NAMM 2011: Sennheiser Cleans Up at TEC Awards

Sennheiser and Neumann captured Outstanding Technical Achievement awards by the TEC (Technical Excellence & Creativity) Foundation for innovative new products that were introduced to the market during 2010. Sennheiser USA CEO John Falcone and Neumann President Wolfgang Fraissinet were on hand to accept the awards during a reception held at the 2011 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA on Jan. 14.

Products receiving top honors in their class included the following:

• In the microphone technology / recording category, the Neumann TLM 102 large diaphragm microphone;

• In the microphone category of microphone technology / sound reinforcement, the Neumann KMS 104 plus cardioid condenser microphone;

• In the wireless category, the Sennheiser ew 500 G3 series wireless system.

“We are extremely proud to be recognized by the TEC Foundation with these Outstanding Technical Achievement awards,” says John Falcone. “Sennheiser’s relentless innovation and commitment to quality extends throughout each of our distributed brands, and across the world — it also directly reflects the overall integrity and drive of our own employees. We are grateful to the TEC Foundation for receiving this prestigious honor.”

Since the TEC Foundation was established in 1990, Sennheiser and Neumann have been presented with a cumulative total of 18 Oustanding Technical Achievement awards as well as having five products represented in the TECnology Hall of Fame — including the Sennheiser MD 421, which was inducted this year.

Neumann captured the Outstanding Technical Achievement award in the microphone technology/sound reinforcement category. The Neumann KMS 104 plus is a cardioid handheld condenser vocal mic that offers transparent sound for optimal intelligibility. The KMS 104 plus offers the reliability and excellence of Neumann’s popular KMS 104, but in a version optimized for the requirements of female voices in the rock and pop field.

This year, with the introduction of the TLM 102 large diaphragm microphone, Neumann put legendary sound within the reach of the home and project studio users. The TLM 102 is 13% smaller than its “big brother”, the TLM 103. Following its market introduction last year, the microphone was immediately praised in the marketplace for achieving outstanding sonic quality in a small and economically attractive package. The microphone, which is available in both black and nickel finishes, has a maximum SPL of 144 dB and is extremely quiet with a self-noise of 12 dB-A.

Finally, Sennheiser’s ew 500 G3 Series received the nod from the TEC Foundation as best in class for wireless technology. The ew 500 G3 Series wireless system, with its Wireless Systems Manager (WMS) software, was immediately recognized in the live sound and installation markets for its oustanding audio quality, reliability and ease of use. It is currently in use by major international touring acts as well as on Broadway and in houses of worship around the country.

In addition, Sennheiser’s classic MD 421 microphone was inducted into the TEC Foundation’s TECnology Hall of Fame following a ceremony at the NAMM convention on Jan. 14. The MD 421, which was originally introduced to the professional audio market in 1960 and is still in production as the MD 421 II, has been one of Sennheiser’s best-selling dynamic microphones for decades.

The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio established the TECnology Hall of Fame in 2004 to honor and recognize audio products and innovations that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of audio technology. Inductees to the TECnology Hall of Fame are chosen by a panel of more than 50 recognized audio experts, including authors, educators, engineers, facility owners and other professionals. Products or innovations must be at least 10 years old to be considered for induction; last year, the Sennheiser MD 421 celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Since 1960, Sennheiser has manufactured over 500,000 of the MD 421s, many of which are still in use today.

“It is deeply gratifying that the MD 421 has served international musicians and recording artists in so many important capacities since its introduction in 1960,” John Falcone, President/CEO of Sennheiser USA. “Having this technical accomplishment recognized by the TEC Foundation in this way is especially moving considering the recent passing of Dr.-Ing. Fritz Sennheiser.”