List of car audio manufacturers and brands
Encyclopedia
This List of car audio manufacturers and brands shows both common proprietary brands, along with manufacturers (OEM
, or factory-fitted, and aftermarket) of in car entertainment
products and systems. Most commonly found in automobiles/cars
, they may also be found in light and heavy trucks, bus
es and coaches
, and even in motorcycle
s and agricultural equipment. While components sold by these companies have much in common with other audio applications or may market the same products for non ICE applications, they are noted for marketing their products specifically for ICE use.
View the discussion page for criteria before adding to the list.
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
, or factory-fitted, and aftermarket) of in car entertainment
In car entertainment
In-Car Entertainment, , is a collection of hardware devices installed into automobiles, or other forms of transportation, to provide audio and/or audio/visual entertainment, as well as automotive navigation systems...
products and systems. Most commonly found in automobiles/cars
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
, they may also be found in light and heavy trucks, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and coaches
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
, and even in motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s and agricultural equipment. While components sold by these companies have much in common with other audio applications or may market the same products for non ICE applications, they are noted for marketing their products specifically for ICE use.
View the discussion page for criteria before adding to the list.
- AC Delco
- AEGAEGAllgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
- AisinAisin Seiki Co., also known as Aisin , is a Japanese corporation which develops and produces components and systems for the automotive industry. Aisin is a Fortune Global 500 company, ranked 347 on the 2007 rankings....
- Alpine
- AudisonAudisonAudison is one of the brands of Italian :ru:Elettromedia s.r.l. company, a manufacturer of consumer audio products. The company was founded at 1979, but Audison name was registered at 1984. Currently Audison has different kinds of mobile audio products: amplifiers, audio processors, speakers and...
- AudiovoxAudiovoxAudiovox Corporation is an American consumer electronics company founded in 1965 and headquartered in Hauppauge, New York.Among the domestic brands now owned by Audiovox are: Acoustic Research, Advent, Code Alarm, Invision, Jensen, Prestige, RCA, and Terk. The international brands they own include...
- over Jensen ElectronicsJensen ElectronicsJensen Is a consumer electronics brand with a history that dates back to 1915 with Peter Jensen's invention of the first loudspeaker. Over the years the Jensen family of brands has grown to include Jensen, Advent, Acoustic Research , Phase Linear and NHT Loudspeakers in the United States and...
, Phase Linear, and others. - Bang & OlufsenBang & OlufsenBang & Olufsen is a Danish company that designs and manufactures audio products, television sets and telephones. It was founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, whose first significant product was a radio that worked with alternating current, when most radios were run from batteries...
- Bazooka of Southern Audio ServicesSouthern Audio ServicesSouthern Audio Services is an electronics manufacturer chiefly recognized for its brandname and product line known as Bazooka Mobile Audio. Business and manufacturing are both based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
- BlaupunktBlaupunktGmbH is a German manufacturer of electronics equipment, noted for its home and car audio equipment. It was a 100% subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH until March 1st, 2009 when its Aftermarket and Accessories branch including the brand name were sold to Aurelius AG of Germany for an undisclosed...
- Bose (exclusively OEM option for various car manufacturers)
- Boston AcousticsBoston AcousticsFounded in 1979 by Advent veterans Andy Kotsatos and Frank Reed, Boston Acoustics is a manufacturer of home and mobile audio equipment operated out of Peabody, Massachusetts. Boston Acoustics entered the mobile audio category in 1983...
- CarverCarver-People:*Bob Carver, American physicist and audio equipment designer*Caroline Carver , thriller writer, award winner and adventurer*Dante Carver , American actor*George Washington Carver , American botanist and inventor...
- Cerwin-VegaCerwin-VegaCerwin-Vega is a manufacturing company that produces professional audio components, home audio speakers, and car audio components. It is part of the Stanton Group, along with Stanton Magnetics and KRK,...
- ClarionClarion (car audio)is a Japanese manufacturer of car audio, automotive navigation systems, AutoPCs, visual equipment, bus equipment, and communication equipment.Up until the end of 2005, products in Japan were marketed under the brand name AddZest, while outside of Japan the same product typically carried the Clarion...
