Harman Delivers Automotive Industry’s First Three-Dimensional Surround Experience based on QuantumLogic™ Technology

CES 2013, LAS VEGAS – HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group (NYSE:HAR), today introduced QuantumLogic 3D, 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.

HARMAN’s QLS innovations reflect years of research into the science of sound perception and advanced signal processing along with an intimate knowledge and expertise in acoustics, recording and playback technologies. QLS-3D technology is compatible with mono, stereo, and multi-channel content and creates a natural three-dimensional sound field without the artificial effects used by competitive surround sound technologies. QuantumLogic 3D technology is available today for all automotive OEMs, and provides an important differentiator for automotive manufacturers looking to stand out with their premium audio offerings.

The roll out of QuantumLogic 3D expands HARMAN’s lead in the exploration of the use of surround sound in consumer and professional environments where QLS has already been called one of the most important advancements in audio since stereo. While the move from mono to stereo clearly represented a significant music industry landmark, 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.

“Our extensive experience in digital signal processing for home and automotive applications, the accuracy of the QLS-3D algorithm and its ability to create an entirely new listening experience uniquely positions HARMAN as a leader in three-dimensional surround,” said Sachin Lawande, executive vice president and co-president, Lifestyle and Infotainment. “Through the introduction of technologies such as QLS-3D we’re working with our automotive partners to enable even more possibilities for in-car audio.”

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.

A concept QuantumLogic 3D audio system will be available for demonstration at HARMAN’s technology showcase at The Palms during CES 2013 by appointment only.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. 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 about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.4 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.