Harman Professional Helps Sound The Call For The United States Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai China

JBL VRX line arrays, Control Contractor installed-sound loudspeakers and BSS Soundweb London processing systems will provide the U.S. Pavilion with world-class audio;

The U.S. Pavilion’s theme is "Rise to the Challenge,” something that Harman brands do on a daily basis when called upon for the most significant live sound applications around the world.

SHANGHAI, China — Harman (NYSE: HAR), a leading provider of branded audio and infotainment electronics for the home, the car, and sound professionals, today announced that technologies from its JBL and BSS Audio brands will form the critical core of the sound system for the United States Pavilion at the upcoming World Expo 2010 Shanghai China.  An estimated 70-plus million attendees over the course of the next six months will experience performances in the $61 million, 60,000-square-foot, glass-walled U.S. Pavilion, which will feature four separate performance spaces, which will be used for multimedia performances, with live performances taking place just outside in the plaza near the queue. Artists scheduled to perform during the opening week of Expo 2010 include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Herbie Hancock, as well as a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, pop, ska and classical music, along with university marching bands, theater and dance troupes, and "Salutes" the American city and state partners.

The sound system’s components, installed and integrated by award-winning audio-visual company Electrosonic, include loudspeakers from JBL’s portable systems including PRX512M powered monitors in addition to VRX Series line arrays, including VRX932LAP powered 2-way line arrays and VRX918SP 18" powered subwoofers. Both the PRX and VRX Series speakers were part of the live stage equipment and run through the Harman soundboard. Other speakers used included JBL’s Application Engineered Series, such as AC2215/00 compact 2-way loudspeakers, as well as JBL’s Control 26CT and Control 25AV from the highly regarded Control Contractor Series of installed speakers. These loudspeakers are processed by BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-160 Signal Processors configured using Soundweb London Architect software and controlled via Harman’s HiQnet™ control protocol.

“Great sound carries,” noted Michael MacDonald, Harman Professional Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales.  “And in this instance, Harman is at once proud and also humbled that our sound systems are helping carry the spirit of American design and invention at the World Expo 2010.  We are honored that when events of this magnitude and this significance need sound technologies, systems designers the world over continue to look to Harman brands and products to make sure that sound is perfect.”

As it has for numerous prestigious performance spaces around the world, Harman continues to provide the ultimate in sonic quality and reliability for critical event spaces.  Harman systems are deployed widely at major sporting events, support the music industry’s most successful tours and are installed in many of the world’s most prestigious and ambitious architectural venues.

Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across Harman’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. Harman International maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”