AUDIO ASSOCIATES GIVES NEW SOUND TO HISTORIC U.S. GRANT HOTEL WITH INSTALL OF JBL CONTROL 300 SERIES LOUDSPEAKERS

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, March 15, 2007 — In a high-profile project that demonstrates the versatility of JBL Professional Control 300 Series in-ceiling loudspeakers, Audio Associates of La Mesa, CA has recently completed installation of a new sound system in the historic U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.

Built in 1910, the U.S. Grant Hotel has hosted 13 United States Presidents, and has been included in the National Registrar of Historic Places since 1979. The Hotel contains 270 guest rooms and 47 suites, and also includes 33,000 square feet of ballroom and event space.

In October 2006, the U.S. Grant Hotel opened its doors after undergoing a $52 million, 21-month renovation. Many of the Hotel’s original structures and design elements have been restored, preserving the Hotel’s historic feel, while also bringing the Hotel into the 21st Century.

To wit, Audio Associates was called upon to design and install a state-of-the-art audio system throughout the Hotel. “We needed to provide adequate sound without disrupting the historic décor of the space,” said Steve Barnes of Audio Associates. “It was important that we could install aesthetically pleasing loudspeakers that did not compromise on sound quality.”

Audio Associates opted for the JBL Control 300 Series large-format in-ceiling loudspeakers, taking advantage of their broadband pattern control and ease of installation. The system features 70 JBL Control 328CT and 112 322CT in-ceiling loudspeakers, along with 284 JBL Control 26-DT loudspeakers.

Because there was no access to the space above the ceiling, Audio Associates ordered the faceplates of the backboxes and cut slots into them so they could corkscrew them through ceiling cutouts. “The Control 322CT’s are open to the upper side of the ceiling, so we performed some computations to determine the proper high-pass frequency to protect the speakers.”

The Hotel and its customers are pleased with the audio system. “The Hotel re-opened on October 17 and since then, the loudspeakers have performed exceptionally,” Barnes said. “The speakers were easy to install, which saved us a significant amount of time during the project, and their performance gives the Hotel a lower cost of investment on the technology.”

Audio Associates can be reached at www.audioassociates.com or .619.461.9445

About JBL Professional:
Headquartered in Northridge, California, JBL Professional is the world’s leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of professional loudspeakers for recording and broadcast, musician, cinema, touring sound, commercial sound and contracting applications. Celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2006, JBL Professional is the proud recipient of the 2005 Technical GRAMMY® award. JBL Professional is part of the Harman International network of professional and consumer audio companies. For complete product and company information, go to the JBL Professional website at www.jblpro.com.

About the Harman Pro Group:
The Harman Pro Group (www.harmanpro.com) is the world’s largest provider of professional audio products and system solutions for commercial sound, contracting, tour sound, recording and broadcast, musician, portable PA and cinema applications. The Group is headquartered in Northridge, California and includes industry leaders AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, Crown International, dbx, DigiTech, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Soundcraft, and Studer. The Group is part of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE: HAR), a leading supplier of high-quality, high fidelity audio products and infotainment systems for the automotive, home and professional markets.