DPA Microphones (originally Danish Pro Audio) is a Danish manufacturer of condenser microphones and microphone solutions for the professional markets, owned by the Italian private equity fund, Palladio Holding S.p.A. The current CEO is Kalle Hvidt Nielsen. The company was founded in 1992 by two former employees from
Brüel & Kjær
Brüel & Kjær (Sound and Vibration Measurement A/S) was a Danish multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Nærum, near Copenhagen. It was the largest producer in the world of equipment for acoustic and vibrational mea ...
- Morten Støve and Ole Brøsted Sørensen. Brüel & Kjaer had decided to close their Pro Audio department and Morten and Ole made a contract with B&K to take over sales, service and development. DPA was at that time solely supplying high end studio microphones for recording and broadcast use. In 1995 they teamed up with Dan Ingemann Jensen and Jens Jørn Stokholm from DanaBallerina (later Muphone) and co-developed the later famous DPA 4060 and 4061 miniature condenser microphone, which quickly became the preferred microphone in the theatre world on Broadway in New York and the West End in London. The company received the prestigious King Frederik IX award at a ceremony in Fredensborg Castle.
The company’s headquarters is located in Allerød, Denmark, and the production plant is located in Asnæs, Denmark.
In 2017, DPA made a shift in its product line up. The company introduced a new series of products called CORE by DPA. The idea behind CORE by DPA was to solve the issue lavaliers were having with newer digital wireless transmitters. The first products to launch using the new CORE by DPA microphone design was the 4060 series of lavaliers followed by the 6060 series of lavaliers.
On July 30, 2020, NASA’s
Perseverance (rover)
''Perseverance'', nicknamed ''Percy'', is a car-sized Mars rover designed to explore the Jezero crater on Mars as part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission. It was manufactured by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and launched on July 30, 2020, at 11:50 U ...
took off for a seven-month journey to
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...
with a DPA 4006 Omnidirectional condenser microphone, an MMA-A Digital Audio Interface, and an MMP-G Modular Active Cable in tow. It touched down successfully on February 18, 2021. In this hostile environment the DPA equipment has been recording the first ever heard sounds from Mars.
Awards
2023: TEC Award - Microphones, Sound Reinforcement - DPA 4055 Kick Drum Microphone
2023: Panelli Award Nominee - DPA 4055 Kick Drum Microphone
2022: Magnetic Magazine Best of 2022, Live Performance Mic: DPA 2028
2022: Danish Sound Award, granted by Danish Sound Cluster
2022: TEC Award Nominee - Microphones, Sound Reinforcement - DPA 4055
2022: Professional Audio (German Magazine 11/22) - Spitzenklasse - DPA 4055.
2021: CAS Award Nominee - Outstanding product production - DPA 4097 CORE Micro Shotgun Mic
2021: Resolution Award Nominee – 4097 CORE Micro Shotgun
2021: Mix Award - Best in Market '21 - 4488 CORE Directional Microphone
2021: Technical Achievement Oscars - Jens-Jørn Stokholm & Ole Moesmann
2020: The Readers' Choice Awards - 2028 Vocal Microphone
2020:
TEC Award The TEC Awards is an annual program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. The awards are given to honor technically innovative products as well as companies and individuals who have excelled in sound for television, film, recordings, ...
Nominee - 2028 Vocal Microphone
2020: TEC Award Nominee - 4097 Shotgun Microphone
2020: TEC Award Nominee – 6066 Headset Mic
2020: Resolution Award Nominee - 4560 Binaural Headset
2019: Live Sound International/Pro Sound Web Readers Choice Award - 4099 CORE
2019: TEC Award Nominee - d:fine CORE 6066 Subminiature Headset Microphone
2019: Resolution Award - 6060 CORE
2019: Red Dot Award - d:fine CORE 6066 Subminiature Headset Microphone
2019: PROSOUND News Best of Show Award - 2028 Vocal Microphone
2019: IBC Best of Show Awards 2019 - 2028 Vocal Microphone
2018: Resolution Award Nominee - d:screet CORE 4061 Omni Mic, Loud SPL
2018: MusicTech Choice Award - MMA-A Digital Audio Interface
2018: TEC Award Nominee - CORE by DPA
2017: The Reader's Choice Awards Winner - d:facto 4018VL Linear Vocal Microphone
2017: TEC Award Technical Nominee - d:facto 4018VL Linear Vocal Microphone
2016: Sound on Sound Awards nominee - d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones
2016: TEC Award Technical Nominee - d:screet SC4098 Podium Microphone
2016: Resolution Award - d:screet Slim 4060 Miniature Omni Mic
2015: Resolution Award nominee - d:fine In-Ear Broadcast Headset Microphone
2015: Sound & Video Contractor Innovative Products Awards - d:screet SC4098 Podium Miniature Microphones
2015: TEC Award - d:screet Necklace Microphone
2014: Resolution Award nominee -d:facto Vocal Microphone
2014: Pronews Gold Award 2013 - d:dicate 4017C
2014: The Readers´Choice Awards 2014 - d:facto Vocal Microphone
2014: PIPA Award 2014 - d:facto Vocal Microphone
2013: Resolution Award nominee - d:fine Headset Microphone
2013: mipa (Musikmesse International Press Award) - d:facto Vocal Microphone
2013: ProSoundNetwork Best of Show Award, NAMM - d:facto Vocal Microphone
2013: AudioMedia “Gear of the Year” award - d:facto Vocal Microphone
2013: ProSoundNetwork Best of Show Award, InfoComm - Podium Microphones
2012: TEC Award nominee - d:fine Headset Microphone
2012: PAR Excellence Award nominee - Reference Standard Microphone Series
2012: PAR Excellence Award nominee - d:facto Vocal Microphone
2012: IBC Award - Highly Commended Stand Design
2012: Produção Áudio Awards - d:facto Vocal Microphone
2012: Live Design Product of the Year Award, d:fine Headset Microphone
2012: Resolution Award - Reference Standard Microphone Series
2012: Audio Pro International API Award - Studio After Sales Service
2012: Live Design Product of the Year Award - d:fine Headset Microphone
2012: Resolution Award - Reference Standard Microphone Series
2011: TEC Award nominee - 2011A Cardioid Microphone
2011: MIX Certified Hit - Reference Standard Microphone Series
2011: Audio Media Gear of the Year - Reference Standard Microphone Series
2010: TEC Award nominee - 5100 Mobile Surround Microphone
2010: Resolution Award - 5100 Mobile Surround Microphone
2010: PAR Excellence Award - Reference Standard
2009: The DPA d:vote 4099 instrument microphones received several awards (Audio Media Gear of the Year, TEC Award)
2007: DPA Microphones received the prestigious award King Frederik IX award
2006: WFX Best New Product Award - SMK4061 Stereo Microphone Kit With Miniature Microphones
2004: TEC Award nominee - 4088 Directional Headset Microphone
2002: TEC Award nominee: 4066 Omnidirectional Headset Microphone
1989: TEC Award – B&K 4011 Cardioid Microphone
References
{{reflist
Audio equipment manufacturers of Denmark
Danish companies established in 1992
Microphone manufacturers
Danish brands