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Amazon's Choice for akg by harman y23 headphone. SCOSCHE HPSC3TI 3 Running Earbuds Headphones with TapIt Remote and Microphone - Splashproof and Dustproof IPX4 Rated.
Subsidiary | |
Industry | |
---|---|
Founded | 1947; 72 years ago |
Founder | |
Headquarters | Northridge, Los Angeles, California, United States[1] |
Products | Microphones, Headphones, Digital Hi-Fi Sound Systems |
Number of employees | ~170 |
Parent | Harman International Industries |
Website | www.akg.com |
The AKG C214 condenser microphone
AKG Acoustics (originally Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft m.b.H., English: Acoustic and Cinema Equipment) was an acoustics engineering and manufacturing company founded in 1947 by Dr. Rudolf Görike and Ernest Plass, and headquartered in Vienna, Austria. AKG now exists only as a brand owned by the South Korean firm Samsung Electronics and managed by Harman International Industries.
The products currently marketed under the AKG brand mostly consist of microphones, headphones, wireless audio systems and related accessories for professional and consumer markets.
History[edit]
The brand originated as a company in Austria, and was founded in Vienna in 1947 by two Viennese: physicist Dr. Rudolf Görike and engineer Ernst Pless.[2]
Originally, its main business was to provide technical equipment for cinemas: loudspeakers, film projectors and light meters.[3] The business slowly expanded and AKG started selling car horns, door intercoms, carbon capsules for telephones, headsets and cushion speakers. The first AKG microphone was used by radio stations, theaters, jazz clubs and cabarets.
About this time, the company developed its first patents, the moving coil technology and the principle of mass load membranes, allowing its products to have extended frequency ranges.[4]
With the creation of the D12 microphone in 1953, AKG achieved international fame, setting the standard for voice transmissions. Being the world's first dynamic cardioid microphone, it possessed excellent sonic qualities for that time, making its way into radio stations and recording studios from across the world.[5][6] The product was improved through subsequent upgrades, spanning the famous C414 and C12 microphones.
In 1984, AKG became a public company, listed on the Vienna stock exchange. As a blue chip company, it was one of the most traded stocks.[7]
The company was acquired by the American company Harman International Industries in 1994.[6] By this time, AKG's United States subsidiary had been established (in Los Angeles in 1985). AKG Acoustics USA, still headquartered in the San Fernando Valley, also houses regional offices for Crown Audio, another Harman Industries subsidiary.
In 2010, the company received the prestigious Technical Grammy award.[8]
In 2016 it was announced that the AKG Vienna facilities (headquarters, manufacturing, and engineering) would be shut down in 2017, with a transfer of brand headquarters to California, USA. Most current AKG-branded products are made in Harman's Chinese production facilities.[9][1]
Timeline[edit]
- 1945 – Dr. Rudolf Görike and Ernst Pless begin supplying movie equipment to theaters in postwar Vienna.[10]
- 1949 – AKG founded by Görike and Pless as Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft m.b.H.[2]
- 1949 – AKG begins producing headphones,[11] the first model being the K120 DYN.
- 1953 – introduces the world's first dynamiccardioid microphone[10]
- 1955 – founds a German subsidiary[11]
- 1985 – founds a U.S subsidiary, based in Northridge, Los Angeles, California[11]
- 1991 – produces its first wireless microphones, the WMS100 and WMS900
- 1994 – becomes part of Harman International Industries[11]
- 2006 – produces a limited 60th anniversary edition of the celebrated C414 LTD microphone.[12]
- 2010 – AKG Acoustics received a Grammy Award for the work the company has done in the recording field. Dinesh Paliwal, the current Chief Executive Officer, picked up the award on behalf of the company.[13]
- 2010 – AKG announces a partnership with Quincy Jones to manufacture a signature line of headphones featuring stylized designs and modified drivers.[14][15]
- 2012 – AKG announces its partnership with disc jockey Tiësto to start manufacturing headphones under Tiësto's name.[16][17]
- 2016 – Harman decided to shut down all facilities in Vienna in 2017.
- 2017 – Harman was bought by Samsung Electronics.
