R/E/P Community

R/E/P => Klaus Heyne's Mic Lab => Topic started by: Tim Campbell on October 16, 2017, 03:16:52 AM

Title: AKG Austria closes
Post by: Tim Campbell on October 16, 2017, 03:16:52 AM
http://www.psneurope.com/akg-vienna-austrian-audio/
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: soapfoot on October 16, 2017, 11:00:27 AM
Wow.

I can only hope that, unfettered by the corporate demands of Harman, the team can return to form making top quality microphones as they had in decades past.
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: klaus on October 16, 2017, 12:43:28 PM
Yes, I too hope that, but there are some inconvenient realities of our time that need to be considered:

* a radically transformed listening behavior, which does no longer require high fidelity microphones

* the disappearance of physical music players replaced by streaming, which benefits mass-consumption of low-fi, cookie-cutter background music over pieces of audible art, carefully crafted with fine microphones

* manufacturing with low-cost micro-processors and automation of production, which has almost completely replaced serial manufacturing of hand-assembled microphones with discrete component layouts and their superior audio resolution

* the globalization of commerce, which has made the production methods and manufacturing locations of classic AKG mics unprofitable

* an added obstacle of all of the above, accelerated by the Great Recession of 2007: the disappearance of an entire sector of recording facilities, which further reduces demand for expensive hi-fi microphones
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: Mickeyrouse on October 16, 2017, 03:23:29 PM
It just seems a sad sign of the times. Harman’s sale was no doubt a harbinger of this, but since Harman acquired AKG the product line has seemed to exhibit a dumbing down. When was the last time AKG introduced a mic that was a serious contender, instead of trading on past laurels? Didn’t we all know this was coming?
  I can only hope the survivors have the resources to develope, manufacture, and market serious products.  It CAN be done, but it won’t be easy.
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: Michael O. on October 20, 2017, 05:56:47 PM
Disheartening news, but the writing has been on the wall for some time seeing as the current 414 is barely recognizable as a 414, and even their headphone quality has spiralled into the depths of mediocrity.

Their Austrian engineering team has been underutilized for the last couple decades. If they could come to market with significantly fewer offerings aimed more at the pro level (proper ck12's made in 2017 would rock the professional recording world...) they could stand a chance. After all, does the world truly need more mediocre prosumer LDC's like AKG has been pushing for years?
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: klaus on October 21, 2017, 01:12:01 PM
(...)If they could come to market with significantly fewer offerings aimed more at the pro level (proper CK12's made in 2017 would rock the professional recording world...) they could stand a chance. After all, does the world truly need more mediocre prosumer LDC's like AKG has been pushing for years?

But such projects would take time to develop, bring to market, and survey the response in the field.
Only angel investors loan money for projects with such uncertain outcomes, and that money currently does not flow to purveyors of analog technologies of yesteryear, but Silicon Valley startups.
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: Kai on October 21, 2017, 06:30:43 PM
If they come out with something really good I bet they will survive.
AKG very often had a very nice voicing in their mic's.
If they can maximize the qualities of their famous house sound and combine this with a modern design it could be a burner.
If they build cheap compromised products with a selling point based on the fame of the AKG brand they will soon disappear, as that's what others are much better in.
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: Frankenheimer on March 10, 2019, 05:25:33 AM
Hi,
after several years of abstinence and hard working, my addon.

Austrian audio showed their new microphones at the NAMM etc.
(...)  removed. Too much straight advertising. K.H.
And they "reinvented" the original CK12 and made it ready for the 21s century.
There will be an updated website with listed worldwide distributors.

IMHO they are not hedge funded and the concentraded knowgledge has been presevered.
Also the woman who handcrafted the original CK12 capusle is on board.
There are plenty of pics on their facebook site !

Also there will be new headphones out really soon.

Even in the digital era, good mics are essential to every production !

https://austrian.audio
https://www.facebook.com/AustrianAudioGmbH/

The old AKG service team is also around repairing the vintage microhones. Had all my 414 etc. repaired and they do it very well.
http://mikrofonservice.at/

Hope, that will clear things up.

Best regards
Franz
Title: Re: AKG Austria closes
Post by: klaus on March 10, 2019, 02:44:53 PM
Proof will be in the pudding.
One comment:
Quote
made it (CK12 capsule) ready for the 21s century

What does that mean, factually and technically? You start messing with something ingeniously good, you can slide off the hill really fast.
Other capsule manufacturers' approach to reinventing legacy capsules should be a warning in this regard.