Philips Fidelio Brochure
Contents
Obsessed with sound
Philips sound heritage
05 Dening sound since the 1920s
The radio goes global
06 A legend of the recording industry
08 The bir th of portable audio
09 The CD revolution
Pioneering connected audio
11 Fidelio heralds a new era
Philips competencies
14 Fidelio sound
15 Golden Ears
17 Design and acoustic engineering
18 Sound and acoustics innovation engineers
20 Product designers
Obsessed with sound
Philips holds a special place within the world of
audio. An admired innovator, Philips has dened
the standards of what we hear and how we
experience it, bringing to consumers numerous
Philips Fidelio
25 Headphones
M1BT
S2
30 Portable speakers
P9X
35 Docking speakers
SoundSphere
Primo
40 Wireless Hi-Fi
44 Audio systems
Sound towers
48 Home cinema sound
E5
SoundSphere DesignLine
SoundHub
The journey continues
ground-breaking products such as portable
radio, compact cassette and recorder, compact
disc, and wireless Hi-Fi. With the launch of Philips
premium Fidelio range, our obsession with sound
continues.
As we near a centenary in audio innovation,
we share our philosophy and introduce you
to the people behind it. Join us on our sound
journey - Philips’ quest to improve and enhance
the listening experience of music lovers, offering
them the most authentic sound possible: just as
the artist intended.
2
3
Philips
sound heritage
Speech by Dutch Queen Wihelmina and Princess Juliana via a Philips short-wave
transmitter, 1927.
Anton Philips, co-founder of Royal Philips N.V., with the one millionth radio set sold
in 1932.
Dening sound since the 1920s
For almost a century, Philips has pioneered audio innovations
that have transformed the way the world enjoys sound.
Our quest for the most authentic sound reproduction began
in the early days of radio. In 1923, we produced the Miniwatt
radio valve, a smaller, more powerful and more energy efcient
valve than previously available. This meant that radio listeners
could replace headphones with a loudspeaker, allowing music
to be enjoyed with families as a shared experience. This was
the rst in a long line of innovations that would cement Philips’
position as one of the most important players in audio history.
The Miniwatt radio valve’s packaging proudly bore the iconic
Philips shield logo with its memorable waves and stars.
Reecting the role and signicance of sound within the
company, the waves symbolized radio waves and the stars
represented the evening sky because, at the time, families
would gather around the radio set in the evening to listen to
news and shows. These were cherished moments that created
lasting memories.
The radio goes global
Philips’ next major innovation, introduced in 1927, was the
pentode – a ve electrode radio valve. Essentially a high power
electron tube that minimized signal distortion, it was the rst
step toward the pure sound that Philips strives for.
In 1927, The Netherland’s Queen Wilhelmina and Princess
Juliana addressed compatriots in the East and West Indies
using a Philips shor t-wave transmitter set up in a laboratory.
This rst-of-its-kind break through generated national acclaim.
Encouraged, Philips set up N.V. Philips Omroep Holland-Indie,
a world broadcasting service .
Philips went on to develop and introduce a small domestic
radio set in 1927. It was released at the same time as the most
powerful transmitter in the world. These radio sets would
soon be found in homes all around the world.
We produced the one millionth Philips radio set in 1932 and
the hundred millionth radio valve in 1933, securing our position
as Europe’s biggest manufacturer of radio valves and the world
leader in radio sets.
Chapel Radio, 1931. This iconic radio set was nicknamed ‘The Little Chapel’.
6
6
7
A legend of the recording industry
Philips’ recording histor y began with the 1942 acquisition
of Hollandsche Decca Distributie (HDD), exclusive Dutch
distributor of Decca Records and gramophone producer.
Philips Phonograsche Industrie (PPI) was formed in 1950 as an
entrant to the record manufacturing and recording industries.
PPI played an impor tant role in introducing the long-playing
vinyl (LP) record to Europe and it distributed Mercury Records
worldwide. In 1962, PPI merged with Deutsche Grammophon
Gesellschaft (DGG), owner of Polydor Records to form GPG,
the largest record company in Europe.
GPG became PolyGram and Polydor Records in the US in
1972 and acquired famous American and British labels including
MGM Records and Decca. The disco craze of the 1970s marked
Polygram’s peak, thanks to multi-million selling records and
soundtracks.