- 2017 - Headquarters of the AKG brand is transferred to California, United States[1]
Microphones[edit]
AKG Samsung bundle earphone
Among its professional products especially noteworthy is the first C 12 (introduced in 1953) and its successors and alternate versions, which include the Telefunken Ela M 250 and M 251 (1960), the C 24 stereo microphone, the C 412, and over a dozen different models which have carried the designation 'C 414' in various forms. Those microphones are equipped with the famous CK12 large diaphragm capsule designed by AKG´s engineer Konrad Wolf. The CK12 was a milestone in transducer technology and the first to offer constant frequency response and sensitivity for all polar patterns (omni to figure eight).
AKG microphones have been used for shooting Hans Hass's movie Adventures in the Red Sea and were installed on the MIR space station. They are also mentioned by Dan Brown in his novels The Da Vinci Code and Deception Point.[18]
Some microphone models include:
- D12E - a dynamic cardioid microphone with a bass boost between 60 and 120Hz utilized for sources with high sound pressure and low-frequency content
- D130 - an omnidirectional microphone often used by reporters
- D19c - dynamic cardioid mic. Often used by Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick as drum overheads on Ringo Starr's drums on Beatles recording sessions (1964-1967)[19]
- D190
- D222 - a dual capsule dynamic microphone used at the despatch boxes of the UK parliament
- D220
- D330 - a high-end dynamic vocal microphone used by ABBA.[citation needed]
- D112 - a large diaphragm dynamic microphone, popular for bass drums and other bass instruments
- C12 - a valve condenser microphone - the original version is now a collectors' item selling for around $10,000
- C12VR - 'The C12 VR is an enhanced version of the original C12, from the capsule sound to the original 6072A vacuum tube carefully handcrafted in Vienna, Austria.' [20]
- C214 - a large diaphragm condenser with single Cardioid pickup pattern
- C414 - a large diaphragm condenser with multiple variable pickup patterns
- C451 - a small diaphragm condenser microphone, originally made between the 1960s and 1980s, recently reissued
- C535 - a high-quality condenser vocal microphone. AKG made a gold-plated one for Frank Sinatra.[21]
- D409
- D5
- C1000 - a small diaphragm condenser
- C2000 - a side-address, small diaphragm condenser.
- C3000 - a large diaphragm condenser
- SOLID TUBE - Vacuum tube large-diaphragm microphone, cardioid polar pattern for multiplicity of applications. Born in 1997 with exceptionally natural, warm sound, tube sound enriches digital recordings, complete with many useful accessories and aluminum carrying case. The AKG SolidTube, the flagship of the Project Studio Line, is the first microphone that combines the sound of classic vacuum tube technology and the benefits of advanced solid state componentry at an affordable price. Mechanical ruggedness, high SPL capability, and low self noise are as natural SolidTube features as its warm tube sound. The heart of the SolidTube is the ECC 83 (12AX7) vacuum tube. It provides excellent transfer characteristics and is readily available from musical instrument dealers carrying spare parts for guitar amps. A ground lift switch on the power supply eliminates unexpected ground loops quickly and easily. Standard accessories include a spider type shock mount, pop screen, power supply, cable, and strong carrying case. Tune microphones are very popular for their warm sound. The SolidTube emphasizes even harmonics and adds low-level distortion that the ear perceives as an enhancement to the sound.
Headphones[edit]
AKG Stereo headphones K-66
AKG also manufactures a range of high-specification headphones.
The K50 model, introduced in 1959 were the world's first supra-aural and open-back headphones.
The K1000 was the flagship model, but is no longer being produced. It was a unique fully open headphone.
The current flagship model for the AKG headphone line-up is the K812.
The K702 features a removable cord and is black, the K701 is white. The Q701 also has a detachable cable and comes in three color variants: white, black, and a lime green. All three models are still in production. The K701s have been largely used by professional musicians and technicians in recording studios.
Many top recording studios use AKG K240 headphones as a solution for best general use for both monitor and playback.[22] They received particular notoriety from their prominent display in Eddie Murphy's 1985 music video for 'Party All the Time' (which features the K240 Monitor).
Another notable, yet short-lived model was the K280 Parabolic – a multi-driver headphone which focused compression waves to a central point in the earcup.
As well as studio headphones, AKG also manufactures a range of Hi-Fi headphones and earphones for domestic use. One notable use includes Samsung, their parent company using AKG to 'tune' their headphones that come equipped with Samsung's most recent flagship devices starting with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, and the stereo speakers as of the Galaxy S9,S9+ and Note 9.
As of 2017, the Y50 model was awarded Product of the Year for on-ear headphones by What Hi-Fi? magazine.[23]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abcRetrieved August 25, 2018
- ^ abTulga Beyerle; Karin Hirschberger (1 January 2006). A Century of Austrian Design: 1900-2005. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 181–. ISBN978-3-0346-0889-3.
