Sennheiser Founder Dies at Age 98

On May 17, only a few days after his 98th birthday, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Sennheiser, audio pioneer and founder of today’s Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG, passed away. The audio industry has lost a huge figure, not only in terms of his technical expertise but also in terms of his humanity.

Through his company, Sennheiser influenced the development of sound-transmission technologies and was instrumental in forging many groundbreaking developments in electroacoustics and transmission technologies. Under his guidance, the first shotgun microphones and open headphones were created, and he oversaw important developments in wireless radio and infrared transmission. It was natural for Sennheiser to give his developers the “creative and technical freedom” they required. Despite the significant workload involved in running an expanding company, he took time to share his knowledge with students, inspiring them with an enthusiasm for audio technology. In 1982, he retired from the management of the company, handing over to his son, Prof. Dr. Sc. Techn. Jörg Sennheiser.

Fritz Sennheiser continued to take a vivid interest in the company he founded in summer 1945. His enthusiasm for audio technology, his creative curiosity, coupled with a modesty that is rare these days, his self-discipline, sincerity, and generosity in his dealings with people, will remain an example to follow for all those who knew him.

The history of the European audio industry will forever remain inextricably linked with the name of Fritz Sennheiser.