When did Harman buy Infinity?
Harman International Industries acquired the Infinity brand in 1988, moving the high-end speaker maker into its expanding portfolio of premium audio brands.
Background: Infinity before Harman
Infinity Systems began as a U.S.-based audio company known for its innovative loudspeakers and car-audio components. By the late 1980s, Infinity had established a strong presence in both home audio and automotive sound systems, building a reputation for quality and distinctive design. The decision to bring Infinity under Harman aligned Infinity’s engineering and distribution strengths with Harman’s broader lineup of premium audio brands.
The Acquisition
In 1988, Harman announced its acquisition of Infinity. Terms of the deal were not publicly disclosed, but the move was framed as a strategic expansion of Harman’s portfolio in both consumer and automotive audio markets. The integration allowed Infinity products to benefit from Harman’s manufacturing capabilities, global sales network, and research and development resources.
These milestones illustrate how Infinity transitioned from an independent marque to a core component of Harman’s consolidated brand ecosystem, laying groundwork that would persist through later corporate changes.
Before the list: Key milestones in the Harman–Infinity era include the following:
- 1988 — Harman announces the acquisition of Infinity, bringing the brand into its portfolio
- 1990s — Infinity products are progressively integrated into Harman’s distribution and engineering networks
- 2000s — Infinity expands its home and car audio offerings under Harman’s umbrella
- 2017 — Samsung Electronics completes its acquisition of Harman, keeping Infinity within the Harman/Samsung ecosystem
These milestones highlight how Infinity remained a key brand within Harman’s lineup even as ownership shifted to Samsung via the Harman acquisition.
Infinity under Harman and beyond
Under Harman, Infinity continued to be marketed as a premium audio brand, leveraging Harman’s cross-brand engineering and distribution strengths to reach both home listeners and automotive environments. The 2017 purchase of Harman by Samsung Electronics placed Infinity within a larger tech group, though the Infinity name persisted as part of Harman’s brand family. Today, Infinity products are positioned within Samsung’s broader audio strategy, maintaining a focus on sound quality and design while benefiting from Harman’s long-standing expertise in audio technologies.
As of the latest updates, Infinity remains a brand within Harman’s portfolio, which is itself owned by Samsung Electronics. The acquisition year of 1988 is widely cited in corporate histories as the moment Infinity joined Harman, a move that shaped the brand’s direction for decades to come.
Summary: Harman bought Infinity in 1988, a move that integrated Infinity into a growing family of premium audio brands. The later 2017 acquisition of Harman by Samsung ensured Infinity continued under a larger corporate umbrella, but the Infinity name remained a staple within Harman’s lineup, guided by Harman’s engineering and distribution strengths.
Is Infiniti owned by Harman Kardon?
HARMAN is the parent company for leading iconic audio brands including JBL®, AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, amongst others.
Is Infinity Harman JBL the same company?
Harman is the parent company for leading audio brands including JBL, AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, Lexicon, Mark Levinson and Revel, among others.
Who bought out Infinity speakers?
Infinity has been a part of Harman International Industries since 1983; in 2017 Harman was acquired by Samsung Electronics. The Servo-Static speaker system was the company's initial offering.
What brands are owned by Harman?
Harman owns numerous brands, including JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Infinity, Mark Levinson, Lexicon, and Soundcraft. Following its acquisition of Sound United, Harman also now owns brands such as Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Boston Acoustics.
Consumer and professional audio brands
JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Infinity, Lexicon, Mark Levinson, Revel, Soundcraft, Crown, and dbx.
Brands from the Sound United acquisition
Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Classé, Boston Acoustics, and HEOS.
Other brands
AMX LLC, Arcam, Becker, BSS Audio, and Martin (professional lighting).