- Digital DesignsDigital DesignsDigital Designs, or DD Audio is a manufacturer of high-end consumer and pro audio products. Digital Designs was established in 1986 in Southern California, but moved to Oklahoma City in 1991. Digital Designs is very well renowned in the car audio market, and it has won more SPL competitions than...
- Directed Electronics
- DualDual (brand)Dual is a brand name of audio and video electronics.-History:In 1927, Gebrüder Steidinger, a German gramophone power supply manufacturer, adopted the name Dual in reference to the dual-mode power supplies it pioneered. The power supplies allowed gramophones to be powered from mains electricity or...
- DynaudioDynaudioDynaudio is a Danish loudspeaker maker, founded in 1977. Originally Dynaudio built speakers using their own crossover but relying on OEM drivers, but later they started to make their own drivers...
- Eclipse (a brand of Fujitsu TenFujitsu Tenis a Japanese company developing and manufacturing car audio, video, navigation and control systems. The headquarters is located in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan...
) - EononEononEonon is an audio-visual brand developed by Sunbobo Digital Company Limited. It is a Hong Kong based company established in 2002. It has the biggest branch office in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, and other offices are in Japan, Germany and Taiwan....
- Focal-JMLabFocal-JMLabFocal and Focal Professional are registered trademarks of Focal-JMlab French company, a manufacturer of consumer and professional audio products. Company was founded at the end of 1979 year in Saint-Etienne, France by audio engineer Jacques Mahul, and JMLab stands for Jacques Mahul's Laboratory...
- GrundigGrundigGrundig AG is a German manufacturer of consumer electronics for home entertainment which transferred to Turkish control in 2004-2007. Established in 1945 in Nuremberg by Max Grundig, the company changed hands several times before becoming part of the Turkish Koç Holding group...
- Harman International IndustriesHarman International IndustriesHarman International Industries is an American-based international audio and infotainment equipment company. The company designs, manufactures and markets audio and infotainment products for the car, the home, theatres and venues, as well as electronics for audio professionals...
(over Harman KardonHarman Kardonharman/kardon is a division of Harman International Industries and manufactures home and car audio equipment.Founded in 1953 by Dr. Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon — two men with a deep interest in music and the arts — the company helped create the high-fidelity audio industry. Their first product...
, InfinityInfinity (audio)Infinity Systems is an American manufacturer of loudspeakers founded by Arnie Nudell, John Ulrick and Cary Christie in 1968. Since 1983, Infinity has been part of the Harman International Industries group....
, JBLJBLJBL is an American audio electronics company currently owned by Harman International. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. Their primary products are loudspeakers and associated electronics. There are two independent divisions within the company — JBL Consumer and JBL Professional...
, and Mark LevinsonMark LevinsonThe company Mark Levinson, now owned by Madrigal Audio Laboratories specializes in high-end digital audio processors, integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, pre amplifiers, and CD players...
(exclusive OEM option for LexusLexusis the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
)) - HertzHertz mobile audioHertz is one of the brands of Italian :ru:Elettromedia s.r.l. company, a manufacturer of consumer audio products. The company itself was founded at 1979 and Hertz brand was launched at 1998...
- JL AudioJL AudioJL Audio is an American manufacturer of consumer audio products. They produce marine, home, and mobile audio products, but are best known for their subwoofers. JL Audio is known as one of the pioneers of the car audio industry.-Formation:...
- JVCJVC, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
- JBLJBLJBL is an American audio electronics company currently owned by Harman International. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. Their primary products are loudspeakers and associated electronics. There are two independent divisions within the company — JBL Consumer and JBL Professional...
- KenwoodKenwood Electronicsis a Japanese manufacturer of amateur radio as well as Hi-Fidelity and portable audio equipment.-History:The company first started in 1946 as the Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. In Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. In 1960 the firm was renamed "Trio Corporation"...
- KickerKicker (audio)KICKER is an American consumer electronics manufacturer that exists under Stillwater Designs. They produce home/portable, marine and mobile audio products, and are best known for their subwoofers, as well as their audio crossovers and the amplifiers that supplement them. Kicker is known for its...
- LexiconLexicon (company)Lexicon is an American audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1971 and owned by Harman International Industries. Lexicon's roots began in 1969 with the founding of American Data Sciences by MIT professor Dr...
