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Harman Kardon in the new Renault Mégane E-TECH

With a new partnership between Harman International Industries and Renault, the automotive segment is once again on the move. In principle, it can be said that the automotive segment is an extremely exciting and lucrative one for many consumer electronics companies.

However, while the general perception focuses on cooperations and partnerships of particularly prestigious brands, the real “big business” often happens under less prominent coverage.

This may also apply to the new cooperation between Harman International Industries and Renault mentioned above, but when you consider that we are talking about really large numbers of vehicles here, the actual scope of such partnerships becomes clearer.

In this specific case, the companies are focusing on a partnership around the Harman Kardon brand, traditionally the one that Harman International Industries has already focused on in the automotive sector.

Renault Mégane E-TECH with audio system from Harman Kardon

The first vehicle to be equipped with a sound system from Harman Kardon is the new Renault Mégane E-TECH electric car. The Mégane E-TECH is scheduled for launch in 2022 and is expected to impress drivers with its range, performance and modernity, according to French carmaker Renault.

Completely redesigned exterior and interior

Like the exterior, the interior of the upcoming Mégane E-TECH has been completely redesigned. In the process, Harman Kardon’s acoustic engineers worked hand-in-hand with Renault’s design team to create a state-of-the-art sound system that fits perfectly into this interior while delivering the immersive sound that Harman Kardon is known for.

Renault brings its French style, flair and quality to the partnership, while Harman Kardon contributes its passion for beautiful sound, modern design and premium audio quality, the two companies said in a statement.

Pure, clean and detailed sound – specially tuned for an electric vehicle

The Harman Kardon premium sound system, available as standard in the top trim level and as a premium option in the mid trim level of the new Renault Mégane E-TECH, is designed to deliver a balanced, powerful sound.

The spatial arrangement of the system and the individual sound tuning ensure that the listener can precisely locate all sound sources and concentrate on the sound stage. This creates the feeling of a larger space.

An algorithm that balances the phase responses in the vehicle ensures a stable, well-defined and coherent sound image and clear stereo sound for all vehicle occupants. Harman Kardon Virtual Center technology processes the audio signal from each speaker to build an exceptionally accurate stereo stage directly in front of each listener. This, it says, enables an in-car listening experience similar to listening to a recording on a high-quality hi-fi system.

Nine speakers, including a subwoofer driven by a digital multichannel amplifier with up to 410 watts of power, are used here.

The manufacturer says its unique Harman Externally Coupled Subwoofer technology reduces the weight and volume of the subwoofer while achieving exceptionally high low-frequency performance.

Quantum Logic Surround and Sound Ambiances for individual listening pleasure

Vehicle cabs, the manufacturer says, are among the most acoustically challenging environments due to multiple speakers, different seating positions, different materials and reflective surfaces. Additional speakers or artificial effects are not enough to provide an authentic and emotional music experience, Harman International Industries is convinced.

Instead, they rely on the patented Harman QLS, also known as the QuantumLogic Surround algorithm. In this process, the audio signal is split and distributed to the individual speakers in such a way that an immersive surround sound is created for each passenger.

Vehicle occupants can choose between five sound environments – Studio, Concert, Immersion, Lounge and Club – at the touch of a finger to suit their individual music listening preferences.

Compensating for vehicle speed

Even though the Mégane E-TECH is an electric vehicle, any background noise should be eliminated as far as possible, especially that generated by driving. Harman Vehicle Speed Compensation is used with a particularly advanced algorithm, according to the manufacturer, to maintain the music playback level and tonal balance at any vehicle speed.

Iconic design complements the experience

In terms of design, the Harman Kardon system is also designed to appeal to vehicle occupants. The grilles of the two tweeters in the dashboard are made of stainless steel and elegantly reflect the iconic 60° pattern of the slash of the Harman Kardon brand logo. The matte black finish highlights the embedded logo while providing seamless integration with the overall interior design

Just the beginning of the partnership

The Mégane E-TECH is just the first step in the partnership between the Harman Kardon brand and French automaker Renault, he said. This partnership is also expected to offer drivers and passengers a whole new world of exceptional in-car experiences in further models.

Getting to the point

With Renault, Harman International Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has now won another automotive group as a partner in its automotive division. The focus here is once again on Harman Kardon, which has already been relied on as an important brand in the automotive segment. An audio system from Harman Kardon will be featured for the first time in the new Renault Mégane E-TECH, which was presented as a world premiere at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich.

Manufacturer: Renault Group
Distribution: Renault Group
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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