Harman Kardon

About the Company

Harman Kardon is an American audio company founded in 1953 by Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon in New York City. The brand quickly became synonymous with high-quality hi-fi audio equipment in the consumer and professional markets.

• Country: United States

• Founded: 1953

• Founders: Sidney Harman, Bernard Kardon

• Focus: High-fidelity audio electronics — amplifiers, receivers, speakers, and tape decks

• Parent Company: Became part of Harman International Industries, now a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics

Harman Kardon established a reputation for audiophile-quality consumer equipment, and reel-to-reel tape decks were a major part of its product line in the 1960s and 1970s.

Reel-to-Reel Production Timeline

Late 1950s – Early Experiments

• Shortly after founding, Harman Kardon began designing home hi-fi components, but initially focus was on amplifiers and tuners, not tape decks.

• The earliest decks in the late 1950s were designed for demonstration purposes and in small production runs, often using OEM tape mechanisms.

1960s – First Consumer Reel-to-Reel Decks

• By the early 1960s, Harman Kardon introduced consumer reel-to-reel tape decks aimed at the high-end home market.

• Key features of 1960s models:
  Tube-based electronics (initially), later hybrid transistor/tube designs
  2-track mono or stereo
  Tape speeds: 3¾ and 7½ ips, with some models offering 15 ips for professional-level fidelity
  Three-head designs in later models for simultaneous monitoring of playback and recording

Notable models:

• Harman Kardon T-60 (1963): Early consumer stereo deck, tube electronics, 2-track

• Harman Kardon T-1000 (1965): Solid-state preamplifiers integrated with tape deck, professional-grade audio quality

1970s – High-End Consumer and Semi-Professional Decks

• Harman Kardon focused on high-end home audio and semi-professional use:
  Solid-state electronics replaced tubes entirely in most consumer models
  Features included 3-head playback/record/erase, variable tape speeds, and Dolby NR compatibility

• Popular models:
  Harman Kardon T-600 / T-700 series: Stereo, multiple speeds, built-in VU meters, direct-drive motors on higher-end models
  These decks were marketed alongside Harman Kardon receivers and integrated hi-fi systems for premium home audio setups

1980s – Late Era and Decline

• As cassette decks and digital formats (CDs, DAT) gained popularity, Harman Kardon gradually phased out reel-to-reel production.

• By the mid-1980s, consumer reel-to-reel tape decks were largely discontinued, though some professional models continued briefly in niche markets.

Technology & Features

• Electronics: Tube → hybrid → fully solid-state

• Tape Speeds: 3¾, 7½, 15 ips

• Tracks: 2-track mono/stereo or 4-track quarter-track

• Special Features:
  Three-head record/playback/erase
  VU meters for level monitoring
  Dolby B noise reduction (late 1970s)
  Direct-drive motors on high-end models

• Market Position: High-fidelity consumer and semi-professional audio

Market Context

• Harman Kardon competed with brands like Marantz, Pioneer, Akai, Revox, and TEAC in the reel-to-reel home market

• Their products were premium-priced, appealing to audiophiles who valued sound quality, build quality, and reliability

• Decline came with cassette decks becoming more practical and affordable, eventually overtaken by digital formats