HARMAN PRO GROUP UPDATES HiQnet™ SYSTEM ARCHITECT™ CONFIGURATION AND CONTROL SOFTWARE FOR HiQnet™ PROFESSIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, January 19, 2006 - Following the January 2005 launch of Harman Pro Group's HiQnet™ communications protocol, and the initial relesase in July 2005 of HiQnet System Architect™ configuration and control software for HiQnet audio systems, the Harman Pro Group today announced the release of version 1.05 of the System Architect software. HiQnet System Architect is a Windows-based application that provides audio professionals with an intuitive, unified platform for system design and operation of all audio devices in the signal chain from microphone to speaker.

"HiQnet System Architect has been developed in close cooperation with audio professionals to provide an intuitive, robust front-end to the industry's most sophisticated, highest performing audio system," explained Rick Kreifeldt, Vice President, Harman Pro Group, System Development and Integration Group. "System Architect is versatile and eminently configurable to needs and applications of audio professionals in a variety of tour sound and installed sound applications."

Aside from important operational benefits, HiQnet System Architect offers compelling commercial advantages. System Architect eliminates the need for multiple configuration and control applications, offering a single software solution for all compatible signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems and mixing consoles in the system. As such, training costs and set-up time can be reduced significantly and project managers have greater flexibility in the manpower resources they assign to tasks.

System Architect has been written to make use of a plug-in architecture enabling drivers for new Harman Pro Group audio technologies to be developed and easily integrated in the future. The protocol's adherence to the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP™) standard enables connected HiQnet devices and control PCs to configure IP and HiQnet addresses automatically. Transport independent, HiQnet has been engineered to traverse any cable type including Ethernet, serial, USB and Firewire.

System Architect makes the ground-breaking advantages of HiQnet available to audio professionals for a wide variety of applications such as theaters, restaurants, sporting arenas, office buildings, shopping malls or live and touring sound systems:

Unified layout of on-screen product configuration
Simple preset configuration of an entire system of products across multiple brands and product classes
Common configuration and recall of networked audio-routing across all components of an entire system
Custom control panel creation consisting of controls from multiple products across multiple brands
Copy / paste of like parameter values from, and to, multiple products across Harman Professional brands
Unified event logging and error reporting for entire system
Advanced remote control and diagnostic capabilities
Dedicated mode for tablet PC operation
Optimization for touch-screen PC use
Configurable cue list within Studer Vista 8 or other future HiQnet-compliant consoles allows simple recall of presets on all connected HiQnet devices

Version 1.05, released today, adds an intelligent firmware updater, enhanced controls and the plugin for the dbx's flagship loudspeaker management processor, the DriveRack 4800.

HiQnet System Architect was developed by Harman Pro System Development and Integration Group (SDIG) based in Salt Lake City, Utah. In doing so, the SDIG team collaborated with leading industry professionals and engineers from the eight Harman Pro Group companies; AKG, BSS, Crown, dbx, JBL, Lexicon, Soundcraft and Studer.

"A software application capable of creating, viewing and addressing the entire audio system as a single entity is a compelling proposition from a commercial and performance perspective," Kreifeldt added. "HiQnet emphatically addresses this opportunity and System Architect is an essential component of its appeal."

HiQnet System Architect brings to the full audio system what HiQnet London Architect continues to provide BSS Soundweb London and Crown PIP card environments. In fact, SDIG engineers incorporated integrator feedback on London Architect into the development of HiQnet System Architect. Using the HiQnet communications protocol, London Architect enables cross-configuration and design advantages for systems based on BSS Soundweb London and Crown amplifier PIP cards.

HiQnet System Architect is available for download at harmanpro.com.

About the Harman Pro Group:

Headquartered in Northridge, California, the Harman Pro Group is part of Harman International Industries, Incorporated ( HYPERLINK "http://www.harman.com" www.harman.com), a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high fidelity audio products and infotainment systems for the automotive, home and professional markets. The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: HAR. Harman Pro Group companies include AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, Crown International, dbx, DigiTech, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Soundcraft, and Studer.

For more information please visit www.harmanpro.com.