Chapter III: Founding

High Ambitions

In 1985, Joachim Gerhard and Wilhelm Hegener turned a vision into reality – the founding of Audio Physic. From the very beginning, they pursued a clear objective: to unite uncompromising sound with innovative technology. While Joachim Gerhard focused primarily on development and sales, Wilhelm Hegener took on organization, finance, procurement, and logistics – a perfect interplay between two pioneers of sound.

Like many ambitious hi-fi manufacturers of the era, their beginnings were modest. But their passion for exceptional sound allowed them to face every challenge without hesitation. Their first masterpiece, the Tempo, was the result of tireless development work and unwavering dedication.

With slightly more bass than the ProAc Tablette, the Tempo aimed to set new standards.

Gerhard and Hegener quickly realized that outstanding drivers and components alone were not enough – the cabinet itself plays a crucial role in achieving perfect sound. After extensive research and countless tests, one thing became clear: a simple wooden enclosure was insufficient. Their innovative formula was: as light as possible, rigid in the right places, and optimally damped. The secret of the groundbreaking sound lay in the perfect balance of stiffness and resonance absorption.

The cabinet of the Tempo was made of thin-walled MDF – a challenge that only few manufacturers were able to master. The front and rear panels were crafted from durable multiplex with precision-milled recesses, while Teroson damping plates ensured ideal sound control.

The technical components were selected with the utmost care: specialized mid-woofers from SEAS and a Dynaudio dome tweeter delivered supreme precision. The crossover was assembled exclusively with hand-selected, high-quality components. In countless listening comparisons, only the finest foil capacitors were chosen – every detail mattered. Even internal wiring became a science: after extensive testing, they opted for the premium ISODA cable from Japan, whose ultra-fine metal conductors guaranteed exceptional sound quality – despite its demanding processing requirements.

But perfection required sacrifice: production, storage, and packaging all took place inside Wilhelm Hegener’s private home – garage, hallway, kitchen, and living room became the creative center of hi-fi innovation. Everything revolved around perfect sound.

With the finished Tempo in hand, Joachim Gerhard set off to visit the first dealers. It wasn’t long before an exclusive group of specialist retailers recognized the potential of these extraordinary loudspeakers and added them to their portfolio.

Thanks to uncompromising dedication, technical expertise, and relentless pursuit of perfection, Audio Physic quickly evolved into a brand synonymous with supreme sound quality and innovative loudspeaker design – a success story that continues to this day.

The story of Audio Physic