Teenage Engineering founder and CEO Jesper Kouthoofd said the company plans to stop making synthesizers, including the OP-1, according to The Verge. Kouthoofd made the comments in an interview tied to a company reorganization he announced last fall.
“For us, the products aren’t the business. We can be so much more than that,” Kouthoofd told The Verge, explaining the reasoning behind the shift away from hardware synth production.
What Kouthoofd Said About Ending Synth Production
Kouthoofd’s comments mark a departure from the identity Teenage Engineering built since launching the OP-1 in 2011. The portable synthesizer became central to the Swedish company’s rise and helped establish its reputation among musicians and electronic music producers. The Verge reported that Kouthoofd now frames the company’s future around something broader than its instrument lineup.
Teenage Engineering’s current product catalog includes the OP-1, OP-XY, EP-133 and TP-7, along with other music and audio-focused devices. The Verge interview did not specify a timeline for when synth production will end or whether all of these products are affected equally.
What It Means For Current Owners And Buyers
Kouthoofd’s remarks leave open questions for people who already own Teenage Engineering synths and for those considering a purchase. There is no public detail yet on what happens to existing inventory, whether repairs or software support will continue, or how long current stock might remain available through retailers.
Teenage Engineering operates as both a music gear maker and a design firm, with past collaborations spanning furniture retailer Ikea, phone maker Nothing and game console maker Playdate. Kouthoofd’s quote suggests the company intends to lean further into that design and collaboration work rather than treating synthesizers as its core output.
Background On Teenage Engineering’s Synth Lineup
The OP-1 helped define Teenage Engineering’s reputation when it launched in 2011, combining a synthesizer, sampler and sequencer in a compact, brightly colored unit. The company later expanded that approach with devices like the OP-XY, EP-133 and TP-7, building a catalog aimed at musicians who wanted portable, design-forward gear.
Kouthoofd’s announcement of a broader reorganization came last fall, according to The Verge, though the publication’s interview did not detail what internal changes accompanied that shift or how it connects to the decision to stop making synths.
What’s Next
Teenage Engineering has not issued its own corporate statement confirming Kouthoofd’s remarks beyond the interview with The Verge. No details are available yet on a wind-down timeline, future repair or support policies, or whether any markets will be affected differently. Buyers interested in current Teenage Engineering synths should check with authorized retailers for stock updates as the company’s plans become clearer.
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