- ^'History'. AKG by Harmans. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- ^Retrieved April 2, 2014
- ^Retrieved April 2, 2014
- ^ abTina Grant (2004). International Directory of Company Histories. St. James Press. ISBN978-1-55862-507-5.
- ^Retrieved on April 2, 2014
- ^'Retrieved on April 2, 2014'. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- ^m.b.H., STANDARD Verlagsgesellschaft. 'Kopfhörer: AKG-Werk in Wien schließt'. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ ab'History of AKG Acoustics GmbH – FundingUniverse'. fundinguniverse.com.
- ^ abcdAKG history milestones Last accessed March 30, 2007
- ^'Professional Audio Solutions - Headphones and Microphones - AKG Acoustics'. www.akg.com. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^'AKG Honored With Technical Grammy Award For Contribution To Recording Arts & Sciences'.
- ^kamakshi. 'Harman AKG comes out with a Quincy Jones Signature Line of headphones'. Luxurylaunches.
- ^'Page Not Found'. akg.com.
- ^'Tiësto Collaborates With Audio Manufacturer AKG For A New Range Of Headphones - Magnetic Magazine'. Magnetic Magazine.
- ^'Sites-AKG-US-Site'. www.akg.com.
- ^'Professional Audio Solutions - Headphones and Microphones - AKG Acoustics'. www.akg.com. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^Brian Kehew; Kevin Ryan (2006). Recording the Beatles. Curvebender Publishing. pp. 180–181. ISBN978-0-9785200-0-7.
- ^'C12VR on AKG'S website'. akg.com.
- ^'Harman-Harman International Opens New Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut'. harman.com.[permanent dead link]
- ^'Best Studio Headphones for Professionals and Beginners'. scanzoom.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^'On-ear headphones'. What Hi-Fi?. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to AKG Acoustics. |
- 2017 – AKG Vienna facility shut down
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AKG_(company)&oldid=901039537'
(Redirected from Harman International Industries)
Subsidiary | |
Industry | Electronics |
---|---|
Founded | 1980 |
Founders |
|
Headquarters | Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
Dinesh Paliwal (President & CEO) | |
Products | Audio, electronic, and infotainment systems for automotive OEM's, home and computer systems, Aha Radio for in-car entertainment from cloud, loudspeakers and electronics for audio professionals (concert halls, stadiums, airports, recording, broadcasting, and cinema) |
Brands |
|
Revenue | US$6.90 billion (2016)[1] |
US$804 million (2016)[1] | |
US$580 million (2016)[1] | |
Parent | Samsung Electronics |
Website | www.harman.com |
Harman International Industries, Inc., commonly known as Harman, is an American subsidiary of South Korea-based Samsung Electronics that produces, designs and engineers connected products for automakers, consumers and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems; audio and visual products, enterprise automation; and connected services.[2] Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Harman maintains major operations in the Americas, Europe, as well as Asia and markets its products under several brands; such as AKG, AMX, Becker, Crown, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, dbx, DigiTech, Mark Levinson, Martin, Revel, Soundcraft, Studer, Arcam, and BSS Audio.
On November 14, 2016, Harman entered into an agreement to be acquired by Samsung.[3][4] The sale was completed on March 10, 2017.[5]
Early history[edit]
Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon founded the predecessor to Harman International, Harman Kardon, in 1953. Both Harman and Kardon were engineers by training and had worked at the Bogen Company, which was then the top manufacturer of public address systems. Their collaboration helped to create a new industry: high-fidelity audio. Harman bought out his partner in 1956 and then expanded Harman Kardon into an audio powerhouse, according to a biography written by the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame.[6]
Acquisitions and expansion[edit]
Promotional vehicle at Geneva International Motor Show 2019
In the 60's, Harman Kardon grew more prosperous and acquired other audio houses (such as JBL)[7]. In the 1970s, Harman accepted an appointment in the Carter administration as deputy secretary of the Department of Commerce. When Harman took office in 1976 as head in charge, he sold his company to conglomerate Beatrice Foods to avoid a conflict of interest. Beatrice promptly sold many portions of the company, including the original Harman Kardon division, and by 1980 only 60% of the original company remained.
