Bad cables, bad sound - and nobody is bothered. Nobody? In a small village near Freiburg there two heroes sit together and offer resistance. In Pfaffenweiler, Ilse Sumser and Günther Sumser are annoyed by the mediocre quality offered by listless manufacturers. They can hear that the sound quality of even the best hi-fi components suffers from bad cables and accessories. An idea is born: We can do better than that. But we will only be satisfied with the best.

Günther Sumser registers the company in-akustik in the commercial register and develops his first cables and accessories. The location is Pfaffenweiler am Batzenberg.

A realisation dawns: Good hardware can only be recognised by good music. And good music only sounds good with good cables. Günther Sumser and Alex Manninger produce their first own audiophile masterpieces. Their own record label “inak” (now: in-akustik) sees the light of day: And quickly makes a name for itself as a good provider of Blues, Rock, Jazz and Contemporary Instrumental Music. Even then, only state-of-the-art recordings were accepted. Critics and audiences are delighted.

in-akustik moves to Ballrechten-Dottingen for more space. The new company premises are inaugurated.

At the same time, the CD begins its triumphal procession. In-akustik is present and has made a name for itself as a direct importer of the silver discs. Once again, in-akustik is faster than the trend.

The success of the sound storage media from in-akustik do not stay hidden from others. Listeners develop an awareness of quality thanks to the CD. Other labels become interested in a partnership with in-akustik.
The sound storage medium segment has grown so much (and has earned such a good reputation) that radical expansion has become necessary. Sound storage mediums constitute an own department, managed by Bernhard Rössle, who takes over the segment and sets up specific sales structures.

Exceptional cables and excellent music are not enough for the sound community. It also demands other equipment of in-akustik quality. In-akustik sells head-phones, microphones and hi-fi furniture in Germany for new partners.
Günther Sumser and Alex Manninger, who mainly developed cables and accessories, also for cars, have made a name for themselves in the industry. This has impressed Focal from France. In-akustik now sells their car speakers in Germany.

Another jump in quality. in-akustik and Focal extend their partnership. Now, in-akustik also sells the legendary home speakers from France. They were then known as JMLab, an abbreviation of Jacques Mahul Laboratorium, named after the founder of Focal.

The founder leaves: Günther Sumser leaves the company for health reasons. Günter Braun, the owner of the Swabian companies BRAWA and Braunkabel, which used to produce the cables for in-akustik, takes in-akustik over as the sole associate. Dieter Amann, who was the “second man” for nine years, manages the business. A melancholy parting and a hopeful change.

in-akustik celebrates its 20th birthday. All 50 employees join in the celebrations. In-akustik has become a leading provider in Europe and sets the benchmark for quality. In-akustik’s records are used at high-end trade fairs and similar events to demonstrate the quality of hardware.

For a long time, our cables have the best reputation. But in-akustik wants to go even further. We introduce the black&white series, our reference class. An internal development department is to produce the best cables in the world, regardless of cost and effort. For audio and speakers.

in-akustik releases its first own DVD (“Upfront” by the Blues Company), the first DVD 10 – produced by Sony DADC. For two television systems: one side PAL, one side NTSC.

The black&white LS-1602 from in-akustik is probably the most complex cable ever developed. New architecture, high-purity material, a world premiere for completely new shielding.

Focal has also reached its goal. Whether in the car or at home: The speakers are declared as the best in the world in independent tests by the trade press. One of the main reasons is a world innovation: Focal develops from Beryllium, a material more expensive than gold, but unique in the combination of low weight, high stiffness and highest internal damping.

Quality prevails. in-akustik registers two-digit growth rates every year. in-akustik is a global player – and a leading brand. The high-quality cables and speakers, and the selected media range, are given a “face-lift” that does justice to their high standard. Quality is visible at first glance.

In the future, in-akustik will break a new ground and will focus on a new, innovative branch of business: AmbienTech. AmbienTech is the new range of products from in-akustik that combines intelligent house technology with stylish furnishing. Technology that shows what it can do by hiding itself. AmbienTech consists of AmbienTone sound walls and AmbienTrack cable conduit systems. With the introduction of this new product line, in-akustik will concentrate even stronger on their own brand. As a result of this reorientation, in-akustik has decided to end the business relationship with Focal

in-akustik has changed constantly during its 30 year history; it has improved its products, adapted structures, set trends. But some things have not changed in all this time. And that is our demand to the future: We never make compromises, are never satisfied with what we have achieved. We seek pure pleasure.