Founded in the Swiss canton of Valais, Stenheim launched its first product, the Alumine Two speakers, in 2011, after two years of research and development. These compact, all-aluminum, bookshelf speakers were created to be proof that aluminum enclosures coupled with high-efficiency drivers would deliver a remarkable musical performance. It is a design philosophy from which all Stenheim speakers are derived since then.
A passionate believer in the Alumine concept from the very beginning, Jean-Pascal Panchard took over the running of the company in 2013 to develop the idea into a coherent line of aluminum speakers. He was a music aficionado and engineer by training who brought with him extensive experience in the High End audio market, having worked with some of the leading Swiss names.
What would happen, the company now wondered, if you took the Alumine concept and scaled it up massively, with no regard to cost, to produce a speaker that would provide the deepest bass and fill the largest rooms with crystalline music? Stenheim developed its first Reference speaker as a result in 2014.
Over the years, the Alumine line would expand into the Alumine Five, which took all sorts of learnings from the Reference, and then a scaled down and less costly version of this, the Alumine Three. In parallel, the Reference line also expanded to include the mighty Reference Statement, an ensemble of two main towers and two sub-towers, created for the largest and most demanding systems. Then in 2021, the Reference Ultime Two was launched, a sort of compact Reference but still an imposing speaker.
The company had moved premises in the meantime to an all-new facility just a few miles down the road in Vétroz. Here, still in the heart of the Alps, Stenheim speakers continue to be put together by hand in the shadow of the mountains that surround them.
"Stenheim views music as an essential feature of a well-appointed home," says Walter Schofield, President, Nexus Audio Technologies. "As such, Stenheim speakers are designed like the finest furniture, with top-shelf components, an attractive aesthetic that blends with any decor, and a build quality that is meant to last for generations to come."
Stenheim employs its proprietary design attributes to produce a sound that closely mirrors the experience of a live performance. According to its creators, the aluminum cabinets eliminate the "blur" that is typical of common wood-based cabinet design. Internally, components used in every Stenheim model are made from materials that, individually, are considered world-class.
"The sum total of our speakers’ parts create a sound that is considered a favorite among audiophiles and music lovers who are willing to invest in the best available products for enjoying their favorite recordings," says Schofield.
Matching the luxury-class price, the appearance of each Stenheim model can be customized to the end user. Stenheim offers multiple finish options to allow a match with the design aesthetic of any room.
"Throughout Europe and Asia, Stenheim is the speaker of choice for music enthusiasts who demand the best in their homes. We are thrilled to make this selection of the world's finest speakers available to equally demanding consumers in North America. With Stenheim, music lovers can recreate a concert venue in their own home."
Dealer and other B2B inquiries should be directed to Nexus Audio Technologies, www.nexusaudtech.com.
www.stenheim.com
