AKG

AKG is an Austrian-founded audio engineering and manufacturing brand whose history spans cinema equipment, microphones, headphones, wireless systems and consumer electronics. The company was established in Vienna in 1947 by physicist Rudolf Görike and engineer Ernst Pless, initially under the German name Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft. Its earliest work supplied technical equipment to post-war cinemas, including loudspeakers, film projectors and light meters. It later diversified into car horns, intercoms, telephone microphone capsules, headsets and loudspeaker products. AKG's reputation was built on transducer and microphone engineering. Its early patents included moving-coil technology and mass-loaded diaphragms intended to improve frequency response. The 1953 D12 dynamic microphone brought the company broad international recognition, particularly in broadcasting and recording. The C12 valve condenser microphone and its successors established AKG as a major studio-microphone maker, while the CK12 capsule became an important part of the company's technical legacy. Later C-series microphones, including the C414 family, extended that reputation across studios, live sound and broadcast applications. The company also developed a significant headphone business. AKG introduced the K120 DYN in the late 1940s and the open-back K50 in 1959. Its studio-monitoring products, including the K240, became familiar in recording environments, while models such as the K701, K702, Q701 and K812 served professional and enthusiast listeners. AKG also produced consumer hi-fi headphones and earphones, and its sound expertise was used in audio products supplied with some Samsung mobile devices after Samsung acquired Harman. AKG expanded internationally through subsidiaries in Germany and the United States. It became a public company in 1984 and was listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. Harman International Industries acquired AKG in 1994, integrating the brand into a larger portfolio of professional-audio and automotive-electronics businesses. In 2010, AKG received a Technical Grammy Award for its contribution to recording technology. The brand also pursued artist collaborations, including headphone partnerships with Quincy Jones and Tiësto. A major organizational change came in 2016, when Harman announced that AKG's Vienna headquarters, manufacturing and engineering facilities would close in 2017. Brand headquarters and much of the production activity shifted toward Harman's international operations, including facilities outside Austria. Harman itself was acquired by Samsung Electronics in 2017. AKG continues as a Harman audio brand, with current offerings centered on microphones, headphones, wireless microphone systems and related audio accessories rather than on the original Vienna manufacturing structure.

AKG's origins lie in post-war Vienna. Rudolf Görike and Ernst Pless began supplying cinema technology to theatres in the period after the Second World War, and in 1947 established Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft, commonly abbreviated as AKG. The original business was not limited to recording products: it supplied loudspeakers, projectors and light meters, then expanded into car horns, door intercoms, telephone microphone capsules, headsets and cushion speakers. The company's growth was supported by engineering work on acoustic transducers. Moving-coil designs and mass-loaded diaphragm principles helped AKG pursue wider and more consistent frequency response. In 1953, the D12 dynamic microphone became an important commercial and technical milestone. Its use in broadcasting and studios helped establish AKG internationally, and the company subsequently developed a succession of microphones for vocal, instrumental, broadcast and recording applications. The C12 valve condenser microphone became one of AKG's best-known historical products. Its CK12 large-diaphragm capsule was designed to provide consistent sensitivity and frequency behavior across multiple polar patterns, an achievement that contributed to the company's studio reputation. Related products and successors included the C24 stereo microphone, C414 family, C451 and later C-series models. AKG microphones were used in broadcast and recording environments and were associated with a broad range of professional applications. Headphones became another major line. AKG introduced the K120 DYN around the beginning of its headphone history and released the open-back K50 in 1959. The company later developed studio and hi-fi products including the K240, K1000, K701, K702, Q701 and K812. The K240 became particularly recognizable as a studio-monitoring headphone, while the K701 and related models became common among musicians, engineers and serious listeners. AKG expanded its corporate footprint with a German subsidiary in the 1950s and a United States subsidiary in 1985. It became a publicly traded company in 1984, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. Harman International Industries acquired AKG in 1994, bringing the Austrian brand into a multinational audio group. This ownership enabled broader distribution and access to Harman's production and sales infrastructure while gradually separating the brand from its original Vienna manufacturing base. During the 1990s and 2000s, AKG developed wireless microphone systems and continued to serve professional audio, while also expanding its consumer headphone business. In 2010, the company received a Technical Grammy Award. Artist collaborations with Quincy Jones and Tiësto in 2010 and 2012 respectively connected AKG's headphone products with prominent music personalities. In 2016, Harman announced the closure of AKG's Vienna headquarters, manufacturing and engineering facilities during 2017. The change ended the company's historic Vienna operating structure and shifted brand headquarters to California, while most AKG-branded products were manufactured through Harman's overseas facilities. In the same year, former AKG engineers in Austria founded Austrian Audio, a separate competing audio company. Samsung acquired Harman in 2017, and AKG subsequently operated within Samsung's broader consumer and professional audio ecosystem. The brand remains associated with microphones, headphones, wireless audio and audio technologies used in consumer devices.

