DESIGNS FOR LIFE

Few gadgets are as synonymous with stunning design as those made by Bang & Olufsen. We asked CEO Kristian Teär and head of communications & CSR Jens GambT3 Magazineorg to outline B&O’s philosophy

- Josh Russell

There aren’t many gadget brands that can claim a heritage of nearly a century of iconic design. Yet Bang & Olufsen has had audiophiles drooling over its lush acoustics and timeless style ever since it was founded by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen way back in 1925.

Fresh from celebrating its 95th anniversary last November, the company spoke to T3 about how it makes sure products offer great sound, look at home in your living room and stand the test of time.

What’s the starting point when Bang & Olufsen begins designing a new product?

KT: There’s a passion for perfection around acoustics, to start with. It’s really about recreating the sound as it was intended from the artist when it was made. That’s why we have our tone masters – who actually mix this sound together and understand what it should sound like – and that builds into a superior acoustical experience.

For example, a customer wrote to me to tell me his wife had been a pianist but was really ill. So he bought her a pair of H95s and when she was listening to this concert of Beethoven, she started crying because she could hear the fingers moving over the keys. That acoustic experience is where it all starts.