Obsessed with sound
Contents Obsessed with sound Philips sound heritage 03 Defining sound since the 1920s 05 The radio goes global 06 A legend of the recording industry 08 The birth of portable audio 09 The CD revolution 10 Pioneering connected audio 11 Fidelio heralds a new era Philips competencies 13 Fidelio sound 14 Golden Ears 15 Design and acoustic engineering 17 Fidelio SoundSphere Philips experts 19 Sound and acoustics innovation engineers 21 Design consultants Philips Fidelio For inquiries, p
Obsessed with sound Philips holds a special place within the world of audio. An admired innovator, Philips is responsible for numerous ground-breaking products including portable radio, the compact cassette and recorder, compact disc, and wireless Hi-Fi. Philips continues to evolve the listening experience with the launch of its premium Fidelio range, offering even the most sophisticated audiophile the ultimate in sound enjoyment.
Philips sound heritage Defining sound since the 1920s Philips has pioneered advancements in audio for almost a century. Its researchers and engineers have been responsible for bringing to the world numerous innovations that have transformed the way we enjoy sound today. We are the pioneers that introduced the cassette tape and portable cassette players, the compact disc and the first DAB digital radio.
A legend of the recording industry Philips has a strong heritage in recording which began with the acquisition of Hollandsche Decca Distributie (HDD), the exclusive Dutch distributor of Decca Records in 1942. Whilst Philips had produced gramophones for some time, the management wanted to ensure that the company also had an interest in recording and record manufacture and so in 1950 Philips Phonografische Industrie (PPI) was formed.
The birth of portable audio It was not just sound quality that Philips focused on. It released a long line of product innovations which were ground-breaking for their time, integrating the premium sound quality which had become synonymous with the Philips name. Following World War II, Philips manufactured tape recorders for magnetic sound and playback.
The CD revolution Just as the popularity of the compact cassette was at its peak, and noise, insensitive to light fingerprints, dust and scratches. Philips was preparing to unveil yet another ground-breaking The first album to be manufactured in the new CD format was innovation in audio. From 1974, a team of researchers at Philips’ The Visitors, ABBA’s eighth and final studio album in 1981.
1931 1955 1963 1983 1992 2000 2003 2010 2012 ‘Chapel Radio’ Radio Receiver Philetta Radio Compact Cassette Recorder World’s First CD Player Digital Compact Cassette Recorder Super Audio CD Player Streamium Wireless Broadband Internet Micro Hi-Fi System Fidelio Primo Docking Speaker Philips Fidelio Fidelio heralds a new era Building on its credentials in audio, Philips continues to innovate with the launch of Fidelio - a range designed to appeal to the most discerning music lovers.
Golden Ears At the heart of Philips’ audio division lies a team of expert engineers and technicians who share a common desire: to create products capable of exceeding anticipated sound quality. Collaborative and committed, this team influences Philips sound signature.
Design and acoustic engineering At Philips, acoustic design and product design are inextricably linked. Both groups collaborate symbiotically throughout the product development process from concept to manufacture. Before a sound device is ready for production, it is continuously refined in design and acoustics and passes through countless prototyping tests.
Fidelio SoundSphere A holistic approach to audio innovation Philips Fidelio SoundSphere is the result of our sound engineers desire to create a system with a wide sweet spot so multiple people can enjoy a premium sound experience without the need for specific speaker configurations or room layout changes. Philips’ iLab trend researchers identified an increasing desire for more integrated and design-led technology within the home: compact, clutter-free audio systems with minimal units.
Philips experts Sound and acoustics innovation engineers Benoît Burette Loic Tanghe Thomas Peeters Gerrit De Poortere The scientific side of sound and music has always been the most Every day I am inspired by the prospect of creating something that As long as I can remember I’ve been passionate about music and Sound is always evolving - it’s so dynamic that everything is attractive to me. I’ve never been a musician: my career began as a can change the way people enjoy music. sound.
Design consultants Bazil Tung Charlie Bolton Michael Paterson Wai Chung I’ve always been very hands-on since I was young, and I get I’ve been a product designer for over ten years, seven of those During the past five years I have been involved in the industrial Philips was my first employer and I’m still here now, so essentially immense gratification out of making things with my hands. years at Philips. I have designed many products for Philips: design of many audio products from 5.
