HARMAN Personi-Fi – Take all your listening preferences into any car
THIS is a major development in OEM audio, and was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. “European debut at Geneva for technology that brings how, what and where you like to listen to music into the car”
GIMS 2019 – GENEVA – March 5, 2019 – A new technology that enables you to bring your individual listening preferences into the car by audio specialists HARMAN, is making its European debut at Geneva Motor Show. Personi-Fi users simply input how, what and where they like to listen to music into the app. Then the technology creates immersive sound environments that are personalised to the listener and the car they are travelling in. By personalising the audio, Personi-Fi can deliver the best experience for each individual, including those that have suffered some hearing loss. The technology also looks to the future, ensuring that ride share users won’t have to compromise their listening preferences with other users.
Against a backgdrop of growing demand for personalization, HARMAN developed Personi-Fi to be a cloud-based brand entertainment solution with a simple user interface to optimise the listening experience on any device with an automotive-specific version shown at Geneva in a VW Golf demonstrator built by HARMAN. Users input data about themselves, their preferences (more bass for example, or an EQ such as jazz or classical) and Person-Fi creates a profile that can be transferred from car to car or other devices.
With all the processing done in the cloud, users select either Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LTE streaming to connect their profile to the car. Personi-Fi then uses 200 DSP and technologies such as Virtual Venues, Individual Sound Zones (ISZ), Clari-Fi, Hearing Profile and DIRAC Panorama, even factoring in car seat location to personalise the sound.
In addition to improved acoustic performance over app-only versions of Personi-Fi, the automotive version unlocks a multitude of advanced Personi-Fi features enabled through access to the car’s microphones and navigation systems. By integrating sources from Personi-Fi, the user’s audio preferences are extended to sources including AM/FM, Satellite Radio, CD, USB and streaming sources. Thanks to ‘Over the Air’ updates, custom audio features and upgrades are possible during the life of the vehicle.
“HARMAN Personi-Fi is an ingenious combination of smart phone app and cloud service that brings a personalised experience to any device in any environment, whether the listener is in the car, at home, or on the go,” said Michael Mauser, President, Lifestyle Audio at HARMAN. “Looking ahead to the future, this is a great way for people to enjoy their personal preferences in ride-sharing scenarios, whatever the vehicle.”
About HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.