- LGLGLG may refer to:*LG Corp., a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate*LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lawrence Graham, a London headquartered firm of business lawyers...
- Massive Audio
- Memphis Audio
- MaxxsonicsMaxxsonicsMaxxsonics USA, Inc. is a manufacturer of home and mobile audio equipment which was founded in 2001. They are over the brand names Hifonics, Autotek, MB Quart and Crunch. MB Quart Entertainment was a separate German company which Maxxsonics acquired in 2005. Also in 2005, Maxxsonics bought the...
USA, Inc. (over Hifonics, Autotek, MB Quart and Crunch) - McIntoshMcIntosh LaboratoryMcIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh,. The "classic" vacuum tube components of the 1960s include the MC275 power amplifier, the C22 preamplifier, and the MR67 tuner...
- MTX AudioMTX AudioMTX Audio is an American consumer audio company that manufactures sound equipment for many applications, including car audio, home audio, marine audio and live sound products. They are best known for their car audio products and they specialize in subwoofers and subwoofer amplifiers. MTX Audio is a...
- Monster Cable
- MorelMorelMorchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushrooms closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them....
- Metra ElectronicsMetra ElectronicsMetra Electronics is an automotive electronics company, specializing in audio electronic systems. Established in 1949 and since called "Installer's Choice," The Installer Institute, brainchild of Metra owner Bill Jones, is a technical training school providing MESA certification.Subsidiary brands...
- NakamichiNakamichiis an historic Japanese high end audio company most famous for its innovative and very high quality audio cassette decks.In 1972, Nakamichi launched its first Nakamichi-brand products, home audio gear that included the world's first three-head cassette deck...
- PanasonicPanasonicPanasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
(a brand of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., formerly known as , is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics corporation headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan. Its main business is in electronics manufacturing....
) - Phoenix Gold (a brand of Aamp of america)
- Pioneer
- Polk AudioPolk AudioPolk Audio is a manufacturer of audio products best known for their home and automobile speakers. The company also produces a wide range of other audio products such as amplifiers and FM tuners. The company is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and in 2006, was acquired by Directed...
- Pyle AudioPyle AudioPyle Audio is a manufacturer of mobile, consumer, and professional audio products. They mainly produce mobile audio products such as subwoofers, car audio amplifiers, and car accessories...
- PanasonicPanasonicPanasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
- QlogicQLogicQLogic Corporation is an Aliso Viejo, California-based designer and supplier of storage networking, high performance computing networking, and converged infrastructure solutions...
- Rockford FosgateRockford FosgateRockford Fosgate is a manufacturer of aftermarket and OEM car audio and In-Car Entertainment products and accessories, as well as limited Pro Audio, and personal electronics such as earphones. Lightning Audio is a subsidiary brand of the company....
(also over Lightning Audio) - SoundstreamSoundstream-The Company:Soundstream Inc. was founded in 1975 in Salt Lake City, Utah by Dr. Thomas G. Stockham, Jr. It was the world’s first audiophile digital audio recording company, providing commercial services for recording and computer-based editing...
(Epsilon Electronics) - SamsungSamsungThe Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
- SanyoSanyois a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
- SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
- Scosche
- SeleniumSeleniumSelenium is a chemical element with atomic number 34, chemical symbol Se, and an atomic mass of 78.96. It is a nonmetal, whose properties are intermediate between those of adjacent chalcogen elements sulfur and tellurium...
- Second SkinSecond SkinSecond Skin is a 2000 gay film by Spanish director Gerardo Vera, starring Jordi Molla, Javier Bardem and Ariadna Gil. The film is available on DVD in Spain.-Plot:...
- Thiel AudioThiel AudioThiel Audio is a privately held high performance loudspeaker manufacturer headquartered and established in Lexington, Kentucky. Thiel Audio products are distributed to over 30 countries spanning the globe. All their products are designed and built in their facility located in Lexington...
- VisteonVisteonVisteon is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive parts. The company formed in 1997 and spun off from the Ford Motor Company in 2000. In 2005, Visteon moved to new headquarters in Van Buren Township, Michigan...