• 2017

  Vienna operations close and Harman joins Samsung

  [1]AKGen.wikipedia.org

  AKG's Vienna facilities close as brand operations move toward California and overseas manufacturing; Samsung acquires Harman.

• 2010

  Technical Grammy recognition

  [1]AKGen.wikipedia.org

  AKG receives a Technical Grammy Award for its contribution to recording technology.

• 1994

  Harman acquires AKG

  [1]AKGen.wikipedia.org

  AKG becomes part of Harman International Industries.

• 1984

  AKG becomes a public company

  [1]AKGen.wikipedia.org

  AKG is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.

• 1953

  D12 microphone gains international recognition

  [1]AKGen.wikipedia.org

  The D12 dynamic microphone helps establish AKG as an international professional-audio supplier.

• 1949

  Early headphone production begins

  [1]AKGen.wikipedia.org

  AKG begins producing headphones, including the K120 DYN.

• 1947

  AKG is founded in Vienna

  [1]AKGen.wikipedia.org

  Rudolf Görike and Ernst Pless establish Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft, the company that becomes known as AKG.

AKG is positioned as a technically credible audio brand spanning professional recording and live sound on one side and premium consumer listening on the other. Its strongest associations are studio microphones, reference headphones, Austrian engineering heritage and use by broadcasters, musicians and recording engineers. Under Harman and Samsung, the brand also participates in mass-market consumer audio and device-integrated sound experiences.

• Microphones · 1953

  Professional microphones

  AKG's professional microphone portfolio includes dynamic, condenser and valve designs for studio recording, broadcast, live performance and instruments. Historically important models include the D12, C12, D112, C414, C451 and C535. The C-series and CK12 capsule lineage are particularly associated with AKG's studio engineering reputation.

• Headphones · 1949

  Studio and reference headphones

  AKG makes headphones for studio monitoring, professional reference listening and hi-fi use. The K240 became a widely recognized monitoring model, while the K701, K702, Q701 and K812 represent open-back and reference-oriented designs. Some historic models, including the K1000, are discontinued but remain influential among enthusiasts.

• Consumer audio

  Consumer headphones and earphones

  The consumer range extends AKG's tuning and industrial design into portable headphones, earphones and wireless listening products. AKG audio technology has also been used in selected Samsung mobile devices, including headphones and device speaker systems following Samsung's acquisition of Harman.

• Wireless audio

  DMS wireless microphone systems

  AKG's DMS line provides wireless microphone equipment for professional speech, performance and installed-audio applications. It represents the company's expansion beyond wired microphones into wireless transmission and complete system solutions.

• 2012Tiësto headphone partnership

  International consumer audio · DJ and electronic music markets

  AKG announced a headphone collaboration with DJ Tiësto, using the artist's name and profile to support a dedicated product line.