After he left government in 1978,[8] he created Harman International Industries and reacquired a number of businesses he sold to Beatrice. The company continued its growth plan with a string of acquisitions throughout the 1980s that pushed Harman International's sales from about $80 million in 1981 to more than $200 million by 1986, and then to more than $500 million by 1989. Harman International went public in 1986 with a stock offering on the New York Stock Exchange. Cash from that sale was used to, among many other purchases, buy Soundcraft, a UK producer of professional mixing boards, in 1988 and later - Salt Lake City digital electronics producer DOD Electronics Corp. By 1994, Harman International was selling consumer audio gear under such brands as JBL, Harman Kardon, Infinity and Epicure loudspeakers, as well as professional audio systems with such brands as JBL Professional, UREI, Soundcraft, Allen & Heath, dbx, Studer, DOD, Lexicon, AKG, BSS, Orban, Quested and Turbosound (the last one now under the control of Music Group[9]).
In July 2011, Harman acquired MWM Acoustics, a privately held company that specialized in speaker and microphone technology for consumer electronics and enterprise telephony. The combination of MWM Acoustics, Branded Audio, and AKG Automotive Microphones became the Embedded Audio Business Team.[10]
Harman expanded to include lighting in 2013 with the acquisition of Martin Professional.[11]
In June, 2014, Harman completed the acquisition of AMX LLC, from The Duchossois Group, bringing enterprise control and automation systems as well as audio/video switching and distributing to Harman's offerings.[12]
In March 2015, Harman acquired the automotive division of Bang & Olufsen for 145 million euros ($156 million) for the unit as well as technology license fees.[13] The purchase didn't include Bang & Olufsen's consumer-electronics business.[14]
In 2015, recognizing the increasing role of software and services in the markets it served, Harman expanded its capabilities around cloud, mobility and analytics with the acquisitions of Symphony Teleca, a software services company based in Mountain View, CA,[15] and Redbend, an Israeli-based provider of software management technology for connected devices, and over-the-air (OTA) software and firmware upgrading services.[16] With these additions, Harman announced the formation of a fourth division, which they called Connected Services.
In March 2016, Harman acquired the automotive cyber-security firm TowerSec.[17] This acquisition increased Harman's competencies in the emerging automotive cyber-security field. This was evidenced by the subsequent launch of the company's '5+1 security framework' incorporating TowerSec's 'ECU shield' technology.[18] This acquisition was notable for further demonstrating Harman's desire to expand beyond its traditional business areas of in-car audio and entertainment systems.[18]
In November 2016, Samsung Electronics decided to acquire the company for US$8 billion in cash.[19]
In December 2016, Harman International Industries Inc. invested in a startup that makes projection displays that sit in front of car windshields, signalling a new area it plans to explore under the ownership of Samsung.
In February 2017, Harman International shareholders have voted in favor of the acquisition by Samsung.[20] On March 10, 2017, the acquisition was completed, with Harman became a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung.[5]
![Akg by harman 23 Akg by harman 23](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/878032017060921344/bwiCIgWa.jpg)
Private equity attempt[edit]
Harman International Industries was to disappear from NYSE in Q3/2007 due to a buy-out by KKR and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.[21] However, as of mid September 2007, KKR announced they would back out of the deal. On the news, Harman shares plummeted by more than 24%.
Coincident with the buy-out deal, Dinesh C. Paliwal was hired as company president and CEO in July 2007. Paliwal was a veteran of the corporate turn-around. During his tenure as president of U.S. operations for ABB, the heavyweight Swiss-based automation provider, the company moved from a money-losing and siloed organization to one with double digit growth, doubled its share price in one year, and saw its bond ratings upgraded by Moody's and Standard & Poors.[22]
On July 1, 2008, Sidney Harman was succeeded by Dinesh Paliwal as chairman of the board.[23]
Brands[edit]
![Akg by harman 23 Akg by harman 23](https://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/content/7/6/7626_01_akg-harman-n60nc-active-noise-cancelling-travel-headphones-review.jpg)
- AKG - microphone/headphones
- AMX - video switching and control devices
- Arcam - high end home audio - amplifiers and audio components
- Becker - car infotainment
- BSS Audio - signal processing
- Crown International - pro amplifiers
- dbx - signal processors
- DigiTech - guitar products
- HardWire - guitar pedals
- HiQnet - control network for digital audio, based on Ethernet
- harman/kardon - home/car audio
- Infinity - home/car speakers
- JBL - home/car speakers & amplifiers, professional speakers
- Lexicon - digital processing
- Mark Levinson Audio Systems - home/car audio
- Martin Professional - stage and architectural lighting and effects fixtures
- Revel - home/car speakers
- Selenium - home, car and professional speakers, amplifiers, sound tables/mixers
- S1nn GmbH & Co.
