Sennheiser celebrates 80 years promoting innovation in audio

Founded in 1945, Sennheiser will celebrate its 80th anniversary this year by reviewing the history of its most iconic products on its official channels with reports and interviews that will shed light on its contribution to the development of audio technology worldwide.

In June 1945, the Dr. Fritz Sennheiser founded the laboratory Wennebostel in Wedemark, near Hanover. Eight decades later, his family succeeds his legacy Daniel Sennheiser and Andreas Sennheiser, who serve as CEOs of the company: "We live and breathe audio in everything we do. That is what defines us. We are driven by a passion for creating unique sound experiences for our customers. Pure, authentic sound that is not only heard, but also felt. This is the reason why we have been building the future of audio for 80 years," says Daniel, while Andreas adds: "When we look back on the history of our company, it is not so much about the number of years as it is about "What we have learned from the past for our future. Each product, each milestone, each challenge has shown us how we can build the future of audio, with new ideas that change the world of audio."

The Sennheiser wireless technology is an example of this. In 1957, the company developed, together with a German broadcasting partner, the first wireless microphones for professional stage and television use. Since then, wireless microphones have become an integral part of radio and television. In 2024, the company achieved a new milestone in wireless technology: Spectera, a new two-way, digital, broadband wireless ecosystem that, in the company's words, “completely redefines the world of wireless audio technology.”

Engineering freedom

To Fritz Sennheiser, true innovation was not created only in the laboratory, but was developed where there was room “for the unconventional”: on stages and in recording studios around the world. “Through our passion and creative dissatisfaction, we have repeatedly brought innovative products to the market and redefined milestones in the world of audio,” comments Andreas Sennheiser.

In 1947, the Wennebostel laboratory presented its first own microphone, the DM 2. It was followed by milestones such as MD 421 (1960), which is still used today in studies around the world, and the HD 414 (1968), the first open headphones that revolutionized the listening experience. The HD 25 (1988) became an icon of professional monitoring and in clubs, HD 800 (2009) set new standards for audiophile sound and HE 1 (2015) reinterpreted the legendary Orpheus. During this time, Sennheiser becomes an internationally successful brand: under the leadership of Jörg Sennheiser, the company opens numerous sales subsidiaries around the world.

Currently, the research and development remains one of the most important strategic priorities of the Sennheiser Group. Every year more than 8 percent of billing in the expansion of the product portfolio, in new software solutions and in the smart combination of hardware and services. "These products were often the starting point of our most audacious developments. They demonstrate that innovation is not a destination, but a path. And on this path, each of our products contains 80 years of experience, curiosity and the willingness to constantly question the status quo," he remarks. Andreas Sennheiser.