Teenage Engineering founder and CEO Jesper Kouthoofd revealed to Highsnobiety that the company will cease manufacturing synthesizers, a move that marks the end of the line for the highly acclaimed OP-1. This decision impacts one of the brand’s most recognizable products, which originally established Teenage Engineering’s reputation in the music technology sector.
While Teenage Engineering is renowned for producing audio-centric gear like the OP-XY, EP-133, and TP-7, the company also operates as a prominent design firm with collaborations spanning major brands such as Ikea, Nothing, and Playdate. The strategic pivot away from in-house music hardware has sparked surprise among industry observers, given the firm’s deep roots in the audio equipment market.
Kouthoofd explained that the decision stems from a broader corporate restructuring initiated last autumn. Further details regarding the specific implications of this shift are expected to emerge as the full scope of the reorganization becomes clear.
So we should expect more design collaborations and fewer original products? I’m worried this means the audio gear era is officially over.
Is this just because hardware margins are terrible? Design work with Ikea and Nothing probably pays way better than buggy synth firmware.
I can’t believe they’re stopping the OP-1. That instrument changed everything for me. What a sad day for synth lovers.