Austrian Audio

Lore & Background

Austrian Audio's origins lie in the closure of AKG Acoustics' operations in Austria. AKG was founded in Vienna in 1947 by Rudolf Görike and Ernst Pless, initially supplying cinema equipment before expanding into microphones and headphones. After Harman International acquired AKG in 1993 and Samsung Group acquired Harman in 2016, the AKG factory in Liesing with about 130 employees was closed and relocated by mid-2017. Some employees were offered relocation to Germany or Hungary, but AKG continued only as a brand within Harman, with product development moved to Eastern Europe.

In July 2017, Austrian Audio was founded by 22 former AKG employees from management, acoustics, electronics, testing, mechanical design, wireless technology, and software/firmware. The company spent over a year developing its first microphone capsule, the CKR12, before releasing its first two products, the OC818 and OC18 large-diaphragm condenser microphones, in 2019. In 2025, DPA Microphones acquired a majority share in Austrian Audio, with the company maintaining its presence in Austria.

Reader's Guide

Austrian Audio emerged directly from the dissolution of AKG Acoustics' historic Vienna operations, representing a continuation of Austrian pro-audio engineering tradition by the same personnel who had developed AKG's products. The company's founding by 22 former AKG employees across multiple disciplines allowed it to retain institutional knowledge in acoustics, electronics, and mechanical design. Its first microphone capsule, the CKR12, required over a year of development, indicating a focus on proprietary transducer technology. The OC818 and OC18 large-diaphragm condenser microphones, introduced in 2019, established the company's product line in the professional studio market. The 2025 acquisition by DPA Microphones, a Danish professional microphone manufacturer, brought Austrian Audio under new ownership while the company kept its Austrian base. The brand's significance lies in its direct lineage from AKG's Austrian engineering heritage and its ability to re-establish a professional audio manufacturing presence in Vienna after AKG's departure.

Did You Know?

• Austrian Audio was founded by 22 former AKG Acoustics employees after AKG's Vienna offices closed in 2017.
• Austrian Audio's first products were the OC818 and OC18 large-diaphragm condenser microphones, released in 2019.