DEI Holdings, Inc. is the US parent company of several brands of consumer audio electronics and vehicle security/remote start systems. Sound united is currently owned by

Harman International Harman International Industries, Inc., commonly known as Harman, is an American audio electronics company. Since 2017, the company has been operating as an independent subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut ...

History

The company that became DEI Holdings was founded by future US Representative

Darrell Issa Darrell Edward Issa ( ; born November 1, 1953) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 48th congressional district. He represented the 50th congressional district from 2021 to 2023. A memb ...

and his wife Kathy in 1982 as

Directed Electronics Directed Electronics, Inc. (DEI) is an Orlando, Florida-based producer of car security products, including Viper car alarms and accessories. It is a subsidiary of VOXX Automotive, which is owned by VOXX International. History DEI was founded in ...

, with Darrell Issa serving as the first CEO. In 2000, Darrell Issa was elected to the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

, and Jim Minarik replaced him as CEO. In 2004, the firm bought speaker company

Definitive Technology Definitive Technology (sometimes referred to as Def Tech) is an American unit based in Vista, California, of the Sound United division of electronics company DEI Holdings, that designs, develops and sells home theater audio systems, soundbars an ...

; in 2006, it bought

Polk Audio Polk Audio, Inc. is an American manufacturer of audio products best known for its home and automobile speakers. The company also produces a wide range of other audio products, such as amplifiers and FM tuners. The company's headquarters is in ...

. In 2008, the companies adapted a holding company strategy, and their parent became DEI Holdings, Inc. In 2011, the company was bought by private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners. In April 2013, the company combined Polk, Definitive Technology and the Boom Movement brands into a new division called Sound United. In August 2016, Kevin Duffy was named the company's CEO, replacing retiring CEO Jim Minarik. In March 2017, the Sound United audio division acquired YS consumer electronics company

D+M Group D+M Group, formerly known as DMGlobal and D&M Holdings, is a Japanese corporation that owned several audio and video brands. It was formed in 2002 from the merger of Denon and Marantz. It had acquired several other companies since that time. Prio ...

, whose brands included

Denon is a Japanese electronics company dealing with audio equipment. The Denon brand came from a merger of Denki Onkyo (not to be confused with the other Onkyo) and others in 1939. It originally started as Nippon Chikuonki Shoukai in 1910 by Freder ...

HEOS by Denon is a Japanese electronics company dealing with audio equipment. The Denon brand came from a merger of Denki Onkyo (not to be confused with the other Onkyo) and others in 1939. It originally started as Nippon Chikuonki Shoukai in 1910 by Freder ...

Marantz Marantz is a company that develops and sells high-end audio products. The company was founded in New York, but is now based in California. The first Marantz audio product was designed and built by Saul Marantz in his home in Kew Gardens, Quee ...

and

Boston Acoustics Boston Acoustics was an American manufacturer of home and mobile audio equipment founded in 1979. The company produced speakers for home, custom/architectural, and car audio. History Advent veterans Andy Kotsatos (known as Andy Petite) and Fra ...

. At the time, D+M was the world's largest supplier of audio/video receivers. In October 2020 Sound United LLC acquired

Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins, commonly known as B&W, is a British company that produces consumer and professional loudspeakers and headphones. The company was founded in 1966 in Worthing, West Sussex, England. In October 2020, it was acquired by Sound U ...

. In March 2021 Sound United LLC acquired Australia's leading importer and distributor of home entertainment systems QualiFi Pty Ltd. QualiFi Pty Ltd was the Australian importer and distributor for Blustream, Denon, Elan, Forte, Furman, HEOS, Jamo,

Klipsch Klipsch Audio Technologies (also referred to as Klipsch Speakers or Klipsch Group, Inc.) is an American loudspeaker company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in Hope, Arkansas, in 1946 as 'Klipsch and Associates' by Paul W. Klipsch, the c ...

, Marantz, Niles, Stealth Acoustics, Sunfire,

Thorens Thorens is a formerly Swiss manufacturer of high-end audio equipment. Thorens is historically renowned for the range of phonographs (turntables) the manufacturer produces. In addition to audio playback equipment, Thorens is also a historical ma ...

and Xantech brands of high-quality Home Entertainment components and systems. QualiFi was based in

Mount Waverley, Victoria Mount Waverley is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Monash local government area. Mount Waverley recorded a population of 35,340 at the 2021 census. It ...

and incorporates a service department for the servicing and repair of all products distributed by them. In April 2022 Sound United was acquired by

Masimo Masimo Corporation is an American health technology and consumer electronics company based in Irvine, California. The company manufactures patient monitoring devices and technologies, including non-invasive sensors using optical technology, pat ...

. In May 2025, Harman acquired the company from Masimo for $350 million.

Brands

DEI's former Sound United audio electronics division became the consumer audio part of Masimo including Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, HEOS by Denon (under

), Polk Audio, Definitive Technology and Bowers & Wilkins.

References

External links

* {{Official website Audio equipment manufacturers of the United States Electronics companies established in 2008 Loudspeaker manufacturers Manufacturing companies based in San Diego Technology companies based in San Diego Vehicle security systems