Harman International Audio Components Provided by Maryland Sound (MSI) For U.S. Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies

Harman International Industries (NYSE: HAR), a leading provider of branded audio and infotainment electronics for the home, the car, and sound professionals, today announced that components from its JBL Professional and Crown Audio divisions were deployed by sound company Maryland Sound (MSI) for the highly anticipated United States Presidential Inauguration Ceremony that took place in Washington D.C. yesterday. The event drew the largest civic-event audience ever served by an outdoor sound reinforcement system in the United States, with a crowd of as many as two million people jamming the National Mall and surrounding areas. The sound reinforcement system featured JBL Professional VERTEC® line array loudspeakers powered by Crown Audio I-Tech amplifiers and managed using Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™ software. The company’s VP7315DP, VRX932 and Control 25AV speakers projected the swearing-in ceremony, the new president’s speech and performances by a host of leading artists.

The sound system was designed by Pat Baltzell of Baltzell Audio Design and was supplied by Maryland Sound (MSI), led by Bob Goldstein, President. “JBL VERTEC simply has more total power output than the competitors. Additionally, this is the first inauguration we’ve been able to utilize Crown I-Tech amplifiers, and therefore run System Architect. Utilizing a Harman system has certainly provided us with the increased flexibility we’ve needed for this unprecedented event,” stated Baltzell.

“We are extremely pleased with the assortment of tools that Harman provides us. From the superb JBL VERTEC line arrays to Crown amplifiers and Studer and Soundcraft consoles and other products. We are able to achieve the highest fidelity sound possible and vastly superior to that which was available only a few years ago. Given the harsh environmental conditions we were working in, which has brought sub zero temperatures and lots of precipitation, the equipment worked flawlessly with no failures,” stated Bob Goldstein, President of MSI.

“The inauguration of a president is a historic watershed moment with the potential to change the world,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, Harman International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “President Obama’s speech and swearing-in ceremony were watched and heard around the globe, and at Harman we are very proud to have helped bring that experience to the millions attending the event in Washington D.C. This inauguration marks the continuation of a proud tradition of our company’s support of other historic moments in politics, sports and entertainment across the world.”

Following the Swearing in Ceremonies, Maryland Sound (MSI) also provided Vertec Line Arrays for the Inaugural Parade route from the Capitol to the White House. On several nights leading up to the Inauguration MSI provided a host of JBL and Crown systems for myriad events including the Finance Dinner. In addition to the inauguration, Harman Professional audio components were central at the numerous celebration concerts that took place around Washington D.C. the week preceding the swearing-in ceremony and the night of. On the eve of the inauguration, MSI provided JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, Soundcraft Vi4 and Vi6 and Studer Vista5SR consoles for several Inaugural Balls including the “Commander in Chief Ball” at the National Building Museum and the Biden Home States Ball at the Washington Convention Center. MSI provided JBL VERTEC systems for various other concerts around Washington featuring Carol King, Faith Hill, Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Ludacris and Beyonce. Firehouse Productions supplied sound for a concert to honor military families, featuring Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers at the Verizon Center. This was followed by a concert on the evening of January 20 in which audio system provider ATK/Audiotek utilized JBL VERTEC line arrays to provide sound for an all-star line-up charity concert featuring Sting and Elvis Costello at Washington's Harman Center of the Arts.


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