Founded in 1947 by Clarence C. Moore in Elkhart, Indiana, Crown began as the International Radio and Electronics Corporation (IREC), building rugged tape recorders designed for use in remote environments. The company patented the world's first tape recorder with a built-in power amplifier in 1949, and by 1964 had pivoted toward amplifier design with the SA 20-20, its first solid-state amplifier. The brand name "Crown International" was adopted in the 1970s, inspired by the crown emblems on its earlier "Royal" and "Imperial" tape recorder lines. Some products are sold internationally under the Amcron brand.

Crown is best known for professional power amplifiers used in live sound, touring, cinema, and installed audio applications. Key product lines include the DC300 (introduced in 1967 and widely regarded as a landmark in amplifier design), the Macro-Tech series (highlighted by the MA-5000VZ, which set a benchmark for touring sound reinforcement), the I-Tech Series (a flagship line for tour sound and corporate PA), and the DriveCore Install (DCi) series, which consolidated hundreds of traditional amplifier components into a single chip. Crown also pioneered the Pressure Zone Microphone (PZM) technology in 1980 and developed the CM311A headset microphone, originally created for Garth Brooks. Crown holds over 60 patents on amplifier technology.

Crown became part of Harman International in 2000 and operates within the HARMAN Professional portfolio. The company's amplifiers are a staple in venues ranging from stadiums and arenas to houses of worship and cinema installations.

Crown has 102 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Power Amplifiers, Studio Monitor Amplifiers, and Guitar Power Amplifiers. Their gear is featured by 58 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and K-pop. Notable users include Sting, Bootsy Collins, and Kurt Cobain. Crown's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.