- Soundcraft - mixing consoles
- Studer - mixing consoles
- HALOsonic - Noise Management Solutions
Number of employees[edit]
Fiscal Year | Total | North America | Outside of NA |
---|---|---|---|
2016[24] | 26,000 | 7,300 | 18,700 |
Mar. 2016[25] | 29,000 | - | - |
Feb. 2016[26] | - | - | - |
Sep. 2015[27] | 28,000 | - | - |
2015[28] | 24,197 | 6,793 | 17,404 |
2014[29] | 14,202 | 5,599 | 8,603 |
2013[30] | 12,221 | 4,509 | 7,712 |
2012[31] | 11,386 | 4,169 | 7,197 |
2010[32] | 9,816 | 3,362 | 6,454 |
2008[33] | 11,694 | 4,834 | 6,860 |
2007[34] | 11,688 | 5,611 | 6,077 |
References[edit]
- ^ abc'Harman International Financial'.
- ^'HARMAN Unveils New Logo, Signals Brand Evolution'. HARMAN Newsroom. July 30, 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
- ^Russell, Jon. 'Samsung is buying Harman for $8B to further its connected car push'. TechCrunch. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^Mullen, Jethro (14 November 2016). 'Samsung bets $8 billion on smart cars with Harman deal'. CNNMoney. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ ab'Samsung Electronics Completes Acquisition of HARMAN'. news.samsung.com. March 11, 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2008-10-24.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ^http://br.harmankardon.com/history-hk-uk.html
- ^'Jimmy Carter: Department of Commerce Exchange of Letters on the Resignation of Sidney L. Harman as Under Secretary'. Presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^'MUSIC Group'. Turbosound.com. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^'High Quality Audio - High Quality Audio - About Us'. Embedded.harman.com. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^'HARMAN Completes Acquisition of Entertainment Lighting Company Martin Professional'. HARMAN Newsroom. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
- ^'HARMAN Completes Acquisition of AMX'. HARMAN Newsroom. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
- ^Tom Lavell (2015-03-31). 'Bang & Olufsen to Sell Car-Audio Unit to Harman in Focus Shift'. Bloomberg. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^'Harman Kardon acquires Bang & Olufsen Automotive'. Bmwblog.com. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^'HARMAN to Acquire Software Services Company Symphony Teleca | HARMAN'. News.harman.com. 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^'HARMAN Completes Acquisition of Redbend'. HARMAN Newsroom. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
- ^'HARMAN Completes Acquisition of TowerSec Automotive Cyber Security'. HARMAN Newsroom. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ ab'Harman automotive cyber-security system'. Deep Tread. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^'Samsung's Harman Acquisition Puts Pressure On Apple And Tier 1 Auto Suppliers'. Forbes.com. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^'Harman International merger with Samsung Electronics approved by shareholders'. Sammobile. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^'KHI Parent Inc. - 'S-4' on 6/20/07'. SEC Info. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^By , , on June 1, 2006 (2006-06-01). 'ABB Celebrates Turnaround'. Automation World. Retrieved 2016-08-28.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2008-10-24.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Harman News'. HARMAN SEC Filing FORM 10-K. Retrieved Aug 11, 2016.
- ^'Harman News'. Harman News. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^'Harman Twitter'. Harman Twitter. Retrieved Feb 22, 2016.
- ^'Harman News'. Harman News. Retrieved Sep 30, 2015.
- ^'FY15 SEC Form 10-K'. HARMAN SEC Filing FORM 10-K. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^'FY14 SEC Form 10-K'. HARMAN SEC Filing FORM 10-K. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^'FY13 SEC Form 10-K'. HARMAN SEC Filing FORM 10-K. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
- ^'FY12 SEC Form 10-K'. SEC Gov Filing FORM 10-K. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^'FY10 SEC Form 10-K'(PDF). Harman SEC Filing FORM 10-K. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- ^'FY08 SEC Form 10-K'. HARMAN SEC Filing FORM 10-K. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
- ^'FY07 SEC Form 10-K'. HARMAN SEC Filing FORM 10-K. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
External links[edit]
- Business data for Harman International Industries:
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harman_International&oldid=902236879'