HARMAN Launches Advanced Car Audio Testing Facility

HARMAN, an automotive electronics technology company and subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on delivering consumer experiences at automotive grade, has announced the launch of In-Cabin Car Acoustic Experience Lab in India. This cutting-edge facility in Pune is specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of car audio acoustics, engineering, research, as well as customer demonstrations. 

Inspired by the groundbreaking research of HARMAN's renowned experts, Dr. Sean Olive and Dr. Floyd Toole, the Acoustic Experience Lab replicates a typical residential listening environment. This unique concept enables around 500 engineers and research teams in India to test, develop, and validate products in the 1,000 sq ft facility that accurately reflects consumer expectations. 

This state-of-the-art resource serves a wide spectrum of engineering and R&D needs within HARMAN. It acts as a valuable tool for acoustic engineers, providing them with a sonic aid when architecting and fine-tuning car audio systems to meet the highest audio standards and formats. Additionally, the lab is utilized by the Experiential R&D team for conducting consumer and internal sound quality testing. It plays a crucial role in supporting product development, optimization, and competitive analysis while catering to the major OEMs in India. HARMAN also conducts HARMAN Qualified Listener Program in the lab, wherein employees and OEMs are trained to be qualified listeners.  

The Automotive Acoustic Experience Lab is equipped with hidden modular panels, allowing for easy manipulation of the lab's reflective properties. This flexibility enables engineers to tailor the listening experience to meet specific testing or demonstration requirements, ensuring optimal results.

To bring this dynamic listening environment to life, HARMAN partnered with Modi Digital, India's leading Pro Audio consultancy. Modi Digital, with an impressive client portfolio that includes the legendary AR Rahman, contributed its expertise to the meticulous design of the space. The lab complies with the strict NC 20 room criteria as per ISO 9568 and aligns with ASHRAE guidelines for acoustically sensitive spaces. Its adjustable treatment elements facilitate a seamless transition between a bright sounding volume and an acoustically absorptive space.

The acoustic experience in the lab is truly exceptional. Utilizing HARMAN Luxury Audio products and Professional products, the lab is outfitted with nine main loudspeakers, four in-wall subwoofers, and seven height channels. BSS Audio manages the digital signal processing (DSP), while Crown amplification powers the system. With a remarkable 9.1.6 Dolby ATMOS configuration, meticulously calibrated by Dolby engineers, the lab delivers an immersive audio experience like no other.

Jonathan Pierce, Director, Audio Benchmarking, Engineering at HARMAN Automotive said, this lab adheres to our global standards for automotive research and evaluation. This is HARMAN’s sixth global testing environment, aimed at bringing critical tools and resources to our customers and engineering teams. We are optimistic that this lab will not only meet our customer expectations but also provide them a new perspective towards the car audio experience.”

"We are thrilled to introduce this groundbreaking Automotive Acoustic Experience Lab, which sets a new standard for automotive engineering and research," said Sanjeev Kulkarni, Vice President at HARMAN Automotive. "By replicating a typical residential listening environment, we can ensure that our products meet and exceed consumer expectations. This facility represents our commitment to delivering exceptional audio experiences and driving innovation in the automotive industry. We are delighted that the leading OEMs in India, who happen to be our esteemed customers visited and appreciated the lab."