IFA 2013: HARMAN showcases market leading branded audio and infotainment solutions with four different premium cars

IFA 2013, BERLIN, GERMANY – HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group, is making its mark at this year’s IFA with the presentation of four different premium cars showcasing HARMAN’s branded audio and infotainment leadership. At the HARMAN booth, visitors can experience HARMAN’s newest leading technologies and solutions in four different showcars.

The four fascinating vehicles display a variety of HARMAN’s audio and infotainment highlights such as
Quantum Logic Surround (QLS) – also in the latest 3D edition – as well as Green Edge sound technology, the latest versions of HARMAN’s fully integrated infotainment solutions Uconnect 8.4A and 8.4N, and high performance JBL sound systems. All HARMAN solutions and technologies on display offer a number of industry firsts and have received numerous technology awards.

Ferrari FF

Ferrari showcases a leading-edge JBL Professional Sound System in the latest Ferrari FF model. This system features the innovative Quantum Logic Surround technology by HARMAN. This digital signal processing technology accurately identifies and redistributes audio streams to create an authentic sound experience inside the car.

Jeep Grand Cherokee with latest version of Uconnect

HARMAN designed the Uconnect™ 8.4” Radio and Uconnect™ 8.4” Radio Nav to facilitate a fully integrated infotainment experience within one solution, meaning all feature components including GPS, voice recognition functionality and more are built into a single hardware platform instead of being delivered as separate components. This latest Uconnect™ solution from HARMAN safely and securely delivers a broad range of connected lifestyle services as well as apps which are supported by automatic software updates delivered via web connectivity, keeping the system fresh and up to date at all times. In addition to a number of voice and screen activated new features, the offering provides consumers with an automatic connection to downloadable apps that will keep the system fresh and up to date at all times. As an added benefit, the latest version creates a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot to allow car passengers to connect their mobile devices to the web. The latest version of Uconnect is safe and easy to use, provides best-in-class navigation and number of multi-media capabilities.

In addition to these innovative infotainment solutions, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee also features the newest Harman Kardon sound system, a multi-speaker surround sound system which delivers clear, powerful sound to every passenger. The system also features the legendary Logic7® surround-sound technology to create the audio experience of a much larger space.

QLS 3D showcar

The QuantumLogic 3D showcar is equipped with a powerful new technology that brings an unmatched three-dimensional surround sound experience to in-car audio.  Built upon HARMAN’s patented QuantumLogic Surround (QLS) digital signal processing technology, QuantumLogic 3D accurately identifies and redistributes audio streams, and incorporates additional audio streams that are reproduced via overhead speakers to create an unmatched three-dimensional surround experience.

QuantumLogic 3D uses proprietary algorithms to extract audio streams (voices, instruments and spatial information) from the music source. The Aesthetic Engine, the brain behind QLS psychoacoustic intelligence, then identifies and sends those audio streams to the appropriate speaker locations depending on the listening environment.  By design, QLS-3D uses only sources from the original material and does not add special effects, like reverberation, to create a three-dimensional surround experience.  Embedded spectral and spatial qualities are maintained in a way that remains true to the integrity of the original recording.  QLS-3D multi-channel surround sound output is compatible with all system architectures and will meet progressive content challenges to ensure today’s consumers receive the best audio experience well into the future. The impact of QLS-3D is poised to become the reference standard for three-dimensional audio playback for music and video sources of the future.

Fiat 500 Abarth with high performance JBL sound system

Being the first results of the new alliance between HARMAN and Abarth is the high performance JBL sound system in the Abarth 500 Edizione Maserati on display at this year’s IFA. The richly-spec’d JBL car audio system which HARMAN has custom-developed for the Abarth 500 Edizione Maserati indeed leaves no room for compromise. Engineered using top-level component material, the system delivers crystal-sharp sound. It comprises nine JBL loudspeakers in all: two 165mm metal-matrix woofers with DVC neodymium magnet in the right and left front doors, two 25mm tweeters in metal-matrix material mounted on the right and left of the A pillar, two right and left rear 25mm tweeters in metal-matrix and two 100mm Kevlar midrange units, plus a 200m subwoofer in a special enclosure box fitted into the spare wheel compartment. The speakers are fed by an 8-channel 400W JBL amplifier. With its quality finish, the audio system is a perfect match for the prestigious Abarth 500 Edizione Maserati. The limited edition vehicle with JBL sound system will be available in more than 20 countries worldwide.

HARMAN at IFA 2013

Visit HARMAN at this year’s IFA and view the company’s full portfolio of infotainment and lifestyle solutions and systems. HARMAN is located at Funkturm Indoor Ground/100 .

About HARMAN

HARMAN designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of 14,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.3 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. The company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR. Please visit www.harman.com for more information. 

Media Contact:

HARMAN. Nicole Mehr Tel.: +49-7248-71-1272. nicole.mehr@harman.com

Tags: