Svalbard Audio is founded by producer/engineer Bauke van der Laaken (1976).

Bauke has a background in recording & production (CMS Conservatory Groningen) and graduated in mechanical engineering at Philips Acoustics Laboratory.

For over 20 years he has been operating Studio Spitsbergen, a well-established professional recording studio in the Netherlands. During this time he recognized the need for an accurate way to integrate his studio monitors with his subwoofers This need led him to develop KLAR, which he tested and fine-tuned with the assistance of a group of audio-engineering students whom he regularly teaches.