Harman Buys Sound United Consumer Audio Business

All Image Credit: Harman

It was announced on May 6th 2025 that Masimo Corporation, a leading global medical innovator, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Sound United consumer audio business to HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., for an aggregate purchase price of $350 million in cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to receiving necessary regulatory approvals.

Masimo acquired Sound United (Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Polk Audio, Marantz, Definitive Technology, Classé, and Boston Acoustics) back in 2022 for a deal that was said to be worth over $1 billion. Masimo believed that it would benefit from “leveraging Sound United’s expertise in consumer electronics and global distribution to expand its own consumer products business”. However, in hindsight, that did not appear to be the case.

For home-theater enthusiasts, the headline is really what happens when Denon and Marantz AV receivers, Polk Audio and Definitive Technology speakers, Bowers & Wilkins luxury models, Classé electronics, Boston Acoustics, and the HEOS multi-room platform all come under the same roof as Samsung TVs and Harman’s own audio lineup?

Harman needs to prevent, Denon, Marantz, JBL, and Arcam from impacting each others sales while at the same time preserving each brand’s identity. Denon’s X-Series and Marantz’s new Cinema receivers are already fixtures in living rooms and dedicated theaters, supporting; HDMI 2.1, DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, with Dirac Live upgrade paths. Polk’s MagniFi soundbars, Definitive Technology’s Mythos architectural speakers, and Bowers & Wilkins’ Formation wireless models cover most surround-sound price points. Put HEOS 24-bit/192 kHz streaming, simple AVR grouping, and voice-assistant into the mix and Harman gains an instant play in multi-room audio that can dovetail with Samsung’s SmartThings platform and Q-Symphony TV/soundbars.

The transaction is subject to various waivers of certain closing conditions and the receipt of any required regulatory approvals. If all goes through then the Samsung-owned Harman portfolio that  includes audio brands; JBL, Harman/Kardon, AKG, Infinity, Mark Levinson, Arcam, Austere, Crown, DBC, Lexicon, Martin, Revel, and Soundcraft, will add Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk, Definitive Technology, Classe, HEOS, and Boston Acoustics, making it the largest audio company in the world.