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would also prove temporary: While widely renowned for fine quality and with a history even predating the Videbæk factory, Peerless had at the time of the merger been unable to turn a profit for two decades. Funds spent developing their NXT flat-panel loudspeaker technology, although promising, failed to deliver returns for DST. On the manufacturing side, Vifa's commissioning of a production facility in Panyu, China one year prior to the merger further drained DST. In order to generate much-needed funds, the Vifa brand was finally sold to
Guoguang Electric Corp. in 2004.
22:
259:
A/S. Decisions made in the following years, increasingly partial to the Videbæk factory, would cause escalating conflict between the two manufacturing sites. Among other things, attempts were made to covertly transfer the most profitable technology, tools and equipment to Videbæk. The transports were deemed illegal, however, and halted at the border.
195:, Madsen had developed a talent for mechanical and electrical engineering. At a time when electricity still wasn't available in many rural areas, he among other things built windmills and converted car engines for use as stationary generators by farmers. As he settled in Videbæk, he started a small automotive repair shop.
242:, known by the name SEAS ("Skandinavisk Elektro-Akustisk Selskap"). After the acquisition, technology was shared between the two plants, while the SEAS name and model nomenclature was applied to products from both factories. Videbæk-made models would have the words "SEAS Hroswitha" stamped into their magnet steel caps.
170:
loudspeaker transducers. Starting in 2014, Vifa
Denmark A/S is manufacturing a series of wireless loudspeaker systems for the consumer market, carrying the Vifa logo and named after the capital cities of Scandinavian nations. Since 2023, the company is also making loudspeaker systems for the professional market.
325:
In 2009, the Scan-Speak branch ended up in ownership of a group of Danish investors, consisting among others of former Scan-Speak management. Some of Vifa's original production tools were included, and a small portion of Vifa's classic loudspeaker drive unit programme remains in production as part of
262:
Attempts were also made to hand off the Moss factory, but a sale never materialized. Preparations were then initiated for the
Norwegian site to be closed instead. This was in turn prevented when unions and politicians became involved. The strategy again shifted, this time in order to separate the two
333:
manufacture of loudspeaker drivers, but also covering amplifiers for the professional audio segment. Some of
Peerless' original designs are still manufactured, and retain Peerless' traditional 6-digit product codes. Parts of the old Vifa product range was initially continued by Tymphany as "Peerless
206:
was importing electrodynamic loudspeaker drive units for their radio receivers out of France, and was looking to have them manufactured locally instead. They had approached Niels
Christian Madsen's brother-in-law, who was a blacksmith, and although he was unable to meet their request, he instead put
431:
After gradually disappearing from its traditional grounds following the
Tymphany merger, the Vifa brand was revived by new owners Vifa Denmark A/S in Viborg, Denmark in 2014. Trading on classic Nordic design traditions and naming their products after the Nordic capital cities, the company announced
418:
1994: Vifa engineers design a pentagon-shaped diaphragm, which reduces the severity of resonances at the junction between cone and surround. A patent is applied for in 1996 and granted in 1999. Named 'NRSC' (Non-Resonant
Suspension Coupling), the technology is initially employed in Vifa's high-end
300:
DST's product tree would largely remain the same, and marketing continued under the well-established Vifa, Scan-Speak and
Peerless brand names. Although introducing an all-new Logic brand to target lower-cost segments, limited synergy thus resulted from the merger in practice. The economical boost
210:
The early Videbæk speaker drive units were handmade, with metal parts manufactured in Madsen's auto workshop. Materials for the soft parts, such as cardboard diaphragms and leather suspensions, were sourced from local suppliers. Final assembly was taken care of by mrs. Madsen at the kitchen table.
321:
Around the time of
Tymphany's acquisition of DST, the Vifa brand was put into use in the marketing of home theatre systems, including the "Touch", "Sense" and "Reference" series of A/V receivers and 5.1 channel loudspeaker sets, all manufactured in China. Although it is unclear when these product
283:
With the acquisition of high-end manufacturer Scan-Speak in 1987-89, the Vifa-Speak A/S corporation was formed. Scan-Speak kept its autonomy in research and development, but production was eventually moved to Videbæk in order to benefit from Vifa's infrastructure and finances. The two brands were
258:
Increasing global competition in the electronics industry during the 1970s led to lower profitability, and the two companies were hit by frequent strikes. Changes had to be made in order to remain relevant, and a new general manager was recruited from the Danish
Radionette subsidiary Radio Visjon
245:
The Danish and Norwegian factories had already collaborated to some extent during SEAS' startup in the late 40's, with the Videbæk factory supplying SEAS with inner suspension parts, which were difficult to manufacture to precision. The two now experienced great growth together, and were formally
279:
Nearly succeeding in bankrupting SEAS, the Danish site broke away in the late summer of 1981, eventually creating its own identity under the brand name "Vifa" (an abbreviation of "Videbæk Fabrikker"). While the first Vifa-branded products were simply a continuation of older SEAS products, and
169:
With a turbulent history of changing ownership and periods of economic hardship, leading to several mergers and restructuring efforts, the original company no longer exists. The Vifa brand, although loosely linked to the current business, is also no longer primarily associated with individual
292:
In 2000, Vifa-Speak took over the shares of troubled fellow Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Peerless Fabrikkerne AS. Together, they formed DST (Danish Sound Technology), representing some of the finest know-how in the loudspeaker business. Combining their manufacturing structures would prove
297:. While the latter was suitable for uniform high-volume production, any level of design customization would carry an intrinsicly higher cost. It also placed different requirements on e.g. the curing time of glue, necessitating a continued double stockpile of chemicals and other materials.