For a time it was the world’s biggest record company, bolstered
by acquisitions of famous labels including Motown. Sadly,
the company’s for tunes dwindled and it was sold to Seagram in
1998 to become Universal Music. Today it survives through the
reissue of music under the Polydor Records label.
Philips Phonograsche Industrie (PPI) and gramophone records, 1950s.
8
9
The word’s rst compact cassette recorder, 1963.
Compact discs at their peak
– CD factory in Hannover, 1985. CD -100 – The world’s rst CD player, 1982 (Invented by Philips in cooperation
with Sony).
Streamium MC-i250 – The world’s rst wireless broadband internet micro Hi-Fi
system, 2003.
The birth of portable audio
Philips focused on more than sound quality, releasing many
product innovations that were ground-breaking in their time.
It became synonymous with melding innovation and premium
sound quality.
Following World War II, Philips manufactured tape recorders
for magnetic sound and playback, but their loose reels meant
that threading the tape was a ddly task, restricting them to
professional applications.
In 1963, the world’s rst compact cassette recorder was
presented at the International Radio Exhibition in Berlin.
This revolutionary product encased both tape reels in plastic,
overcoming the problem of loose reels and was conveniently
small. Originally conceived for dictation rather than music,
record companies soon recognized its potential. Philips decided
to license the cassette format for free, establishing itself as
the founder of por table audio and a new format that would
become a world standard for decades to come.
In 1966, the rst albums on cassette were released under
the Philips-owned Mercury label. By the 1970s, the compact
cassette had become one of the most popular formats for
pre-recorded music.
The CD revolution
When the popularity of the compact cassette was at
its peak, Philips prepared to unveil yet another ground-
breaking audio innovation. In 1974, a team of researchers
at Philips’ labs in Eindhoven had developed a 20cm optical
audio disc with sound quality superior to the large yet
fragile vinyl record. What was ultimately unveiled to the
world in 1979 was an 11.5cm optical audio disc called the
‘Compact Disc’. As international standardization was key
to its success, Philips collaborated with Sony to establish the
global Red Book standard for digital audio discs.
Philips’ researchers had succeeded in their objective: music
reproduction was of an unprecedented quality; without
inter ference and noise, and resilient to light fingerprints,
dust and scratches.
In 1982, the ‘Big Bang’ of the digital audio revolution
occurred as CD players and discs were widely released
in the US and other markets. As CDs became more
affordable, it revolutionized the record industry and
the way people listened to music at home, thanks to
improved sound qualit y, durable materials and the ability to
skip whole tracks in an instant. This rmly established Philips’
reputation as an undisputed global leader in audio.
Pioneering connected audio
Hot on the heels of the compact disc came the FW-i1000 –
the world’s rst integrated audio device connecting to more
than a thousand Internet radio stations. This was shortly
followed by the Philips Streamium MC-i250 – the world’s rst
wireless broadband internet micro Hi-Fi system. This wireless
product was a pioneer in connected entertainment and the
forerunner of the wireless speakers that we enjoy today. It was
the rst audio product to offer access to multiple online music
services and streaming of digital music from multiple devices on
a home network.
The MC-i250 was followed by more ‘Streamium’ products
that provided integrated home entertainment functions,
accompanied with the slogan: ‘Don’t dream it, stream it!’.
10
11
‘Chapel Radio’
Radio Receiver
Compact
Cassette Recorder
Digital Compact
Cassette Recorder
Streamium Wireless Broadband
Internet Micro Hi-Fi System
Philips Fidelio
1931
1963
CD PlayerPhiletta Radio
1992 20031982 20101955 2012
Super Audio CD Player
2000
Primo Docking Speaker
Fidelio heralds a new era
Building on its credentials in audio, Philips went on to develop
the Fidelio range, which marked the nex t chapter in Philips’
illustrious sound journey. Specially designed for discerning
music lovers, the range is based on the premise that if you truly
love sound, every detail matters. Whether it’s your favorite
song or movie soundtrack, you should experience sound and
all its nuances exactly as the artist intended.
The Fidelio heralded a new era for Philips. Featuring docking
speakers, wireless Hi-Fi, headphones, and home cinema
sound, it offered a comprehensive range of premium
products, all characterized by unparalleled sound quality,
craftsmanship and leading-edge connected functionality.
The Fidelio remains a testament to Philips’ continual obsession
with sound.
