Harman Kardon: Celebrating 70 Years of Acoustic and Aesthetic Excellence


08/18/2023


HARMAN International, a company that specializes in connected products and technologies for automotive, consumer, and enterprise markets, is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its audio brand, Harman Kardon. The brand is known for its acoustic and aesthetic excellence, combining beautiful design with rich, multi-layered sound. Harman Kardon has a history of innovation, with many of its technologies becoming industry standards.
 
The Harman Kardon journey began in 1953 when Dr. Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon founded their company based on their love for music and the arts. Their first product, the Harman Kardon Festival D1000, was the world’s first compact Hi-Fi receiver with AM/FM capabilities. Its combination of advanced technology and stylish design made it an instant success. In 1958, Harman Kardon introduced the first stereo receiver, the Festival TA230. This was followed by the Citation II, the world’s first ultra-wide bandwidth tube amplifier, in 1959. In 1970, Harman Kardon introduced the CAD5, the world’s first Hi-Fi cassette recorder with Dolby noise reduction. In 1992, Harman Kardon made its debut in automotive sound systems with the Land Rover Range Rover and has since collaborated with many automakers including BMW, Mini, Subaru, Volvo, Polestar, VW, Renault, and more.
 
“Harman Kardon has a truly exceptional history that has left a lasting impact on the entire audio industry,” said Carsten Olesen, HARMAN’s President of Consumer Audio.
 
“When listeners choose a Harman Kardon product, they reap the reward of 70 years of unparalleled expertise, both in technological innovation and award-winning design. Harman Kardon’s deep devotion to beauty is truly the brand’s north star, and the reason that Harman Kardon products are so stunning, both in their appearance and in the quality of audio they deliver.’”
 
HARMAN International, a company that specializes in connected products and technologies for automotive, consumer, and enterprise markets, is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its audio brand, Harman Kardon. The brand is known for its acoustic and aesthetic excellence, combining beautiful design with rich, multi-layered sound. Harman Kardon has a history of innovation, with many of its technologies becoming industry standards.
 
The Harman Kardon journey began in 1953 when Dr. Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon founded their company based on their love for music and the arts. Their first product, the Harman Kardon Festival D1000, was the world’s first compact Hi-Fi receiver with AM/FM capabilities. Its combination of advanced technology and stylish design made it an instant success.
 
In 1958, Harman Kardon introduced the first stereo receiver, the Festival TA230. This was followed by the Citation II, the world’s first ultra-wide bandwidth tube amplifier, in 1959. In 1970, Harman Kardon introduced the CAD5, the world’s first Hi-Fi cassette recorder with Dolby noise reduction. In 1992, Harman Kardon made its debut in automotive sound systems with the Land Rover Range Rover and has since collaborated with many automakers including BMW, Mini, Subaru, Volvo, Polestar, VW, Renault, and more.