Harman Kardon

Harman Kardon is an American audio brand founded in 1953 in Westbury, New York, by Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon. The company emerged from Harman's experience at the David Bogen Company, where he worked as an engineer and later sales executive, and Kardon's work as Bogen's chief designer. The partners established Harman/Kardon Inc. with the goal of making high-fidelity sound more accessible to ordinary home listeners. Its early significance came from compact, integrated audio systems. In 1954, the company introduced the A-100 AM-FM tuner and the Festival D-1000 receiver. The D-1000 combined a tuner, preamplifier and amplifier in one chassis, helping establish the integrated receiver as a practical consumer format. Harman Kardon subsequently developed stereo receivers, amplifiers, tuners and other components, including the Festival TA-230 simulcast stereo receiver in 1958, the MA-250 FM multiplex adapter in 1959 and the Citation II tube amplifier. The brand emphasized broad frequency response, engineering performance and relatively approachable operation rather than requiring consumers to assemble a complex stack of separate components. Bernard Kardon retired in 1957, while Sidney Harman continued to build the business. The company expanded beyond traditional home hi-fi into professional audio, loudspeakers, recording equipment, automotive systems and, later, digital and connected products. Harman's broader corporate portfolio came to include brands such as JBL, Infinity, Lexicon, AKG, Crown and others, placing Harman Kardon within a multi-brand audio group rather than as an entirely independent company. Ownership changed substantially in the late 1970s. Sidney Harman sold the business to Beatrice Foods in 1976 in connection with his appointment to the Carter administration. After leaving government, he repurchased Harman International in 1980; the receiver business was reacquired separately in 1985. The reorganized group consolidated numerous divisions during the early 1990s and used the resulting efficiencies to strengthen marketing and distribution. Harman Kardon's later identity combined traditional audio engineering with industrial design and consumer electronics partnerships. Its SoundSticks system, developed with Apple and introduced in 2000, became one of the brand's most recognizable computer-audio products. The company also produced desktop and notebook speakers, home-theater receivers, headphones, wireless speakers and smart speakers. Its automotive products have been supplied for vehicles from multiple manufacturers, although automotive activities are conducted within Harman's wider business structure. Samsung Electronics announced its acquisition of Harman International in 2017, making Harman Kardon a Samsung-owned brand. The brand remains active in premium home and personal audio, including wireless speakers, soundbars, headphones, AV receivers and connected products. Its market positioning rests on a combination of high-fidelity heritage, distinctive design, integration with digital ecosystems and participation in Harman's automotive and professional-audio technology platform.

Harman Kardon began in 1953 when Sidney Harman left the David Bogen Company and joined Bogen chief designer Bernard Kardon to establish a new audio business in Westbury, New York. Each partner invested capital in the venture. Their purpose was to improve the quality and usability of domestic audio equipment, at a time when high fidelity was often associated with technically demanding component systems. The first products appeared in 1954. The A-100 was an AM-FM tuner, while the Festival D-1000 integrated receiver combined radio reception, control functions and amplification in one enclosure. This format helped bring high-fidelity reproduction to less technical users. Harman Kardon continued to refine the receiver concept through the 1950s, offering standard, deluxe and custom product lines, and developed early stereo products. The Festival TA-230 used AM and FM channels for simulcast stereo, and the MA-250 later supported FM multiplex reception before formal FM stereo broadcasting became standard in the United States. The Citation line established a parallel reputation for technically ambitious amplifiers. Kardon retired in 1957. Sidney Harman expanded the company and eventually developed a wider audio enterprise covering consumer, professional and automotive applications. Harman Kardon products included receivers, amplifiers, tuners, speakers, cassette decks, noise-reduction equipment and home-theater systems. In 1969, Harman acquired JBL, beginning a broader multi-brand strategy. The company introduced the CAD5 cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction in 1970 and later pursued digital processing and home cinema. A major ownership interruption occurred when Sidney Harman entered the Carter administration. To comply with restrictions on direct business involvement by government appointees, he sold the company to Beatrice Foods in 1976. Beatrice subsequently separated parts of the business. Harman bought Harman International back in 1980, but the receiver operation had already been sold to Shin-Shirasuna and was not included; Harman reacquired that business in 1985. During the early 1990s, Harman International reorganized its many divisions into fewer operating units, reducing duplicated functions and improving commercial focus. The brand continued to combine engineering and design. The Citation XX amplifier represented the company's interest in high-current, low-distortion performance, while the SoundSticks system, launched with Apple in 2000, brought a sculptural transparent design to computer audio. Harman Kardon later expanded into wireless speakers, headphones, soundbars, smart speakers and other networked products. It also supplied audio systems for automobiles and speakers for computers and mobile devices. Sidney Harman retired in 2007 and Dinesh Paliwal became chief executive of Harman International. Samsung Electronics announced the acquisition of Harman in 2017. Since then, Harman Kardon has operated as one of Samsung-owned Harman's consumer-facing audio brands, supported by the parent group's technology, distribution and automotive relationships. The brand's current identity rests on premium sound, recognizable industrial design and integration with contemporary wireless and voice-assistant platforms.

• 2025

  Agreement to acquire Masimo consumer audio business

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Harman agreed to acquire Masimo's consumer-audio portfolio, including several established audio brands.

• 2017

  Samsung acquires Harman International

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Harman Kardon became part of Samsung Electronics through Samsung's acquisition of Harman International.

• 2000

  SoundSticks launched with Apple

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  The iSub and SoundSticks brought Harman Kardon audio together with Apple design and computer products.

