HARMAN acquires Masimo Audio Division in $350 million deal

In one of the most significant AV shake-ups of the year, HARMAN International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has struck a $350 million deal to acquire the consumer audio division of Masimo Corporation. The transaction, expected to close by the end of 2025 pending regulatory approvals, will see some of the industry’s best known audio brands, including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, and Polk Audio, integrated into the HARMAN portfolio.

The deal marks a strategic pivot for Masimo, which is refocusing its efforts on its core professional healthcare business. It also represents a considerable win for HARMAN, which has long been a dominant player in the consumer and automotive audio space with brands such as JBL, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, and Revel.

Masimo, best known for its innovations in medical monitoring technologies, acquired the Sound United audio portfolio in 2022 as part of a broader diversification strategy. However, the move raised eyebrows in both medical and AV circles, with concerns that the consumer audio brands might be underserved within a healthcare-focused environment.

Commenting on the sale, Masimo Vice Chairman Quentin Koffey said the divestiture reflects the board’s commitment to “accelerating revenue growth while delivering disciplined margins,” adding that the deal positions the company for sharper focus and success in its healthcare ambitions.

Masimo CEO Katie Szyman echoed the sentiment: “Our consumer audio business and its talented team will be well positioned for growth and success under HARMAN’s leadership.”

HARMAN’s acquisition is being welcomed by many in the audio industry as a long-overdue realignment. These legacy audio brands, spanning high-end hi-fi, headphones, home theatre, and integrated AV solutions, will now sit under a parent company with deep roots in sound engineering, consumer electronics, and connected technology.

HARMAN Lifestyle Division President Dave Rogers called the move a “strategic step forward” that expands the company’s reach across key categories. “This acquisition complements our existing strengths and opens new avenues for growth,” Rogers said. “Built on a shared legacy of innovation and excellence in audio technology, this combined family of brands… will deliver complementary audio products, strengthen our value proposition and offer more choices to consumers.”

For custom installers and AV professionals, the implications are clear: brands like Marantz and Bowers & Wilkins will now benefit from deeper R&D resources, wider distribution networks, and the potential for tighter integration with Samsung’s ecosystem of TVs, smart appliances, and mobile products. This synergy could yield more cohesive multi-room solutions and better interoperability across platforms.
Samsung has positioned the acquisition as part of its broader strategy to capture growth in the expanding global audio market, which it expects to rise from $60.8 billion in 2025 to $70 billion by 2029. The move follows public commitments by Samsung leadership to pursue “meaningful” M&A activity to reassure investors and sharpen its innovation edge.

For a while, there was a palpable sense of limbo around the future of Masimo’s AV assets. This acquisition decisively ends that chapter. These iconic brands now land in a home that not only understands audio but is built around it. It’s a transition that promises stability, reinvestment, and relevance in a fast-evolving market.

While regulatory hurdles remain, few in the AV world will question the logic of this deal. The future for Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz and their stablemates now looks more assured than it has in years.