The creation of every company has it’s own story.
Some begin with an idea to fill a need, some are started to provide a
better or cheaper way to do something, and then there are those special few
that are born from a passion.
This particular story begins in the late 1960’s, and is about a young man
from Herford, Germany who went to every rock concert that came through town.
It was a heady time for Rock; the world was changing and a
proliferation of bands was telling the story and this young man saw them
all. But while he was excited by the world of rock music and the cultural
revolution that was promising to transform the world, at the same time he
had a great appreciation for the more tranquil and venerable world of
classical music. His instrument of choice was the violin. He spent many
hours practicing and performing with an orchestra, and, whenever he had the
opportunity, he went to hear the symphony. He had no idea at the time that
he was beginning a lifelong love affair with music, while at the same time,
building the foundation for what would become his life’s work. This passion
for music would eventually inspire him to create a world class company,
devoted to bringing the sound and excitement of live music into people’s
homes.
In 1977, Siegfried Amft graduated from the University of Hanover with an
advanced degree in physics. His father, an accomplished wood craftsman,
wanted him to use his education to help design big and sophisticated things
like power plants.
Siggi had a different direction in mind; his great love of music
became the inspiration for how he would use his technical training.
In 1978, he created a company called Theory and Application in
Elektroakustiks. While this name is a seemingly odd and rather complicated
one for a consumer electronics company, it was a perfect name for Siggi’s
new venture. The guiding force behind his company’s approach to product
design was founded in the physics conundrum: How do you apply scientific
theory to the design of real world applications? The company’s goal was
clear; to design and build complete equipment solutions that would produce
that “live like” sound for the enjoyment of music lovers everywhere.
Theory and Application (T+A) began by building loudspeakers.
For a young man fresh out of University, it was the least expensive
way to enter the market, and besides, Siggi’s father had connections with
cabinetmakers. All the profits
from this new and successful venture were re-invested into the hiring of
electronics engineers and physicists. Very soon Theory and Application was churning out
innovative electronic components that would win countless awards throughout
Europe for their sound quality and overall design.
It wasn’t long before Theory and Application was highly regarded for their innovations
in digital speaker design, digital audio processing, and analog amplifier
design. Along the way, they
also picked up many coveted industrial design awards from the highly
competitive European design world.
Now thirty years, and tens of thousands of high-end electronic and
loudspeaker components later, Theory and Application enjoys an enviable and rare position in
the world of high-end audio. They possess both the engineering and financial
resources to control and shape their own destiny.
Recently, in late 2007, while the rest of the world is still
marveling at flat panel TV’s and the ability to control all aspects of the
home environment from one touch pad, Siggi Amft and his brilliant team of
physicists and engineers are offering to you their newest creation, a
quintessential example of the exquisite application of a wonderful theory.
The Music Player.
Which naturally, is all about the music.