12 13
12
13
Philips
competencies
14
15
Fidelio sound
Golden Ears
Philips’ acoustic engineers’ creativity and daring to think beyond
the boundaries of current technologies is what drives their ideas
for new products. Extensive research into emerging technologies,
competitor activities, and blue sky thinking from universities and
innovation networks, keep them one step ahead of the game.
Fundamental to the success of the product development process
is the ability to tune in to the needs and aspirations of our end
users. Understanding our consumers is the cornerstone of Philips’
sound engineering philosophy. Our engineers strive for solutions
that will improve the everyday lives of sound aspirers and create
products that deliver sound just as it is meant to be heard.
Our engineers also work closely with marketers and product
designers to consider important factors, such as potential
markets, technological feasibility and sales channels to ensure that
new concepts reect Philips’ values and philosophy of delivering
best-in-class sound, design and connectivity, before letting an idea
blossom into full development.
At the heart of Philips’ audio division lies a team of exper t
engineers and technicians who share a common desire: to be
the best in sound. This team of committed and collaborative
specialists is the key in inuencing Philips’ sound signature.
Despite being surrounded by the very latest monitoring and
testing equipment in their innovation labs, the human ear
is relied upon to help rene each product, resulting in the
superior sound clarity and warmth that music lovers have
come to expect from Philips. After years of experience,
this highly skilled panel has earned the respected name,
‘Golden Ears’.
Today, fty Golden Ears specialists – trained to detect the
smallest nuances in sound – are located at four Philips audio
innovation sites worldwide. All our products undergo a sound
quality engineering process, beginning with the Golden Ears
panel. They dene a listening standard through stringent tests
and measurements to ensure our product outperforms others
in a similar price range.
A functional prototype is then developed using the intended
key components and architecture of the nal product. At this
stage, the components and design features are optimized in
order to best match the product with purchasers and their
budgets. Prior to launch, every product must pass the nal
Golden Ears blind preference test against competitor products.
Only then is it ready to entertain our customers.
16
17
Design and acoustic engineering
At Philips, acoustic design and product design are inextricably
linked. Both collaborate symbiotically throughout the
development process – from concept to production. During this
time, it is continuously rened in design and acoustics, passing
through countless prototyping tests.
The collaboration between product design and acoustics is crucial
to ensure that optimal balance of form and sound performance is
achieved so our customer will get only the best audio experience
in its class. Our teams are completely interdependent in dening
new sound and design concepts, working together to create the
best listening and aesthetic experience.
Fidelio Surround on Demand
A holistic approach to audio innovation
True innovation arises from challenges and dilemmas. Home
cinema users were once forced to choose between a totally
immersive multi-speaker surround sound system and a simple
no-fuss Soundbar.
When Philips invented the all-in-one Soundbar years ago, we
brought simplicity to the home cinema experience. Over time
expectations have grown higher and living conditions have
changed. Today people appreciate Soundbars for their simplicity
but they want more. They are looking for a full 5.1 experience
and total freedom of speaker placement, without wires.
Our engineers explored and incorporated new wireless
technologies into our designers’ exible and innovative design
that celebrated intuitive ease and enjoyment of use. And so,
the Fidelio SoundBar HTL9100 was born. No detail was spared
in the creation of this unique product. We found a way to tuck
two fully wireless battery run speakers into a sleek Soundbar,
and designed it so that they could be easily removed when
required for an immersive 5.1 sound experience. Its simple
twist-and-release mechanism allowed users to remove these
side speakers with just one hand, transforming them into
powerful rear surround sound speakers.
When watching a movie or playing games on the Fidelio
SoundBar HTL9100, the wireless side speakers can be detached
from the main unit, transforming into powerful rear surround
sound speakers. Its graceful airfoil design is smooth and
seamless, without any hard edges to ensure clean and natural
sound.
Through the Fidelio SoundBar speaker with Surround on
Demand, we deliver maximum audio enjoyment and absolute
exibility through sleek design and wireless detachable speakers.
It offers people the choice of simplicity or immersion whenever
they want.
Intrigued by this dilemma, our designers and engineers
collaborated to come up with a revolutionar y solution that
would combine the best of both worlds: the immersive power of
a 5.1 system with real rear surround sound from the back – all
packaged in the sophisticated simplicity of a Soundbar.
18
19
Loading...