207:
B&O in touch with Madsen. Together with two of his brothers, who were already employed at the Bang & Olufsen plant, Niels Christian Madsen started developing the required components. The experiments were successful, and Madsen's final designs were approved by B&O.
280:
predominantly made using SEAS-owned tools, Vifa would over the next few years develop and bring to market their own complete range of loudspeaker drivers, in time rising to become a major player in the European loudspeaker business. A US subsidiary was established in 1982.
284:
kept separate, and Vifa began gearing their own production towards higher quality speaker drivers. A resulting "Premium Line" model program entered the market in the mid-90s, with a couple of notable innovations.
225:
Apart from B&O, other domestic radio manufacturers, such as SP Radio and Ă…rhus Radiolager, would be added to the customer list. Attempts were also made at export, although details are scarce on this point.
293:
difficult, though: While Vifa-Speak's production made extensive use of standardized sub-assembly, allowing for great flexibility towards their customers, Peerless' manufacturing closely resembled a sequential
263:
factories by means of economic force. The Videbæk premises were subsequently mortgaged, ostensibly to buy the Seas shares, but with the Danish stock as collateral. A clandestine arrangement with creditor
313:
2005) subwoofer concept. The LAT technology ultimately found little success in the market, and growing financial concerns led the company to move most of their remaining manufacturing operations to the
211:
The business was eventually named "Videbæk Højttaler-fabrik" ("The Videbæk Loudspeaker Factory"), and in 1947, production moved into a dedicated factory building at Stationsvej 3, Videbæk.
422:
1999: The XT-series Ring Radiator tweeter, with a patented phase plug, is launched under the Vifa brand. Scan-Speak engineers later refine the technology to make their own top-end models.
493:
From the 1980s and well into the new millennium, Vifa speaker drivers were widely used among respected loudspeaker brands, such as Aerial Acoustics, Apogee, Dali, JPW, Mission, Ruark,
309:
In 2005, DST was acquired by startup company Tymphany. Based in Cupertino, California, they were at the time known for their prototype LAT ("Linear Array Transducer", first shown at
250:
focused on technological development and production at the higher end of the product stack, the Videbæk factory continued to manufacture more traditional and lower-cost products.
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Initially concentrating on household and lifestyle audio devices, Vifa now also manufacture loudspeakers and line arrays for professional installation and sound reinforcement.
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In 1961, preparing for his retirement, Niels Christian Madsen decided to sell the factory shares to his son, engineer Carl Christian Nørgaard Madsen, and Radionette founder
218:
was at some point chosen for the transducers. The name is claimed to be an older spelling form of Videbæk, but likely just refers to the medieval Saxon poet of the
379:
2000: Vifa-Speak A/S takes over the remaining Peerless stock to form Danish Sound Technology (DST). A manufacturing facility is established in Pan Yu, China.
326:
Scan-Speak's Discovery product line. Scan-Speak is now an independent company in the Eastech Group and reside in Vifa's old facilities in Videbæk, Denmark.
322:
ranges were introduced and discontinued, and which regions they were sold in, it seems to have been a relatively short-lived and poorly documented affair.
739:
443:-based Helsinki (2015) and Oslo (2016) speakers, and the Stockholm Hi-Fi soundbar, all adorned with textiles from the Danish textile manufacturer,
352:
1961: N.C. Madsen sells all shares of Videbæk Højttalerfabrik to his son C.C. Nørgaard-Madsen and Jan Wessel, owners of SEAS Fabrikker A/S, Norway.
749:
373:
1991: Scan-Speak moves to facilities in Videbæk, and their trademark is transferred from Dantax Radioindustri A/S to Videbæk Højttalerfabrik A/S.
734:
214:
In 1953, the "Aktieselskabet Videbæk Højttalerfabrik" corporation was formed, with N.C. Madsen as the only share owner. The product brand
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equipment until the next day. The Videbæk factory was thus dropped into the hands of the bank and the management at the Danish site.
