Designer of ICOS electronics and loudspeakers - Managing director of ICOS S.A.

Denis Hausherr started his career in 1969 as head of electroacoustic research and production at PRODISC, a disc recording and production company which also manufactured professional sound equipment. His first creations were monitor loudspeakers for sound engineers and then in 1973 the famous, and at the time entirely innovative, ARCANE system: multifrequency-band electronics with all-active filtering and a central subwoofer. These were followed by other designs: amplifiers, loudspeakers, subwoofers, tuners and turntables all distributed under the PRODISC label. In 1992 Denis founded the ICOS® label, developing ICOPHASE® electronics (multiband amplification and active filters) and the ICOS loudspeakers based on a novel and patented approach. In 1995 he brought out the ELSBERG® range, followed by INIT®. At the end of 1998 he handed over the production and distribution of his designs to the company, ICOS SA. Since then his highly acclaimed CD player, a new range of stereo amplifiers and a range of home-cinema equipment has been brought onto the market. All Denis Hausherr's designs combine the latest technical innovations, an extremely rigorous build-quality and a highly original conception of high-fidelity whose primary and utmost concern is a deep respect for music.

Established late 1998.
A limited company with assets of 620,000F whose aim is to develop and commercialise the devices designed by Denis HAUSHERR under the ICOS ©, ELSBERG® and INIT® labels. 

The company is located in Krafft, 20km south of Strasbourg in the Alsace region of eastern France.

FROM STRASBOURG

Take the Colmar road until Vigie. Turn right towards Erstein. In Erstein, follow signs to Krafft. In Krafft, turn left then first right.

Denis HAUSHERR Managing director: research and commercial relations,

Danièle HAUSHERR Advertising and communication,

Sébastien SERVAIS Technical officer.

ICOS offers a range of both conventional integrated stereo amplifiers and pre-amp/power-amp combinations for use with all speaker types, alongside a range in which active filtering is introduced in a simple and logical manner. Integrating this technique directly into the amplifier simplifies its use and spectacularly improves its performance. Advanced research into the mechanical properties of the amplifier casings has led to the clean lines of the ELSBERG range: a steel casing is elastically mounted between two granite blocks supported by impressive, specially shaped, solid stainless steel cones. Through the use of noble prime materials (gold, stainless steel, granite, resins etc.), ICOS can offer customers the opportunity to personalize their amplifier with a choice of stone (eg. Norwegian Labradorite), of the fascia (silver, bronze, black) and the controls coating (gold or titanium). The iscosahedral ICOS loudspeakers are intrinsically free from all unwanted resonance: their shape gives them the rigidity of a sphere and the flat faces have the smallest area possible for a given volume. The speakers, whose leaded interior ensures a perfect neutrality, are hand-assembled with a tongue and groove technique. The front face is made out of stainless steel and a large choice of native or exotic woods allows the speakers to be matched to any interior. High performance, musicality and elegance are the hallmarks of all ICOS products

ICOS has assembled the technological means required to successfully research, design and manufacture a range of amplifiers, CD players and loudspeakers. Forever conscious of the ideals of true craftsmanship, the greatest care is given to the manufacturing process: the best source components are painstakingly selected and tested before mounting then subjected to strenuous reliability tests on completion of each product. After laboratory verification of the technical specifications, every device is tested in a purpose-designed "domestic" listening-room.