Australian consumers will soon be able to buy a new top end range of Harman Kardon speakers that will take Sonos and several other brands head on.
Retailers have told ChannelNews that they anticipate “excellent” sales for the new range which is the first major upgrade for the brand since Samsung acquired Harman in 2017.
At CES 2019 Harman Kardon announced major upgrades to their “Citation Series,” which combine various hardware designs with Google Assistant, an LCD touch screen, and Chromecast.
Sometime in early 2019, the speakers will be updated with AirPlay 2 support, allowing users to wirelessly stream music from an iOS device, Apple TV, or HomePod by asking Siri.
Each speaker in the Citation Series has aluminium detailing paired with wool fabric that’s available in Winter Grey or Classic Black colour options. Customers can use the speakers individually or build a 5.1-channel surround sound system with multi-channel and multi-room abilities.
The Citation Series has Google Assistant built in, so users can stream music and ask questions by saying “Hey Google” nearby. This will also let them control Android-connected smart home products.
“Consumers increasingly look to their home entertainment systems to do more than just play music,” said Michael Mauser, President, Lifestyle Audio at HARMAN. “While features like voice control and multi-room streaming are becoming standard, the Harman Kardon Citation Series is anything but. The pairing of our unprecedented audio legacy and premium design with smart features and ease of use gives Citation the opportunity to truly transform the listening experience.”
There are numerous speakers in the Citation Series, including multiple countertop speakers, a soundbar, a subwoofer, a tower speaker, and more.
The speakers are expected in stores in March 2019.
