For many years, HARMAN has been driving the development of highly energy-efficient audio systems under the “GreenEdge™” brand that contribute to environmentally-friendly, comfortable mobility with minimum energy consumption and excellent performance. Numerous studies show that it is precisely these aspects that are highly valued today: each power consumer in the car can make a contribution to reduced energy consumption and thus emissions. The topic of energy efficiency will gain in importance with the future hybrid and electric cars, since current consumption has a direct effect on the range.
Only complete systems where all components work in cooperation with a high degree of efficiency and meet the highest standard will get the “GreenEdge™” label. With good reason: only if all system components are optimally coordinated can the energy-saving and thus environmentally-friendly effects be achieved. This includes the amplifier and speakers, as well as the head unit. The speakers are trimmed for maximum efficiency and impress in cooperation with the class D amplifier (DSP amplifier with digital output technology) with outstanding acoustic transparency and inestimable dynamism.
Maximum energy efficiency is achieved through the optimum combination of low current requirement, light weight and high amplifier and speaker efficiency. The heart of the GreenEdge™ sound systems is the high-efficiency amplifier. The latest amplifier generation already achieves efficiency of over 90 percent compared with 35 to 50 percent in the previous models. Also critical in this are the integrated HARMAN output end stages (ICs), which are the result of the intensive development collaboration by the acoustic specialists from the Professional and the Automotive Divisions. One positive side-effect is the fact that cooling can be effectively done away with since almost no waste heat is given off. This means that an optimized lightweight housing or cooling fans can be used instead of solid cooling elements, which reduce the weight. A much more compact design is also possible, permitting installation even in tight body conditions.
The compact GreenEdge™ high-efficiency loudspeakers also make an important contribution to energy savings in the car: with much lower input power, the high-efficiency speaker designs ensure higher sound pressure (SPL) with compression-free and far more dynamic sound quality. The use of innovative, lightweight materials such as carbon fibers and a wide range of highly efficient design solutions also ensures much lower weight.
The first energy-efficient GreenEdge™ audio system in a production car celebrated its world premiere in March 2010 at the Geneva Motor Show in the Lexus LFA Supercar.
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