Samsung acquired the above brands when it acquired Harman International Group in 2016 for 8 billion USD. Since then, Harman has continued to work independently, especially in the field of premium sound and automation.
According to Phone Arena, Samsung is moving further into the premium audio market as Harman has just signed an agreement to buy Masimo's consumer audio division for $ 350 million. The deal will be completed by the end of this year. This means that some major brands such as Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio... will be owned by Samsung.
Among them, Bowers & Wilkins is a British premium audio brand famous for its beautiful design and classy sound for those who are passionate about sound.
This acquisition demonstrates a strategic advance in expanding Harman's core audio business and leaving its mark on its core product portfolio such as homeowned products, headphones, Hi-fi components and car audio. It complements our existing strengths and opens up new paths for growth, said Dave Rogers, Chairman of Lifestyle at Harman.
Harman plans to merge this new audio business segment with its current lifestyle segment to strengthen its position as a global leader in consumer audio, a market expected to increase from 60.8 billion USD in 2025 to 70 billion USD in 2029.
This move not only boosts Harman's brand portfolio but could also promote better sound improvement across Samsung products, from Galaxy phones to TVs and headphones.
Previously, Samsung used Harman's methods to improve the sound quality of its smartphones, tablets, laptops and loudspeakers. With the acquisition of more famous brands such as Denon, Marantz and B&W, consumers can expect a big step forward in Samsung's all-encompassing sound quality.
