CES 2014, LAS VEGAS – HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group (NYSE:HAR), today announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that GRAMMY Award-winning, multi-platinum alternative rock band Linkin Park will be the new brand ambassadors for the Infinity brand. Reflective of a common history of pushing boundaries, challenging convention, and producing cutting-edge sound, the exclusive five-year partnership between Linkin Park and Infinity will go beyond advertising to include collaboration in product design. To mark the new relationship, Linkin Park will help unveil a sneak peek of two all-new Infinity product lines – the Infinity Reference Loudspeakers Series and the brand’s first portable wireless sound system, called Infinity One.
Founded in 1968, the Infinity brand is strongly rooted in pushing boundaries in design, materials and technology, all driven by an obsession with, and passion for, delivering uncompromising performance and premium sound.
“Over the years, Infinity’s relentless spirit has driven all kinds of industry firsts, such as the first use of polypropylene for speaker cones and the first digital amplifiers for mobile audio use. The brand has been praised by critics and widely copied by competitors,” said Michael Mauser, president, Lifestyle Division, HARMAN. “As we re-launch the brand and look ahead, Infinity will continue to lead the way, consistently delivering cutting-edge performance, design, and technology in all the products it offers.”
Linkin Park will serve as Infinity ambassadors and is working closely with the brand’s design and engineering teams on the development, voicing and industrial design of the new Infinity product portfolio. The band has a long history of interests rooted in sound and technology, and for the launch of the new Infinity Reference Loudspeakers Series, they collaborated with Infinity to create "Gold Dipped" Special Edition Floorstanding Loudspeakers.
“This partnership is a natural fit for us since the Infinity brand is designed precisely for people like us, who have a deep and abiding love for music,” said Linkin Park co-lead vocalist and producer, Mike Shinoda. “Our band is serious and discerning about sound quality, and Infinity’s 46 years of relentless audio innovation to progress sound purity is both inspiring and motivational.”
Infinity Reference Loudspeakers Series
The Infinity Reference Loudspeakers Series will consist of nine models featuring a clean, contemporary look and feel with tapered side panels and a black premium finish. The series will include two bookshelf models, two floorstanding models, two center channel models, one surround model and two powered subwoofer models. The series will utilize the latest HARMAN proprietary technologies to deliver amazing audio performance at accessible price points.
Infinity One
The Infinity One will be the first portable wireless sound system from Infinity, and will feature premium and cutting edge materials, high fidelity sound, wireless streaming and a built-in rechargeable battery with up to 10 hours of playtime – offering consumers premium quality sound and the utmost in mobility.
Pricing & Availability
Pricing and availability details for the Infinity Reference Loudspeakers Series and Infinity One portable will be announced later this year.
About Linkin Park
Linkin Park is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum alternative rock band comprised of co-lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, drummer/percussionist, Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave 'Phoenix' Farrell, DJ, programmer Joe Hahn and Mike Shinoda - co-lead vocals, keyboards, guitar. The band has sold over 50 million albums worldwide, and is the biggest band on Facebook - with over 57 million fans and counting. In the span of time since 2000, when Linkin Park debuted on the Billboard 200 – no other artist has had more top 10 singles on the Alternative chart and, with the release of their latest album, LIVING THINGS (Machine Shop Recordings /Warner Bros), which reached #1 in over 20 countries, no other band has achieved more #1 albums this century. On their most recent touring cycle, the band played to over a million people, in 79 shows, on six continents. In 2005, Linkin Park founded Music For Relief, a 501 © (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to victims of natural disasters and the prevention of such disasters. Since its inception, Music For Relief has raised over 5 million dollars for victims of multiple disasters across four continents. The organization was recognized by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the Download to Donate program to raise funds and awareness in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. In recognition of its humanitarian work, Linkin Park received a 2011 Global Leadership Award from the United Nations Foundation.
About HARMAN
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 14,600 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.5 billion for the last twelve months ended September 30, 2013. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.