Harman Kardon CA-260 (1984)
Not much information on the CA-260 has survived, and almost all of it comes from Harman Kardon's own advertising. The company introduced it as a car amplifier pitched at the high-fidelity buyer. The launch campaign ran in several audio magazines through 1984.
Audio (June 1984, p.11) carried the announcement, stressing that the CA-260 brought the same sonic priorities as Harman Kardon's home components to the car. The ad claimed 30 amps of high instantaneous current capability, good for 60 watts into 4 ohms, 90 watts into 2 ohms, and 180 watts in bridged mono into 4 ohms. The same campaign appeared in High Fidelity (May 1984, p.41) and was still running in Audio as late as October 1984 (p.77).
No editorial review, measured test, service manual, or production details have surfaced in the archive. The ad campaign and the figures above are the whole record.
Known from period advertising:
- Car power amplifier, high-fidelity positioning
- 30 A high instantaneous current capability
- 60 W into 4 ohms (stereo)
- 90 W into 2 ohms (stereo)
- 180 W bridged mono into 4 ohms
Similar items on eBay
No exact Harman Kardon CA-260 listings are live right now — these searches show current Harman Kardon and similar vintage audio gear on eBay:
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.