24 January 2018

Torchbearer – The Newcomer at Burmester

After Dieter Burmester’s death, Andreas Henke, an industry newcomer, took over the company, focusing on preserving its legacy, quality, and tradition while carefully guiding Burmester into the future.

Text: Olaf Adam, Photos: Burmester Audiosysteme, Jens Ahner

This article originally appeared in 0dB – Das Magazin der Leidenschaft N°2

When company founder Dieter Burmester passed away in 2015, many worried about the future of one of the most renowned flagships of German hi-fi. Yet the team around his widow, Marianne Burmester, kept calm during this difficult time and took their time looking for a successor who would take the reins of the traditional company. It was clear that the company should continue entirely in the spirit of Dieter Burmester—independent of investors, banks, and corporations.

Career Changer

When this successor was finally introduced in the spring of 2016, there was quite a bit of surprise. Andreas Henke, a newcomer to the industry who had previously headed marketing at Porsche, moved into the Berlin company headquarters. A car industry executive, stepping off the preordained career ladder to plunge into the adventure of hi-fi—this caused a stir in both fields.

It was precisely this change that attracted the new Berliner: leaving the structures of a corporation behind and diving into real entrepreneurship. Henke is always aware of the great responsibility this step entails and therefore reins in his eagerness to act. "Of course, I came to Berlin with a thousand fresh ideas. But I have great respect for what Dieter Burmester built here in 38 years of his life. My task, therefore, is to lead the company as part of the next generation so that one day I can pass it on, enriched with experience, emotion, and credibility, to the generation after me."

Two professionally dressed people with microphones introduce a new member on stage at Burmester. — Introduction of the new member at Burmester: Two people present on a stage, professionally dressed and equipped with microphones.

Understanding what the company founder wanted to achieve with his business and why it was so successful over four decades is at the center of attention for the successor when it comes to the future of Burmester. "First, you have to ask yourself: what has stood the test of time? This is certainly true for our design and the materials we use; here, it would be a mistake to follow short-lived trends. But it also applies to our technologies. The strictly symmetrical signal path that Dieter Burmester developed at the time with great foresight is still meaningful today if you aim for the best possible listening experience."

But ultimately, technology is just a means to an end, serving the real goal. "In the end, it's not about meeting measurement values. It's about creating an impact on the listener. The acoustic result must touch and move the listener through the completeness of musical information. A good loudspeaker on a good system conveys the subtleties, the warmth, and the character of music so well that you can vividly imagine the instruments, the orchestra, and the recording situation."

Quality

With a company like Burmester, Andreas Henke has also taken on a considerable amount of responsibility towards the customers and fans of the brand. After all, they are used to being able to complement or expand their system with new products even after years, products that fit visually and technically with their existing equipment. The manager sees this as one of Burmester's essential brand promises. "In a world that spins a little faster every day, we want to be a rock in the surf for people. A point of reference they can hold on to. With our products, we create a value that lasts, that will never be embarrassing, and that will still be a real joy even after 15 years or more."

Technical reliability and longevity, the manager is convinced, are a matter of course in the market segment Burmester serves—customers take them for granted and expect them. Beyond that, however, Henke sees the real quality of his products elsewhere: "A Burmester system enables a very special experience, one you can indulge in again and again over years and decades. One that always provides nourishment for the soul, where you can let yourself go. When you turn on a Burmester system, you switch off the world around you for a moment."

A man showcases high-end audio equipment on a warmly lit stage as an attentive audience listens. — A man proudly presents new high-end audio equipment at a Burmester event. The stage is bathed in warm light while the audience listens attentively.

Strengthening the Roots

Anyone who initially feared that the new manager would completely overhaul the company has clearly been proven wrong. On the contrary, the first Burmester product launches under Henke's leadership not only carry the core of the brand at heart—they elevate it to a whole new level. With the massive new BC350 speakers and the powerful 159 mono power amplifiers, the Berliners have just introduced two new high-end products, the likes of which even Burmester has never seen before. "Fans and customers who have appreciated and admired Burmester for our hi-fi products for decades will certainly not be disappointed in the future. On the contrary, we are expanding and strengthening this area further, since that's where the roots and the core of our brand lie, and that will remain the case."

Provocation as Tradition

"But that doesn't mean we're not also thinking about things that might seem provocative at first glance. Dieter Burmester's entry into the automotive business was also very hotly debated at the time. So we do have ideas that deal with new business fields, but maybe now isn't the time for that yet." As managing director of Burmester, Andreas Henke naturally has to think in business terms, but for him, it's about more than that. "The company should and must continue to develop, but for that you also need a sense and intuition for what is right and bearable for the brand. Fortunately, I don't have to make these decisions alone, as I have a core team of employees, some of whom have been here for a very long time. And through conversations with them, with dealers, and with customers, I develop a deeper understanding of the brand every day."

Step by Step

The task of continuing the life's work of a Dieter Burmester is certainly not an easy one. But Andreas Henke also knows that standing still ultimately means falling behind. That's why he has set out to lead the company and the brand sustainably, but also decisively, into the future. Evolution instead of revolution is the motto. Or, as he puts it himself: "To nurture tradition doesn't mean preserving ashes. It means carrying the torch forward until you hand it over to the next runner."

Two hosts present on stage at a Burmester event. — At an event: Two presenters are on stage. The occasion appears to be a presentation at Burmester.

A speaker presents new Burmester audio products on stage during an event celebrating 40 years of innovation. — A spokesperson presents the latest Burmester products on a stage. The event celebrates 40 years of innovation in audio technology.

A modern loft with Burmester speakers, a striking red electric guitar, and stylish decor blending music and art. — A stylishly furnished loft with modern speakers from Burmester, a striking red electric guitar design, and elegant decorations. A harmonious interplay of music and art.

Burmester celebrates 40 years with a display of high-end speakers and amplifiers at a Hi-Fi exhibition. — Burmester celebrates 40 years with an impressive hi-fi exhibition. The high-quality speakers and amplifiers are artfully showcased.

A new torchbearer at Burmester continues the tradition with fresh energy and expertise. — A new torchbearer at Burmester: With fresh enthusiasm and expertise, he will carry on the tradition.

A technician assembles a high-end Burmester amplifier using precise craftsmanship and premium components in Germany. — A technician assembles a high-end amplifier from Burmester. Precise craftsmanship and high-quality components distinguish this device, which is manufactured in Germany.