Company founder Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Sennheiser and Thomas Schillinger, the first president of Sennheiser Electronic Corporation
SEC—the U.S. wing of Sennheiser—began in 1963 by Thomas
Schillinger as a small independent distributor, selling MKH shotgun
mics and the (still classic) MD421 dynamic to a few dealers, mostly in
the film biz. Now headquartered in Old Lyme, Conn., SEC serves more
than 1,500 pro and consumer dealers in the U.S. and Latin America, with
lines including Sennheiser, Neumann, Turbosound, Chevin, True Audio and
InnovaSon.
Under the 13-year presidency of Andrew Brakhan (1985-1998), SEC
expanded its position as one of the main audio brands in the U.S. and
extended distribution into Latin America. But unlike a typical
“distributor,” SEC takes an active role in developing
specialized products based on customer feedback. “We maintain an
ongoing relationship with our customers,” explains current SEC
president John Falcone. “We utilize their input as a resource,
and match products and services to their specific needs.”
One such example is the only selective-distribution system on the
market, the SAS 432 wireless mic antenna splitter system, which can
feed 32 wireless receivers from a single pair of antennas. It’s been
used in award-winning Broadway productions such as The Lion
King, Beauty and the Beast and Sunset Boulevard, but
has since found use in NFL Football broadcasts and the Grammy™
Awards.
This company-wide commitment to listen, combined with top-end
customer support and great products, has earned Sennheiser the
distinction of being the only pro audio manufacturer to receive the
“Triple Crown” of Oscar™, Emmy™ and Grammy
Awards. These included a 1987 Scientific and Engineering Award from the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for the industry-standard
MKH 816 shotgun mic; a 1996 Emmy for developments in RF wireless
technology; and a 1999 Technical Grammy Award for Neumann.
Today, SEC faces an increasing number of uncertainties, whether it’s
the tough economic environment, increased competition, higher technical
standards or the seemingly endless maze of wireless regulations, so the
next Oscar, Emmy or Grammy will not come easily. But since 1963,
Sennheiser Electronics Corporation has never done things the easy
way.
For more information about Sennheiser, visit www.sennheiserusa.com.