Philips Fidelio A new milestone in Philips sound history At Philips, we understand that if you truly love sound, every detail matters. Whether it’s your favorite song or a movie soundtrack, you want to experience sound and all its nuances exactly as the artist intended. This is why our engineers have gone to great lengths to ensure that Fidelio products reproduce every sound as it was first heard during the recording.
Philips Fidelio headphones The headphone market has seen rapid developments in recent years, including the increasing popularity of products in higher-end segments, plus the raised expectations of consumers who are not only now demanding a truly excellent listening experience everywhere: ‘on-the-go’ and at home - but also looking for welldesigned products that they are proud to own.
Philips Fidelio L1 headphones The exquisitely hand-crafted L1 headphones define a new standard in sound and comfort. Each pair is expertly engineered to deliver sound as faithful to the original as possible. Fifty years of headphone acoustics expertise can be experienced with the new Philips Fidelio L1. Luxurious components are teamed with innovative technologies to define a new standard for headphones.
Philips Fidelio M1 headphones Philips extends the Fidelio range with the introduction of the M1 headphones, a light yet sturdy design offering the perfect combination of superior sound and comfort for anyone serious about enjoying music on the move. Philips Fidelio M1 is designed specifically for music lovers who want to maximize their enjoyment without comprising quality whilst away from their home.
Philips Fidelio docking speakers With millions of portable music players, smartphones and tablets leading manufacturer for producing docking speakers that offer the sold worldwide, the market is dominated by two key players, perfect solution as seen in the Fidelio range. Apple and Android. Over 84% of smartphone owners regularly use their device to listen to music on the go (Sensorium research, Exquisitely crafted, the Fidelio docking speakers unleash music with March 2011).
Philips Fidelio SoundSphere docking speakers Philips Fidelio SoundSphere docking speakers provide both high fidelity sound and hasslefree access to all your music from iTunes1. They exemplify perfection through uncompromised excellence in acoustic engineering and exceptional craftsmanship. The stunning sound quality of the Philips Fidelio SoundSphere docking speaker lies within its unique design, through the patented positioning of the tweeters and the woofer.
Philips Fidelio Primo docking speaker Designed for audiophile quality, the Fidelio Primo docking speaker for 2012 offers wireless connectivity, AirPlay, and enhanced bass performance with even more clarity than its earlier generations. Enabling consumers to play music from their iPad, iPhone, or iPod with optimum precision, its crossover design lets you hear the detail of every note - natural and complete.
Philips Fidelio wireless Hi-Fi The connected audio market is growing at a rapid rate, as more people use their smartphones and tablets as a tool to store all their content, and especially their music. The smartphone is where we experience most of our music - over 80% of smartphone and tablet owners use these devices to store their favorite tracks1.
Philips Fidelio wireless Hi-Fi range Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi range is designed for the connected audiophile and combines advanced acoustic engineering with cutting-edge wireless technology. Fully compatible with all Apple and Android devices, it’s easy to access all your digital music directly from a smartphone, tablet or computer, to enjoy online music services; or listen to more than 30,000 or internet radio stations available via the Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi range.
Philips Fidelio home cinema sound The Philips Fidelio home theater range is designed to bring movies create a wide sweet spot so wherever you sit, you can enjoy a truly to life in your living room by surrounding you with crystal clear cinematic experience. Enhanced voice clarity is provided by extra sound from every angle.
Philips Fidelio SoundHub 2.1 home cinema speakers The SoundHub is a category designed for an increasing group of consumers who want the full home cinema experience plus a powerful system for listening to music without their living rooms becoming dominated by numerous speakers and cables. The Philips Fidelio SoundHub 2.1 speakers with amplifier and 360Sound let you enjoy movies and your favorite music all in one system offering best-in-class sound quality and the latest integrated connectivity features.
Philips Fidelio SoundBar home theater Philips Fidelio SoundBar home theater with Ambisound is designed for modern living - a super slim single unit providing all your entertainment at the touch of a button. It features Full HD 3D Blu-ray and supports a host of integrated connectivity features.
The journey continues Philips continues to set new standards for audio innovation with the Fidelio range. Our focus remains delivering the very best in sound performance, purposeful and distinctive design, and a simple, intuitive user experience. These values underpin everything we do and we are proud that they are anchored in our teams of expert sound engineers and designers, and in the products they create.
