Exclusive Interview with Jonathan Ruest from Neumann Audio

BrandsWalk Creative |
At BrandsWalk, we had the privilege of sitting down with Jonathan Ruest, the Head of Sales and Business Development - Americas for Neumann, a visionary in the world of music and sound innovation. In this exclusive interview, Jonathan shares insights into Neumann's creative process, philosophy behind precision audio, and how their legacy continues to shape the future of sound.

Can you walk us through the inception of Neumann? What inspired the company's establishment? What were some of the early challenges Neumann faced, and how did the team overcome them?

"The company was founded in Berlin in 1928 by Georg Neumann (1898-1976) and Erik Riekmann. Georg Neumann was an inventor from an early age. He had a lifelong passion not only for overcoming technical hurdles, but also for breaking new ground. From pioneering microphones to high-precision electro-acoustic measuring devices and groundbreaking record cutting technology to the Stabylit cell (the first rechargeable NiCd battery) – Georg Neumann's inventive genius knew no bounds. Whatever interested him, whatever roused his ambition, he tackled it. Quietly, and preferably in his own laboratory, he kept pushing the boundaries of what was technologically feasible."

Neumann has seen significant growth since its founding. What do you attribute this growth to?

"There were in fact several waves of growth. Already in the 1920s and 30s, Neumann grew considerably because it produced the first reliable high-quality condenser microphone as well as disk cutting lathes. Then came WW II when the company building was destroyed. After the war, Neumann had to start from scratch but gradually regained its position as the forerunner in recording technology, producing the world’s finest studio microphones (such as the U 47 and M 49) and vinyl disk cutting lathes, (many of which are still in use today). From the late 1960s on, Neumann also produced mixing consoles, which were highly regarded and sought-after."

"In the 1990s, the audio industry changed. CDs replaced vinyl, mixing consoles were now offered by many brands at much lower prices. And although those were of much lower quality, many accepted them as “good enough”. Neumann therefore had to reinvent itself and focus on what it was best known for: studio microphones. In 1991, Neumann became part of the Sennheiser Group."

"From then on Neumann began to grow again, slowly at first but more rapidly so in recent years. Today, Neumann is the only pro audio company that offers the entire recording chain in reference quality – from microphones to the preamps and audio interfaces to studio loudspeakers and headphones. Which, in a way, is a return to our origins, when Georg Neumann had the idea to offer both condenser microphones and recording machines in unheard-of quality."

What has been the most fulfilling experience you've had while working at Neumann?

"For me, there are two distinct moments that come to mind when thinking about the most fulfilling experiences I have had while working at Neumann. The first experience was when I had the opportunity to accept the TEC Award for the M 49 V at the NAMM show alongside our CEO. The team at Neumann put a tremendous amount of effort and soul into bringing the M 49 back, which happens to be my personal favorite classic Neumann microphone, and having the opportunity to accept the award as a representative of that team was incredibly rewarding."

"The second moment was the launch of the MT 48 interface. I share the same feeling with many of my colleagues that this really is the “missing link” in the Neumann signal chain. Being part of the launch of what will become such a historic product in the history of Neumann will always stick with me."

Can you share a pivotal moment or milestone in Neumann's journey that shaped the company's direction?

"A pivotal moment certainly was the introduction of the first Neumann studio monitor in 2010. A few years earlier, Klein + Hummel, another German pro audio company with a long list of important innovations, had become part of the Sennheiser Group and was integrated into Neumann. Among other things, K+H had invented the modern studio monitor with built-in power amplifiers and active crossovers – as early as 1967! This impressive heritage is now part of Neumann studio monitoring."

"The launch of Neumann’s first audio interface MT 48 in 2023 is bound to be another pivotal moment. The MT 48 was developed in close cooperation with Merging Technologies – which became part of the Sennheiser Group in 2022. Merging is a highly innovative Swiss company known for state-of-the-art converters and audio-over-IP solutions. The MT 48 completes the Neumann signal chain, allowing users to produce reference-quality audio throughout, without any bottlenecks. Neumann now is the only pro audio company to offer end-to-end solutions at the highest quality level."

About Jonathan Ruest

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