Samsung to Buy Harman

vcwatkins
vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
in The Clubhouse
Brands include: B&W, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, Levinson, Revel, AKG.
From Wall Street Journal article:

Samsung Electronics Co. is making a drive for control of the car.

The South Korean smartphone maker said Monday that it would buy U.S. auto-parts supplier Harman International Industries Inc., based in Stamford, Conn., for $8 billion in an all-cash deal that instantly makes Samsung a major player in the world of automotive technology.

The deal—Samsung’s biggest acquisition in its history—reshapes the pecking order in the global automotive supply chain, reflecting a quickening pace of innovation and an increased role for companies with deep pockets and a keen understanding of mobile services.

b]Beach Audio[/b]: Rega RP6 (mods) - AT33PTG/II - Parks Budgie SUT - PSAudio NPC * Eversolo DMP-A6 * Topping D90iii * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Pass Aleph 30 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl (mods) * PSAudio PPP3
Beach Study: Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra & Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * DH Labs SS Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 * PSA Dectet
Beach Master: WiiM Pro * Dayens Menuetto * Zu Libtec * Dynaudio Audience 50
Beach Den: Bluesound Powernode 2i * DH Labs SS Q10 * Zu Omen DWII * Richard Gray RGPC
Town Study: WiiM Pro * Chord Qute (Pardo) * Elekit TU-8600 * MIT S3 * Revel M22 * Beyer DT-990 * Shunyata Hydra 2
Town Den: Music Hall mm5.1se - Denon DL-103r - Jolida JD9ii (mods) * WiiM Pro * Cary xCiter * Rogue 99 Magnum * Schiit Aegir * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2tl (mods) * Dectet * Bottlehead Crack - Senn 600
Town Porch: WiiM Pro Plus * Sunfire Sig II * Canare 4S11 * Magnepan 1.6 * Dectet
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    edited November 2016
    In this morning's business news:

    https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-to-acquire-harman-accelerating-growth-in-automotive-and-connected-technologies

    Now, I realize that Harman isn't held in the highest regard (any more) by the hifi cognoscenti - and for some good reasons - but it does represent the legacy of the late Sidney Harman (of genuine "harman/kardon" fame, with Bernie Kardon) and it seems, to me, to be a danged shame.

    I'll bet before day's end some pundit will opine that the merger will go down in flames ;)

    Be that as it may -- this doesn't seem like happy news.

    I hope LG's not eyeing... umm... whomever it is that owns "Polk" nowadays!


    041411harman.jpg?itok=EdjyWbyU

    For a little historical perspective, harman/kardon invented the "all on one chassis" FM hifi receiver in the 1950s. That first receiver model (h/k Festival D-1000) is shown in the photo above, posted in Sound & Vision's obit for Harman in 2011. EDIT: They also made the first stereo receiver, the Festival TA-230.

    14815788128_122f4dac71_b.jpgDSC_9831 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr


    Post edited by mhardy6647 on
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,002
    Well, I hope Samsung doesn't start making HT receivers that catch on fire. :)
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    The TA-230 :)

    klasiker-aufmacher.jpg

    Note that this was pre-FTC mono-compatible multiplex FM stereo as we know it today; this was an AM-FM stereo "simulcast" receiver. One's not likely to find anyone broadcasting AM-FM simulcast stereo (one channel on an AM station, the other on a companion FM station), but 1) the simulcast receivers had excellent AM radio sections and receivers like the TA-230 do feature full stereo preamplifier & power amplifier sections.

    In other words, this old trouper would not be totally obsolete today -- indeed, one could do far worse for quality sound reproduction. But that's another topic entirely! ;)
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    I was thinking of buying a new Lincoln with the Revel sound system. Guess I better make sure there's a fire extinguisher under the seat. :o
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    edited November 2016
    heh-heh-heh...


    EDIT: Yeah, the old (Bob Carver-era) Phase Linear brand might've been a better fit to Samsung's "core competencies", eh?

    In the 1970s, Bob's brand and the fine but somewhat intolerant amps bearing it were lovingly known as "Flame Linear".

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    edited November 2016
    oops, you beat me to it; your thread says you posted at 6:41AM (EST?) :blush:
    Sorry.

    http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/174924/samsung-to-acquire-harman

    Wonder if there's a way to get the threads combined; I think I'll ping the management.

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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,144
    Harman owns several audio brands: JBL, Infinity, Crown are amongst them. It will be interesting going forward.

    Somewhat related.... Dr. Bose was worried about the same type of stuff happening with his company and thus gave most of the company to MIT (yes, the school) effectively making it forever a private company.
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    maximillian wrote: »

    Somewhat related.... Dr. Bose was worried about the same type of stuff happening with his company and thus gave most of the company to MIT (yes, the school) effectively making it forever a private company.

    Does that make my 901's worth more? :D
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,002
    decal wrote: »
    maximillian wrote: »

    Somewhat related.... Dr. Bose was worried about the same type of stuff happening with his company and thus gave most of the company to MIT (yes, the school) effectively making it forever a private company.

    Does that make my 901's worth more? :D
    decal wrote: »
    maximillian wrote: »

    Somewhat related.... Dr. Bose was worried about the same type of stuff happening with his company and thus gave most of the company to MIT (yes, the school) effectively making it forever a private company.

    Does that make my 901's worth more? :D

    No, it makes your MIT degree worth less. lol
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    "auto parts supplier" :blush:

    Funny, not what I think of, when I think of Harman and its brands...

    30564770966_e21bfb612a_b.jpgDSC_6389 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
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  • oldmodman
    oldmodman Posts: 740
    "MIT"
    Because not everyone can get into Cal Tech.
    I bought the shirt.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    No comment on any of the above-mentioned schools ;)
    Then again, it ain't pretty when I do teh maths.
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,842
    I'm more sad at the potential loss of JBL, honestly, and the fact that this is another American business being bought by an overseas interest.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
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