136:
company Vifa Denmark A/S. In everyday speech, the brand name also refers to the company itself. The company designs and manufactures
515:
343:
1933: Videbæk Højttalerfabrik is founded by N. C. Madsen, and starts supplying loudspeaker drive units to radio manufacturers.
370:
1987: Vifa starts acquiring the Scan-Speak operation and Vifa-Speak A/S is formed, continuing the manufacture of both brands.
396:
2005: DST is acquired by Silicon Valley startup Tymphany, and production of transducers is gradually moved to Xin Xu, China.
334:
V-Line", avoiding trademark disputes, although only a few of these products are currently (2023) found in their catalogue.
349:
1953: The business is incorporated as "Aktieselskabet Videbæk Højttalerfabrik", with N.C. Madsen as the sole share owner.
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in short order forced a one-day-notice 1,1 million DKK default upon SEAS, and also involved switching off the bank's
419:
Premium Line bass and midrange units, but is also used in subsequent product series such as the lower-cost TC-range.
141:
490:. For a brief period in the late 70's and early 80's, export units would therefore also carry the SISO logo.
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1965: Videbæk Højttalerfabrik A/S invests in the construction of a large anechoic chamber for measurements.
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183:
The predecessor to Vifa was founded in 1933 by Niels Christian "N.C." Madsen, in the small town of
595:
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To establish itself on the international market, Vifa was represented by the sales company
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390:, Denmark, marketing Vifa-branded A/V systems that are manufactured in Zhongshan, China.
35:
Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the
625:
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2004: The Vifa brand is sold to the Chinese company GGEC (Guoguang Electric Corp.).
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Loudspeaker Factory"), a business founded in 1933 by N.C.Madsen, that manufactured
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Tymphany, now headquartered in Hong Kong, has kept the Peerless brand for their
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supplier for many high-end loudspeaker brands, until production ceased in 2009.
318:, followed by the final sale of these activities to Chinese investors in 2008.
238:, who by then had established their own loudspeaker manufacturing business in
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1947: Vifa moves into a dedicated factory building at Stationsvej 3, Videbæk.
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The current company traces its roots to "Videbæk Højttalerfabrik" (eng: "The
358:
1971: The factory in Videbæk becomes a sister company to SEAS Fabrikker A/S.
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2009: Tymphany Denmark A/S sells Scan-Speak to the local Danish management.
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1972: Manufacturing expands into complete loudspeaker systems.
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2014: Vifa Denmark A/S acquires the Vifa brand from GGEC.
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drive units for the radio industry. Operating under the
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made sister companies in 1971. While the facilities in
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1977: Export of transducers from Videbæk is initiated.
191:. Originally from the agricultural town of Hjerm near
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Vifa since 1981, the original company was a respected
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1981: Vifa is established as an independent company.
432:its first wireless speaker, Copenhagen, supporting
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439:the same year. This was followed by the portable
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706:"The Handsome, Portable Vifa Copenhagen Speaker"
598:["Seas' hour of fate continues today"].
382:2003: Vifa International A/S is established in
624:(Norwegian ed.). Norway: SEAS Fabrikker.
570:"Danish Loudspeakers - 100 Years - 1915-2015"
405:2009: Vifa Denmark A/S is founded in Viborg.
501:, Thiel, Vandersteen Audio, and many more.
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740:Audio equipment manufacturers of Denmark
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596:""Seas' skjebnetime fortsetter idag""
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602:(in Norwegian). Norway. 1981-07-02
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622:SEAS Fabrikkers historie
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620:Futtrup, Claus (2020).
288:Consolidation attempts
31:is missing information
265:Ringkøbing Landbobank
230:Norwegian ownership
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511:Bang & Olufsen
200:Bang & Olufsen
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666:"History of Seas"
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187:in western
156:loudspeaker
33:about Info.
729:Categories
715:2017-05-13
691:2023-06-17
671:2023-06-17
651:2023-06-17
606:2023-04-21
580:28 January
549:2023-04-21
527:References
413:Technology
388:Karlslunde
236:Jan Wessel
144:products.
600:Moss Avis
471:Reykjavik
441:Bluetooth
220:same name
216:Hroswitha
193:Holstebro
99:, Denmark
37:talk page
505:See also
465:Helsinki
386:, later
338:Timeline
316:Far East
254:Conflict
179:Founding
138:consumer
104:Products
45:May 2017
445:Kvadrat
437:Airplay
427:Rebirth
384:Rødovre
189:Denmark
185:Videbæk
174:History
160:acronym
149:Videbæk
112:Website
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75:Founded
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240:Norway
204:Struer
134:Danish
97:Viborg
477:Scene
434:Apple
269:Telex
142:audio
119:.vifa
107:Audio
626:ISBN
582:2023
544:Vifa
516:Dali
499:Sony
488:SISO
474:City
468:Oslo
130:Vifa
85:2009
78:2009
331:ODM
311:CES
164:OEM
121:.dk
117:www
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