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HARMAN International Japan participated in and exhibited at OTOTEN 2026, held in central Tokyo by the Japan Audio Society from June 19–21. OTOTEN is one of Japan’s premier audio events, where visitors can experience a wide range of audio content through products proposed by manufacturers across categories including audio systems, home theater, headphones, earphones, and car audio. Including its predecessor, the All Japan Audio Fair, the event boasts a history spanning more than half a century.

This year’s OTOTEN featured participation from 82 audio brands, specialist media outlets, streaming service providers, and student organizations. The Japan Audio Society, established in 1952, is a non-profit organization engaged in a wide range of activities including research, public outreach, standardization, information gathering and dissemination, exhibition management, talent development, and collaboration with related organizations. Through these efforts, it contributes to the advancement of audio-visual technology, the growth of related industries, the expansion of the domestic market, and the enrichment of people’s lives and culture.

The first day was designated as a Premium Day, attended by media representatives, dealers, and audio enthusiasts who purchased premium admission tickets. The remaining two days were open to the public free of charge. Over the three-day period, the event welcomed more than 8,000 audio and music enthusiasts, including visitors from neighboring Asian countries as well as students specializing in acoustics and music.

Harman Japan exhibited in two separate areas: a Consumer Audio booth focused on Luxury Audio products and a Car Audio booth, both featuring product displays and demonstrations.

At the Luxury Audio booth, a large commemorative display celebrating JBL’s 80th Anniversary showcased past winners of Japan’s prestigious Stereo Sound Grand Prix. On the first day, Harman officially introduced the development and market launch of the JBL Summit K2 to the press. The event featured the world’s first live sound demonstration of the Summit K2, accompanied by presentations on product strategy and newly developed technologies. As sound demonstration had  been focused only Summit Everest during HIGH END Vienna the previous month, many journalists and product reviewers attending the announcement were visibly impressed by the opportunity to hear the speaker for the first time. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with comments such as:

“The sound is rich and dense across the entire frequency range, delivering exceptional realism and instrument presence that fully immerses the listener in the music.”

“There is virtually no sense of distortion, and even at higher volume levels the sound remains remarkably clean and never fatiguing.”

“The soundstage is dense and deep, with precise imaging and localization of instruments that create an outstanding sense of live performance.”

Reviewers also praised JBL’s engineering capabilities and unique technologies, including the 3-into-1 Manifold Compression Driver with HDI Horn, as well as the newly developed midrange and woofer units. The launch event concluded with great acclaim and enthusiasm.In the entrance hall, the Automotive Division displayed a Toyota GR Corolla equipped with a JBL premium sound system, conducting sound demonstrations for attendees.

During the public exhibition days, four different listening programs were presented multiple times each day:

• JBL Summit K2
• JBL Summit Makalu / Pumori / Ama
• JBL 4369
• Latest ARCAM models

A commemorative display celebrating ARCAM’s 50th Anniversary was also featured. Prototype units of the upcoming A50 Signature amplifier and CD25 player, scheduled for release this autumn, were exhibited. In addition, the newly announced Mark Levinson No.626 preamplifier and No.634 dual-mono power amplifier, unveiled at HIGH END, were displayed as static exhibits.

The demonstrations of the Summit Makalu, Pumori, and Ama successfully highlighted each model’s positioning and sonic characteristics, allowing visitors to clearly appreciate their differences and helping customers identify the model best suited to their preferences.

The JBL 4369 demonstration attracted significant attention as the newest flagship model in JBL’s highly popular Studio Monitor Series in Japan. Featuring JBL’s proprietary 15-inch woofer, D2 compression driver, and the latest HDI horn, the 4369 combines advanced engineering with JBL’s iconic blue baffle design. Attendees experienced its accurate studio-monitor soundstage, vivid dynamics, and rich yet agile bass response in packed demonstration sessions.

ARCAM demonstrations emphasized the innovation and versatility of the SA45 Class G streaming amplifier, showcasing the advantages of Class G technology, which delivers powerful yet highly listenable British sound. The recently announced A15+ integrated amplifier was also demonstrated, impressing visitors with a level of sound quality that far exceeds expectations for an entry-level model. These sessions were particularly popular among younger attendees.

In addition, the booth showcased products spanning multiple categories, including:

• Wireless headphones
• BandBox
• PartyBox
• Soundbars
• The latest Harman Kardon products

As one of the special events at OTOTEN, we held a public demonstration of Bandbox before a large audience. We invited a popular professional guitarist to perform, with the audio output from BandBox through Mark Levinson amplifiers and Studio Monitor 4369 speakers; this allowed many fans—including young women—to enjoy his guitar playing live with AI stemed backing with superb high-fidelity sound.These demonstrations highlighted Harman’s broad and diverse audio portfolio, appealing to customers across multiple generations. The scale and variety of Harman’s product lineup clearly distinguished the company from competitors, and the booth remained crowded with visitors throughout the entire event.