• 1985

  Receiver business reacquired

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  The Harman Kardon receiver group was purchased back from Shin-Shirasuna.

• 1980

  Harman International repurchased

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Sidney Harman reacquired Harman International from Beatrice Foods.

• 1976

  Business sold to Beatrice Foods

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Sidney Harman sold the company before entering the Carter administration.

• 1970

  CAD5 cassette deck introduced

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Harman Kardon introduced a cassette recording deck using Dolby B noise reduction.

• 1969

  JBL acquired by Harman

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Harman acquired JBL, strengthening the group's position in loudspeakers and professional audio.

• 1959

  FM multiplex and Citation developments

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  The company marketed the MA-250 multiplex adapter and Citation II wideband tube amplifier.

• 1958

  Festival TA-230 stereo receiver introduced

  [1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Harman Kardon introduced an early simulcast stereo receiver aimed at simplifying stereo listening.

Showing the 10 most recent.

Premium and design-oriented audio with roots in high-fidelity engineering, extended into connected home, personal and automotive listening.

• Integrated receiver · 1954

  Festival D-1000

  Introduced in 1954, the Festival D-1000 integrated tuner-receiver combined AM/FM reception, preamplification and power amplification in one chassis. It was designed to make high-fidelity playback easier for consumers who did not want to assemble separate components.

• Amplifiers and audio components · 1959

  Citation series

  The Citation family represented Harman Kardon's technically ambitious high-fidelity line. Products such as the Citation II tube amplifier and Citation XX power amplifier emphasized wide bandwidth, high-current delivery and measured as well as perceived audio performance.

• Computer speakers · 2000

  SoundSticks

  SoundSticks is a distinctive computer-speaker system developed with Apple. Its transparent satellite speakers and separate subwoofer made industrial design a central part of the product experience. Later versions added capacitive controls, revised styling and Bluetooth connectivity.

• Audio-video receivers

  AVR series

  Harman Kardon AVR receivers integrate source switching, amplification and home-theater processing. The range extended the brand's original integrated-receiver concept into multichannel cinema and digital media systems.

• Smart speakers · 2018

  Citation series smart speakers

  The Citation family extends Harman Kardon's home-audio positioning into networked speakers. The Citation 500, announced in 2018, incorporated Google Assistant and was positioned as a premium connected speaker.

• Personal and portable audio

  Headphones and wireless speakers

  The brand's contemporary consumer range includes wireless speakers, headphones and related portable products, combining Bluetooth or network connectivity with Harman Kardon's premium design language.

• Automotive audio

  Automotive audio systems

  Harman Kardon-branded sound systems are supplied for selected vehicles through Harman's automotive business. Applications have included vehicles associated with manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Volvo and Volkswagen.

• 2025

  Agreement to acquire Masimo consumer audio businessM&A

  Background

  Masimo agreed to sell its consumer-audio business and associated brands.

  Action taken

  Harman agreed to acquire the business, including Bowers & Wilkins, Marantz, Denon, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Classé, HEOS and Boston Acoustics.

  Aftermath

  Completion and final transaction terms are not established in the supplied material.

  Source

• 2017

  Samsung acquisition of Harman InternationalM&A

  Background

  Harman International operated a broad portfolio of consumer, professional and automotive audio brands.

  Action taken

  Samsung Electronics announced the acquisition of Harman International.

  Aftermath

  Harman Kardon became a brand within Samsung's wholly owned Harman subsidiary.

  Reported purchase price. US$8 billion (Announced March 11, 2017)

  Source

• 2000

  SoundSticks partnership with AppleProduct launch

  Background

  Computer audio was becoming an important consumer-electronics category, while Apple was developing a distinctive design language for its products.

  Action taken

  Harman Kardon partnered with Apple on the iSub subwoofer and SoundSticks speaker system.

  Aftermath

  The transparent speaker system became one of Harman Kardon's most recognizable design-led products and received an Industrial Design Excellence Awards gold award.

  Source

• 1976

  Sale to Beatrice FoodsStrategy

  Background

  Sidney Harman accepted a position in the Carter administration, where government ethics requirements limited his ability to retain direct day-to-day business interests.

  Action taken

  Harman sold the company to Beatrice Foods before entering government.

  Aftermath

  Beatrice separated parts of the business, and Harman later repurchased Harman International and eventually reacquired the receiver operation.

  Source

• 2025

  Harman agrees to acquire Masimo consumer-audio brands[1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Harman agreed to acquire Masimo's consumer-audio business, including brands such as Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Classé, HEOS and Boston Acoustics, subject to the transaction's terms and completion.

• 2021

  Harman Kardon collaborates with Xiaomi on Mi 11 audio[1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The Xiaomi Mi 11 series used a dual-speaker arrangement tuned in collaboration with Harman Kardon.

• 2018

  Citation 500 smart speaker announced[1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Harman Kardon announced the Citation 500, a connected speaker using Google Assistant.

• 2017

  Harman Kardon launches Invoke smart speaker[1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The Invoke smart speaker was introduced with Microsoft's Cortana voice assistant.

• 2017

  Samsung announces acquisition of Harman International[1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Samsung Electronics announced the acquisition of Harman International, bringing Harman Kardon and Harman's other audio brands into Samsung's corporate group.

• 2000

  Harman Kardon introduces SoundSticks with Apple[1]Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Campaign

  Harman Kardon and Apple presented the iSub subwoofer and SoundSticks computer speaker system, combining Harman audio technology with Apple industrial design.

1. 1Harman Kardonen.wikipedia.org