Sennheiser has been a staple of professionals working with audio for years now. The brand has held its own against growing competition and still continues to hold its own. However, with the growing trend of fast-paced changes in the world of professional audio, especially in India, challenges await for every stakeholder and brand operating in this space, including Sennheiser.
To get an in-depth look at Sennheiser’s strategy for its professional audio segment in India as we head into a new dawn of audio technology, we had a conversation with Mr Vipin Pungalia, Country Manager and Director – Sales, Pro Audio at Sennheiser India. Here’s what he had to say –
Q. What does Sennheiser's roadmap in the Indian market look like, especially in terms of professional audio products?
A. For over 75 years, Sennheiser has been synonymous with pioneering the audio industry and delivering exceptional sound experiences to customers worldwide. In India, we are focusing on our strengths and resources in the Pro-Audio, Business Communications, and Neumann business areas, with a commitment to sustainable growth through our own efforts as a family-owned company.
We are excited to work even more closely with our customers in the professional sector, leveraging our extensive knowledge and expertise as one of the world's leading audio companies. We plan to expand further with complementary software solutions for optimal workflows.
We have identified tremendous growth opportunities in fast-growing markets like India, particularly for applications such as content creations. We are confident that Sennheiser's innovative solutions will continue to shape the future of the audio industry, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this evolution.
Q. With the growing interest in music production, does the brand want to introduce some budget headphones for budding music producers in India?
A. While Sennheiser has always been synonymous with high-end, premium-quality audio products, we are committed to bringing our customers value and affordability through regular promotions across our entire product range.
Q. In terms of the sound signature, what is Sennheiser's approach when working on Sennheiser and Neumann branded professional headphones? And how do these two brands distinguish from each other?
A. Sennheiser and Neumann are two separate segments under Sennheiser Electronics, with distinct approaches to sound signature and product design. When working on Sennheiser and Neumann branded professional headphones, our approach is to prioritize transparency and accuracy in sound reproduction.
Sennheiser strives for a neutral and precise sound signature in their professional headphones, like HD400 PRO, open-back studio headphones that provide a natural and accurate listening experience for fine tuning your signature sound. Its lightweight design and velour earpads provide the comfort you need during long sessions. In addition, open ear cups and angled transducers allow for a wide and transparent soundstage, making the HD 400 PRO a reliable companion for those who put quality and precision above all else.
However, Neumann focuses on providing a more emotional and expressive sound that captures the nuances of music and audio recordings, as seen in their headphones, NDH 20 and NDH 30, for a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience.
The Neumann NDH 20 is a closed-back headphone combining excellent isolation with the carefully balanced sound image and outstanding resolution you’d expect from a Neumann product and the NDH 30 is a circumaural, open-back headphone with outstanding detail resolution and high-precision stereo imaging with razor-sharp localization. The NDH 20 and NDH 30 are thus ideally suited to monitoring and mixing tasks, even in loud and noisy environments.
Both the segments have their own unique strengths and cater to different preferences and use cases in the professional audio industry.
Q. What is the brand's strategy in terms of the target audience, especially in the professional audio segment?
A. Our strategy is to focus on providing high-quality, reliable, and innovative audio solutions that meet the specific needs of professionals. Our product portfolio is designed to cater to the diverse requirements of professionals in fields such as musicians, Live performance, broadcasters, and content creators.
We offer a wide range of professional audio products that are designed to meet the specific needs of different use cases and environments. For example, Sennheiser microphones are designed to capture sound with high levels of accuracy and detail, while our range of headphones and wireless audio systems (In-ear Monitor system) are designed to provide clear and reliable audio monitoring and transmission.
Q. What are the key trends in the professional audio segment?
A. The professional audio space is currently experiencing three major trends: immersive audio, streaming and podcasting, and wireless audio. Immersive audio is being driven by the rise of virtual and augmented reality, which requires realistic and engaging audio solutions. Products with new technologies like 3D audio and spatial audio are being developed to create a more immersive experience for users. Streaming and podcasting are also driving demand for high-quality audio equipment that can deliver professional-grade sound in a compact and affordable package. Finally, as wireless technology continues to improve, there is a growing demand for wireless audio solutions that provide reliable and high-quality audio transmission without the need for cables or connectors. The demand for wireless audio solutions is increasing due to the convenience and flexibility they offer.
Q. How is Sennheiser is leveraging the industry trends and evolving to cater to the trends in the industry? what are the key launches expected for this year in the professional audio space?
A. We continue to work closely with our customers, be it creators, musicians, or sound engineers to ensure that we are catering to their evolving demands with products that create new benchmarks in the audio industry. 2022 was a successful year for us and we look forward to growing at the same pace in the coming years. India is one of the key markets for Sennheiser as consumers here are evolving and are at par with global counterparts. We are blessed to be working with the best team and partners in the industry with a one-point focus of providing the best experience to our customers. Last year we focused our energies on studying the market trends and then expanded our product portfolio across all the three business segments – Pro audio, Neumann, and Business Communication. I’m excited to share that we have multiple launches planned across all our business segments throughout the year
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Satvik Pandey
Satvik Pandey, is a self-professed Steve Jobs (not Apple) fanboy, a science & tech writer, and a sports addict. At Digit, he works as a Deputy Features Editor, and manages the daily functioning of the magazine. He also reviews audio-products (speakers, headphones, soundbars, etc.), smartwatches, projectors, and everything else that he can get his hands on. A media and communications graduate, Satvik is also an avid shutterbug, and when he's not working or gaming, he can be found fiddling with any camera he can get his hands on and helping produce videos – which means he spends an awful amount of time in our studio. His game of choice is Counter-Strike, and he's still attempting to turn pro. He can talk your ear off about the game, and we'd strongly advise you to steer clear of the topic unless you too are a CS junkie. View Full Profile