  Outcome. The collaboration connected AKG with electronic-music audiences and reinforced its presence in lifestyle and DJ-oriented headphones.

  Source
• 2010Quincy Jones signature headphone partnership

  International consumer audio

  AKG worked with Quincy Jones on a signature headphone range featuring artist-led styling and modified drivers.

  Outcome. The partnership broadened AKG's consumer visibility by linking its headphone business with a highly recognized music producer and performer.

  Source

• 2017

  Samsung acquires HarmanM&A

  Background

  Samsung sought to expand its connected, automotive and audio-electronics activities.

  Action taken

  Samsung Electronics acquired Harman International Industries, including its AKG brand.

  Aftermath

  AKG became part of Samsung's broader technology ecosystem and its audio tuning was used in selected Samsung consumer devices.

  Source

• 2016

  Close Vienna facilities and relocate brand headquartersStrategy

  Background

  Harman reviewed AKG's operating structure and announced the closure of the historic Vienna headquarters, factory and engineering facilities.

  Action taken

  The Vienna facilities were scheduled to close in 2017, with brand headquarters transferred to California and production shifted largely to Harman's overseas facilities.

  Aftermath

  The decision ended AKG's historic Vienna manufacturing base. Former Austrian AKG engineers later established Austrian Audio as a competing company.

  Source

• 1994

  Join Harman International IndustriesM&A

  Background

  AKG had developed from an Austrian specialist into an internationally distributed audio company.

  Action taken

  Harman acquired AKG and incorporated the brand into its global professional and consumer audio portfolio.

  Aftermath

  AKG gained access to Harman's international distribution and manufacturing network while continuing as a distinct audio brand.

  Source

• 2021.09.20

  Reported2021.09.20

  AKG introduces Ara USB microphone[2]AKG 推出 Ara USB 麦克风lsionline.com

  Harman Professional Solutions introduced the AKG Ara, a two-pattern USB condenser microphone.

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2020.07.25

  Samsung launches AKG Y600 NC and Y400 headphones[3]三星推出AKG Y600 NC和Y400耳机tech.sina.com.cn

  Samsung launched the AKG Y600 NC and Y400 headphone models. The Y600 NC supports active noise cancellation, while the models include features such as Ambient Aware and Talk Thru.

• 2020.04.02

  Reported2020.04.02

  Samsung launches AKG N400 wireless earbuds in South Korea[4]三星在韩国推出AKG N400真无线耳机tech.sina.com.cn

  Samsung launched the AKG N400 true wireless earbuds on its South Korean website. The article reports a South Korean price of 230,000 won and features including active noise cancellation and IPX7 water resistance.

• 2019.09.24

  Reported2019.09.24

  AKG launches four wireless headphones and earphones in India[5]AKG在印度推出四款无线耳机orissapost.com

  Samsung India launched four wireless AKG headphone and earphone models in India: Y100, Y500, N200 and N700NC M2.

Read more

1. 1AKGen.wikipedia.org
2. 2AKG 推出 Ara USB 麦克风lsionline.com
3. 3三星推出AKG Y600 NC和Y400耳机tech.sina.com.cn
4. 4三星在韩国推出AKG N400真无线耳机tech.sina.com.cn
5. 5AKG在印度推出四款无线耳机orissapost.com
6. 6三星发布 AKG Y600 NC 与 Y400 耳机新品tech.sina.com.cn
7. 7Samsung launches 4 new AKG headphones in India | Samsung launches 4 new AKG headphones in Indiaasianage.com
8. 8Samsung launches AKG Y100, Y500, N200 and N700NC M2 wireless earphones and headphones in India starting at Rs. 6699fonearena.com
9. 9Samsung launches four AKG headphones in India, price starts Rs 6,999themobileindian.com
10. 10Samsung launches four new AKG headphones in Indiachennaionline.com
11. 11Samsung launches four new wireless AKG headphones in India with prices starting at Rs 6,699timesnownews.com