evolution wireless G3 The third generation of the successful series of microphones with the largest number of functions in its class.
The joint venture Sennheiser Audio (Russia) becomes a wholly owned Sennheiser subsidiary.
Company founder Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser passes away at the age of 98.
Sennheiser starts manufacturing in a brandnew production and manufacturing centre at the company headquarters in Wennebostel.
Two new shotgun microphones from Sennheiser: the MKH 8060 short gun and MKH 8070 long gun microphones set new standards in sound quality and reach.
As of 1 January 2011, Sennheiser has been divided into three organisational divisions: Consumer Electronics, Professional Systems and Integrated Systems, enabling each of the respective business divisions to offer stronger market and customer orientation.
Daniel Sennheiser and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser, grandsons of the company’s founder, join the Board of Management.
Launch of the ew 100G3-1G8 wireless systems, the world’s first radio microphones to transmit in the 1800 MHz range.
With the introduction of Digital 9000, Sennheiser debuts a digital wireless system able to transfer audio signals completely uncompressed, artefact-free and with superb dynamics. The system was developed for broadcast, for live theatre and musicals, as well as for high-quality concerts, and sets a new benchmark in digital wireless transmission.
Sennheiser presents its first microphone which works with the new Audio Video Bridging (AVB) technology. The audio specialist is one of the first companies to use this technology in a product, proving that the AVB networking standard is no longer a distant dream.
The audio specialist introduces new security labelling in order to protect its customers from illegal counterfeit products. The introduction of the new security label, the tesa® PrioSpot will be phased in and over time will be applied to both products as well as packaging.
Working with the maxim of “The Future Made Right Here“, the new Technology and Innovation Centre in San Francisco, which replaced the previous site in Palo Alto, undertakes research and development into digital signal processing technologies with a view to improving customer experience.
Both the digital HDVD 800 and the analogue HDVA 600 have a fully symmetrical layout and promise a unique listening experience. They harmonize perfectly with the High-End headphone line HD 800, HD 700, HD 650 and HD 600 by Sennheiser.
Perfect sound can be heard, felt and seen: the new MOMENTUM from Sennheiser’s Style Selection connects a goosebump-inducing sound experience with precious materials and a minimalist style. The new headphones are the right choice for anyone unwilling to compromise when it comes to either sound quality or style.
Sennheiser opens a new subsidiary in Switzerland
Daniel and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser assume overall responsibility of the company by becoming CEOs and sharing the role of Spokesperson of the Executive Management Board as of 1 July.
Sennheiser opens sales subsidiaries in Australia and New Zealand, Sennheiser Australia Pty Ltd. and Sennheiser New Zealand Ltd.
Audio specialist Sennheiser receives the Philo T. Farnsworth Award at the 65th Primetime Emmy® Engineering Awards ceremony in Hollywood. The Award honors an agency, company or institution whose contributions over time have significantly impacted television technology and engineering.
© Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images
The prestigious Shanghai Concert Hall is renamed to Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall. This event reasserts the longstanding relationship of the Sennheiser-Group and the historical Chinese concert hall.
Investment in the future: Sennheiser founds a new competence center for innovative streaming solutions, Sennheiser Streaming Technology GmbH (SST).
The audio specialist celebrates its 70th anniversary. In the beginning of the anniversary year, Sennheiser opens its Innovation Campus, the biggest and most modern center for innovation in the entire audio industry, located at the company’s headquarters in Wedemark.
Sennheiser launches AVX, a series of wireless microphone systems for video cameras. The compact AVX receiver plugs directly into the XLR of a camera, where it automatically pairs with the microphone and switches on when the camera does. The system also automatically performs all the settings for wireless transmission – from selecting the frequency to setting the right volume. Never before have audio-for-video recordings been as simple and as fast.
Get inside the sound with AMBEO 3D Audio: The spatiality, clarity and detail of AMBEO immerses listeners in music and sound, eliminating the barrier between live experience and playback. The Sennheiser technology program encompasses the entire audio signal chain from recording and mixing to processing and reproduction. The first product is the AMBEO VR Mic, a compact microphone for single-point immersive audio recordings.