HarmanEdit

Harman is a multinational audio technology company with a long history dating back to mid-20th-century California. Originating as Harman/Kardon, the enterprise grew through a series of strategic acquisitions and brand development to become a household name in high-fidelity home audio, professional sound systems, and, in recent years, automotive audio solutions. In 2017, Harman International Industries was acquired by Samsung Electronics, and the Harman name now functions as a prominent division within Samsung’s broader electronics and automotive technology ecosystem. The company’s operations encompass consumer products, professional audio equipment, and advanced integrated sound systems used in vehicles and commercial settings. Its corporate headquarters are in Stamford, Connecticut, and its influence extends through a portfolio of recognizable brands such as Harman Kardon, JBL, and AKG.

From its inception, Harman pursued a philosophy of sound reproduction that emphasized fidelity, durability, and user experience. This approach led to a series of notable milestones, including the creation of a home audio icon in Harman Kardon and the expansion into loudspeakers, amplifiers, and studio gear through additions to the brand family. The company’s growth was marked by a pattern seen in many global tech businesses: affiliating with strong, established brands—such as JBL (a speaker line with a separate heritage) and AKG (a European studio mic and headphone brand)—to create a diversified ecosystem. This strategy helped Harman build a global footprint in both consumer markets and professional audio environments, from concert venues to broadcast studios. The group’s reach into automotive audio—now a central pillar of its business—was reinforced by strategic purchases and engineering partnerships that positioned Harman as a leading supplier of in-vehicle sound, navigation-related acoustics, and connected-car audio platforms.

History

Origins and foundation - Harman’s roots lie in the partnership between Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon, who founded Harman/Kardon in 1953. The company quickly established a reputation for high-quality audio equipment and helped popularize high-fidelity home listening in the United States and abroad. The lineage is preserved in later branding, with Harman continuing to honor its legacy while expanding into new areas of audio technology. For a broader view of how consumer electronics brands evolved in the postwar era, see Consumer electronics.

Expansion and brand portfolio - Over the decades, Harman grew by acquiring and integrating well-known brands. JBL, originally founded by James Bullough Lansing, became a core part of the company’s speaker portfolio after a series of corporate moves that linked JBL’s rugged, performance-oriented sound with Harman’s distribution and engineering capabilities. AKG, a historic European mic and headphone brand, also joined the group, broadening the company’s footprint in professional studios and high-end consumer gear. The addition of other brands such as Lexicon, Mark Levinson, Infinity, and Revel (audio) helped create a comprehensive lineup spanning home theater, pro audio, and luxury audio experiences. These integrations reflect a broader market strategy: own iconic brands with distinct strengths and leverage shared research and supply chains.

• The company’s portfolio gradually shifted toward integrated solutions that combine hardware with software and services, anticipating trends in connected devices and intelligible, configurable sound ecosystems. The evolution of these brands is documented in the histories of each entity, such as Harman Kardon for consumer audio aesthetics and JBL for large-scale speaker systems, while the professional and studio lines are represented by names like Crown Audio and Lexicon.

Acquisition by Samsung and current structure - In 2017, Samsung Electronics completed an agreement to acquire Harman for roughly $8 billion, bringing the Harman brands under Samsung’s global technology umbrella. This move connected Harman’s audio hardware and automotive electronics capabilities with Samsung’s scale in semiconductors, display technologies, and connected services. As a result, Harman operates as a significant brand and product family within the larger Samsung ecosystem, continuing to develop and market audio solutions under the historic names that customers recognize. For context on the parent company, see Samsung Electronics.

• Today, Harman’s activities span consumer audio devices, professional equipment, and integrated vehicle audio systems. The company’s in-vehicle platforms are a particular point of emphasis, aligning with broader trends toward connected car experiences and infotainment. The collaboration between hardware brands and software ecosystems is evident in product lines that blend sound quality with user interfaces, data connectivity, and cloud-based services. See In-vehicle infotainment for related developments.

