AKG Acoustics was founded in 1947 by Rudolf Görike and Ernest Plass in Vienna, Austria, originally as Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft m.b.H. Initially focused on cinema equipment including loudspeakers, film projectors, and light meters, AKG evolved into a pioneer of audio innovation. The company created the C12, the world's first remote-controlled, multi-pattern capacitor microphone, and the K50, the world's first open-back headphones in 1959. AKG was acquired by Harman International Industries in 1994, which was subsequently purchased by Samsung Electronics in 2017. This acquisition significantly impacted AKG's Austrian heritage - Samsung closed the Vienna factory in 2017, relocating production to Slovakia, Hungary, and China. Today, AKG operates as a brand within Samsung's Harman division, producing microphones, headphones, wireless audio systems, and related accessories for professional and consumer markets.