2 Sound Bars Mark First Major Collaboration Between Samsung, Harman Kardon

More than two years after Samsung acquired Harman (see 1703130001), Samsung announced the "first major collaboration between Samsung and Harman Kardon to enter the premium category." After shining the spotlight last week on Harman’s AKG premium headphone brand with the launch of the Note9 phablet (see 1808090034), Samsung Wednesday said it has been collaborating with Harman since acquisition on premium audio with dual-branded sound bars the first commercial result. The sound bars were “largely developed by Samsung, with Harman Kardon certifying the audio quality through sophisticated sound quality testing,” Samsung said. The HW-N950 ($1,499) and HW-N850 ($1,199), bearing both the Samsung and Harman Kardon logos, will be available Monday, it said. Both sound bars have DTS:X and Dolby Atmos immersive audio technology built in. The 7.1.4-channel HW-N950, the “largest number of channels currently available in a sound bar,” said Samsung, comprises a four-speaker sound bar, two wireless surround-sound speakers and a wireless subwoofer, and the 5.1.2-channel HW-N850 includes a sound bar and outboard subwoofer, it said. In divvying up credit, Samsung said Harman Kardon tested and certified the sound bars subjectively and objectively in anechoic chamber tests and in “mock home environments,” with subjective tests carried out by “listening to and assessing different audio formats and music genres,” to ensure the products meet Harman Kardon’s quality and performance standards. Dave Rogers, president-consumer audio at Harman, called Samsung “the world leader in soundbars,” and said Harman is proud to be helping to “enhance their audio quality and play a key role in growing their premium soundbar business.” Partnering with Samsung will help Harman Kardon build its consumer- and car-audio-branded audio businesses, he said.