Products, brands, and markets - Consumer audio: prominent brand names include Harman Kardon, JBL, and AKG, each with its own design language and market niche. These brands produce everything from compact wireless speakers to high-end home theater systems and wireless headphones. See entries on each brand for product histories and highlights.

• Professional audio and studios: the Harman portfolio includes brands and systems used in live sound, broadcast, and recording environments. This segment encompasses loudspeakers, amplifiers, processing hardware, and related accessories used by venues, studios, and touring professionals. For related topics, see Crown Audio and Studer (a brand within the Harman family with a long history in broadcast and recording gear).

• Automotive audio and connected platforms: Harman’s automotive solutions span infotainment, sound systems, connected services, and data-enabled features that integrate with vehicle architecture. These offerings align with the broader shift toward intelligent, connected mobility and ecosystem partnerships. See Automotive industry and In-car entertainment for broader discussions of these markets.

Corporate governance and strategy - The right-of-center view of Harman’s trajectory emphasizes the value of private capital, scale, and competitive markets in driving innovation and consumer welfare. The Samsung acquisition is often framed as a way to bring extraordinary scale and resources to accelerate research, manufacturing efficiency, and global distribution—benefits proponents say outpace potential downsides of foreign ownership, provided competition and consumer choice remain robust. Critics of large consolidations argue such deals could reduce competition or give a small number of players excessive influence; from a market-oriented perspective, robust antitrust scrutiny and ongoing performance metrics are the appropriate tools to address those concerns without sacrificing the gains from mergers and global supply-chain synergies.

• Debates surrounding the Harman-Samsung deal commonly touch on issues such as foreign investment in critical technology, national economic strategy, and the balance between innovation incentives and market concentration. Proponents contend that cross-border collaboration can accelerate technological advances and reduce costs, while critics warn about dependencies and governance risks. Supporters typically argue that the benefits of scale, investment, and access to global markets translate into lower prices and better products for consumers, whereas opponents may call for tighter screening and more protective policies. In practice, the framework of competitive markets, transparent regulatory oversight, and consumer-focused business practices tends to preserve outcomes favorable to innovation and affordability.

Controversies and debates - Foreign ownership and national interests: The sale of a major audio and automotive tech group to a foreign corporation sparked discussion about how to balance open global markets with safeguarding critical technologies. The right-leaning case for openness emphasizes that global investment delivers capital, expertise, and competition that spur innovation and lower prices—while maintaining safeguards to ensure national security and domestic competitiveness. Critics of foreign ownership often argue for more stringent screening; defenders counter that such restrictions can chill investment and slow progress. In practical terms, the Harman-Samsung arrangement operates within existing regulatory regimes designed to protect consumer interests and market competition.

• Data, privacy, and connected car ecosystems: As Harman’s automotive platforms increasingly integrate sensors, connectivity, and data services, concerns about privacy and data security arise. A market-driven approach favors strong technical standards, consumer consent, and clear data-use policies as the baseline for innovation in connected vehicles, while calls for heavier regulation argue for strict controls on data collection and sharing. A measured perspective emphasizes that innovation should be guided by robust privacy protections and transparent governance without creating prohibitive compliance costs that stifle progress.

• Labor, manufacturing, and supply chains: Global manufacturing bones are a common feature of large electronics groups. Advocates of open trade argue that global supply chains create efficiency, resilience, and consumer benefits, while critics say such arrangements risk labor practices and domestic job displacement. A pragmatic stance prioritizes high labor standards, fair wages, and safe working conditions alongside continued investment in domestic and international production where it makes sense for jobs and competitiveness. This balance is often pursued through a combination of market competition, private-sector responsibility, and reasonable policy frameworks.

See also - Harman International Industries - Harman Kardon - JBL - AKG - Lexicon (audio) - Mark Levinson - Revel (audio) - Crown Audio - Studer - Samsung Electronics - In-vehicle infotainment - Automotive electronics