Gradient story

The first 40 years

The idea of designing loudspeakers that would perform well even in acoustically demanding environments, such as an ordinary living room, led to the founding of Gradient in 1984. The company was established by Jouko Alanko, Mikko Paloranta, and Jorma Salmi.

Engineer Jorma Salmi had been passionate about electronics all his life. He had previously worked at Nokia and Lohja Electronics, where he was responsible for Finlux's radio and television laboratory. During this time, he teamed up with Anders Weckström, who was working on his thesis. Together, Jorma and Anders conducted research on the interaction between loudspeakers and room acoustics. In 1982, they presented their findings at an industry conference in Switzerland. (You can read more about the research here.)

In essence, their research showed that while most quality loudspeakers perform well in a laboratory conditions, an anechoic chamber, significant differences emerge in real-world listening spaces. Somewhat provocatively, they argued that loudspeaker design had not seen major breakthroughs since the 1950s, as too little attention had been paid to the interaction between speakers and the room.

This research played a key role in Jorma Salmi’s decision to start his own company.

Jorma Salmi (1948-2018) working at the first Gradient office in Järvenpää.

Composer Paavo Heininen with his Gradient 2.3. (Photo: Seppo Louhi)

1984, first speakers to Sibelius Academy

At the same time as the first Gradient models were being manufactured, the Finnish music university, the Sibelius Academy, was seeking high-quality loudspeakers for its new facilities. The Sibelius Academy ordered numerous Gradient models for its classrooms and larger halls, becoming Gradient's first customer. The order kept the young entrepreneurs busy throughout their first year and beyond.

Later, many well-known musicians chose Gradient speakers for their homes, including the leading Finnish conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste and composer Paavo Heininen (1938–2022), who was a long-time Professor of Composition at the Sibelius Academy.

1989, industrial design awards

Quite early in the company’s history, the Gradient team recognised the importance of industrial design in products like loudspeakers. Fortunately, Jorma Salmi already knew Jukka Vaajakallio, an accomplished industrial designer, from their time working together at Lohja Corporation. Jukka was a well-regarded figure in his profession in Finland. One of Jukka’s designs for Gradient was the Gradient 1.3 loudspeaker. The operational principle and electroacoustic design were handled by Jorma.

The Gradient 1.3 was honoured with numerous design awards and became part of the collections of museums of industrial art in Helsinki and Tokyo. It has also been displayed across Europe in exhibitions showcasing Finnish industrial design. Notably, the Gradient 1.3 is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, underscoring its cultural and design significance.

The Gradient 1.3 was Gradient’s first export model and received glowing reviews worldwide, including coverage in esteemed magazines like The Absolute Sound. It was even featured on the cover of Stereo Review’s Buyers’ Guide in 1992.

The iconic Gradient 1.3 is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Industrial designer Jukka Vaajakallio with the Gradient Avanti loudspeaker and early design models of the Avanti from the late 1980s.

Jorma Salmi and Anders Weckström with Mr. Peter Walker founder of Quad Electroacoustics (right).

1991, overcoming challenges through global sales

In the early 1990s, Finland fell into a deep economic recession, significantly impacting the domestic market and especially the demand for high-end audio equipment. For Gradient, collaboration with the British company Quad proved to be crucial. When Quad officially approved the Gradient SW-63 and SW-57 bass speakers designed for them, the products quickly gained international recognition, and sales expanded worldwide. This partnership also opened the door for the export of other Gradient products to several countries.

Gradient SW-63 loudspeakers in production at the Gradient factory in Järvenpää in the early 1990s.

HI-FI NEWS & RECORD REVIEW, March 1992

Martin Colloms

The Gradient woofer has not transformed the ESL 63 - rather it has released it from restrictions determined by a need to make the standard speaker a full-range device. With the SW63 the electrostatic blossoms into a true high end speaker of such integrity and ability that no sensible criticism are worth voicing. This is a most graceful performer which again shows the fundamental quality of Peter Walker's marvellous creation. It comes strongly recommended. I can think of no better upgrade path for a '63 owner with ambitions, while as an all-in-one purchase the high review rating equally applies.

The Audiophile Voice, Vol.1, Issue 4, 1992

Joel Shumer

I have used the SW-63s for more than four months, but I knew within the first few weeks I wanted them to be a permanent part of my system. To anyone who owns Quad ESL-63s or has seriously considered getting a pair, you owe it to yourself to investigate the ESL/SW combination first-hand. The addition of the SW-63 makes and already excellent speaker siginificantly better.

The Absolute Sound, Issue 73, Sept/Oct 1991

Robert E. Greene

The Gradients leave the virtues intact, including the seamless coherence. And they fix the bass. More than just fix it, in fact; the bass is now itself a great virtue. The resulting system is one of the most satisfiying speakers, for virtually every kind of music, that I have encountered.

1993, the Revolution

After years of research on how speakers interact with their surroundings, Gradient introduced an innovative new loudspeaker in 1993: the Gradient Revolution. This unique design featured a rotatable lower section for bass and a carefully controlled midrange and treble, allowing it to adapt to different rooms and listening conditions. The speaker quickly gained recognition and won multiple industry awards, including the prestigious Golden Ear Award from The Absolute Sound.

Now in its fifth generation, the Revolution remains in production, continuing its legacy of high-quality sound. You can read more about the speaker’s development here.

Illustration by Hannu Hyrske for Gradient (1994).

1994, sound for cinemas and home theaters

In the mid-1990s, Gradient developed professional surround speakers for movie theaters, earning THX certification from Lucasfilm. These speakers were installed in cinemas across Finland and Sweden, and some are still in use today.

Around the same time, home theater systems were becoming increasingly popular, creating a demand for high-quality surround sound solutions. Gradient responded with dedicated center and rear speakers designed for the Dolby Surround system. These speakers were engineered to deliver clear and immersive sound while being easy to integrate into different spaces. The reputation spread all the way to the United States. One of the largest newspapers, Chicago Tribune, wrote:

"Gradient showed the most versatile home theater speaker system, with DS-1 surround speakers designed to be mounted in every possible configuration, on walls, ceilings, stands. These $695-apiece surrounds look good in any position."

A great example of Gradient’s customer-driven design approach was the 1996 launch of the Gradient Intro. This speaker was created for modern urban homes, where placing traditional floor-standing speakers near concrete walls often resulted in excessive bass. The Intro was designed to overcome this issue, providing balanced sound even in challenging acoustic environments.

THX-certified Gradient SR-4 surround speaker for cinemas.

Thanks to its intelligent design, the Gradient DS-1 surround speaker could be installed in various ways depending on the room. It significantly simplified home theater design by eliminating the need for multiple rear speakers.

Jouko Alanko, one of Gradient's founders, in Gradient's showroom in the mid-1990s.

At Gradient's factory in Järvenpää, 1990s.

1999, growing demand for smaller speakers

In the late 1990s, the demand for smaller speakers grew with the rise of multi-channel audio systems. Gradient's first compact speaker model, the Gradient Prelude, was introduced in 1999 and immediately gained immense popularity. Since then, numerous speakers based on similar technology have been part of Gradient's lineup. What they all have in common is easy installation, even in smaller spaces, without compromising sound quality. In the early 2000s, Gradient began a collaboration with the Japanese company Combak Corp. Over the years, three different speaker models were designed and manufactured for them.

Gradient 5.0, one of Gradient's smaller products, was launched in 2011.

2007, out of the box

In 2007, the audio world witnessed one of the most extraordinary loudspeakers ever designed: the Gradient Helsinki 1.5. Staying true to the finest acoustic principles that have guided Gradient from the very beginning, it received widespread acclaim, earning numerous rave reviews and the prestigious Golden Ear Award from The Absolute Sound magazine.

2011, Atte Salmi becomes CEO

In 2011, M.Sc. Atte Salmi, the son of Gradient's founder Jorma Salmi, took over as CEO. Atte's background is in the international electronics industry, having spent over a decade at Vaisala Oyj in various management roles in research and product development before joining Gradient.

Our products are designed and hand-crafted in Finland. We have been granted the key flag symbol as a sign of Finnish work.

Gradient 6.0 at the Milan Design week in 2016. (Photo: Arpa Industriale S.p.A.)

2017, Gradient 1.4

In early 2017, Gradient announced the development of a successor to its 1-series. On Finland’s 100th anniversary, the company launched the new Gradient 1.4 as part of a programme on the centenary of Finland's independence. The speaker received worldwide critical acclaim and became one of the best-selling models in Gradient’s lineup. In 2021, it was featured in Asia’s largest design event, the Beijing Design Week, as an invited representative of Finnish design.

2018, certified pre-owned Gradient products

In 2018, Gradient launched a global online store and opened the Gradient Store next to its factory in Porvoo. In the fall of 2021, Gradient introduced the sale of pre-owned Gradient products in the global online store, perhaps the first loudspeaker manufacturer in the world to do so. Gradient Certified products, including models dating back to the 1980s, are factory-refurbished and come with the same warranty as new products. This initiative has been a great success, further strengthening Gradient's position as a responsible electronics manufacturer.

2021, the new revolution

In 2021, Gradient launched a completely redesigned version of the globally renowned "Revolution" model. The new Revolution, designated as R-5, features an advanced spherical enclosure for mid and high frequencies, first introduced in the previously released Gradient 1.4 loudspeaker. The bass section is truly unique, allowing for seamless, continuous rotation. This innovative design drastically reduces the room’s impact on sound quality.

For the next 40 years

Gradient has always been, and will continue to be, an innovative company that invests heavily in research and development. We closely follow advancements in the audio industry and introduce genuinely new products to the market. However, we do not chase fleeting trends – our speakers are designed to last for decades.

For us, sustainability is more than just longevity. We are currently leading a research program to replace traditional plastic components with organic and fully biodegradable alternatives. Additionally, we are pioneers in the global sale of factory-refurbished, pre-owned Gradient speakers.

Gradient - for the next 40 years and beyond.

HI-FI NEWS & RECORD REVIEW, March 1992

The Audiophile Voice, Vol.1, Issue 4, 1992

The Absolute Sound, Issue 73, Sept/Oct 1991

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