The Sennheiser Story
For many of us here at Sweetwater, our relationship with Sennheiser goes back decades — back to our first exposure to real studio-grade microphones. But Sennheiser's history in pro audio dates much farther back to a time well before the modern recording studio. The company was founded in 1945 by Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, whose dynamic, omnidirectional MD 2 broke new ground in audio broadcast fidelity. It also set the trend for the next seven decades, establishing Sennheiser as an innovative leader in their field.
From broadcasting to music industry
The MD 2 was only the beginning for Sennheiser. What followed was a tide of highly successful broadcast microphones, including the MD 441 and the MD 421, both of which quickly spilled over into the music production industry. From there, Sennheiser began specifically targeting the music industry, in time releasing mics such as the MD 409 (the forerunner to the e609 and e906). Modern models such as the highly popular e 835 handheld vocal mic have literally put Sennheiser mics in the spotlight; whereas few professional video crews today willingly go without an MKH shotgun microphone.
World-class headphones from Sennheiser
Sennheiser broke into the pro headphone market with the same flare they used to leave their mark on the microphone industry. In 1968, Sennheiser developed the world's first open-back headphones, the HD 414. Over the course of its lifetime, more than 10 million HD 414s were sold, placing it among the most popular headphones of all time.
Today, that legacy lives on in Sennheiser's current list of best-selling headphones. For instance, Sennheiser's HD 280 Pros are studio standards on either side of the glass, where they're both first-call monitors for musicians and a popular choice for critical listening. Sennheiser offers perennial favorite 'phones for DJs too, harkening back to the HD 25s they released in the '80s. At the same time, Sennheiser regularly releases new cutting-edge open-back designs, such as the HD 600 and HD 800 S lines.
Innovating with wireless audio technology
Sennheiser unified their sound capture and reproduction expertise via sophisticated wireless technology. In fact, Sennheiser wireless microphones date back to 1957, when they played a major role in developing the Mikroport RF system. As the landscape of wireless technology has steadily shifted, Sennheiser has more than kept up, continuously offering some of the most reliable UHF and digital wireless systems on the market.
Sennheiser wireless is also on the forefront of the silent stage movement. Their wireless in-ear monitors are on the short list of most esteemed options on the market, and Sweetwater has outfitted countless churches, theaters, and other venues with these high-performance, low-cost systems. Generation after generation, Sennheiser wireless in-ear technology just keeps improving. From the moment you get your hands on it, you'll see exactly why we eagerly recommend them.
Sennheiser looks toward the future
While many companies claim a legacy of innovation, a peek into Sennheiser's past provides undeniable proof of theirs. For instance, one little-known fact is that Sennheiser manufactured the first baby monitor. They also helped develop one of the first successful answering machines, and they were instrumental in popularizing (and making affordable) the first "dummy head" binaural recording mics. Today, that kind of out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration have led to exciting new products such as their AMBEO Ambisonics Microphone. There's always something new to look forward to from Sennheiser, and we at Sweetwater can't wait to share it with you.
