Harman Kardon SoundSticks II Plug and Play Multimedia Speaker System
by JBL
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List Price: Our Price: $118.88 You Save: $51.11 (30%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $99.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Harman Kardon SoundSticks II Plug and Play Multimedia Speaker System
Customer Review: Very surprised and remain pleased
Summary: 5 Stars
Bought these fancy speakers used, off Ebay last summer and I cannot be happier. Not being an audiophile, I just wanted something that looked great on my desk and sounded better than my cheap speakers that came with my PC years ago. Boy was I surprised. Never had a sub-woofer before, still have my monster speakers from the latter 1980's and enjoy a bit of bass when I'm listening to music.
Well, times change don't they. Instead of listening to my stereo and CD player, I find myself sitting at the PC listening to 'net radio a lot while working. Unsatisfied with those puny speakers, I started searching for an upgrade. You will not be disappointed. Not only do they look like something from apple, they sound very much like upscale speakers. I can turn them up, just a bit, and enjoy music all across the bonus room and my office at home. Movies sound even better. Star Wars or Harry Potter are a whole new experience. Now my wife fusses at me to "turn that music down" for a whole new reason.
Between the blue light and the way too futuristic volume control, this set will charm anyone to be a believer. One minor piece of education, when you "accidently" push the volume buttons togther, that mutes the speakers. Took me a few days to figure that out. Guess when she says, "did read the directions, stupid?" that she has a point. Otherwise, my sticks have been one of my best purchases and further pushes me toward being a true mac head. Good luck, you will NOT go wrong with this purchase.
Customer Review: My Happy, Sensitve Ears Love Them!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not an audiophile expert, but I'm very particular about sound. I've been cringing through years of cheap tin can speakers for my PCs. I put on my Sennheiser headphones when desperate! :-) With the Instant Play at Netflix and more time spent on my computer with homework and projects, I had to break down and buy better sound. I have realistic expectations. I know that if you want the house to rattle, you need to purchase a quality receiver with powerful, expensive speakers. These SoundSticks gave me way more than I expected for the $100 mark.
I like the clean, ultra-modern look of the speakers. It doesn't add a cluttered look to my small space. It was very nice being able to adjust the angle of my speaker on its unique base. I could adjust for when I'm sitting in my chair, or way back on my bed during movies. I followed the directions, placing the sub under my desk. Just a note...I've always run my sound out through the 4-track/equalizer. I adjusted that first. Then I adjusted the subwoofer(which is also the on/off switch) to about 80-85%. Lastly, I adjusted my PC's equalizer. It didn't take much tweaking to find a good blend.
I tested the sound with some of my favorites from various genres...Front Line Assembly, Queens of the Stone Age, Daft Punk, Twista, A7X, and some Beethoven. Sounds great at high, medium, and low volumes. It was like hearing everything with new ears. Happily tested out some games, quickly forgot my chores and lost track of time!
Customer Review: Great Speakers, Beats BOSE Companion 3 Easily
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a BOSE fanatic in general. I have a BOSE sound-dock for my iPOD, have the BOSE Companion 3 system for one of my computers, a BOSE Home Theater system, 2 pairs of BOSE headphones and a BOSE wave radio. You get the picture. I've bought BOSE over the years because even though they are generally over priced, I'm guaranteed a very high level of sound quality without having to do too much shopping around. I guess I'm willing to pay a little extra for that. And I know that there are those that will argue that I'm giving BOSE sound way too much credit. That said, I was in the market for some less expensive speakers for my office PC and I read a lot of good things about the H-K Sound Sticks II system. So I ordered a set without ever having heard them. Short story: phenomenal. You will feel that bass response immediately. I play .mp3s on my computer and haven't heard the richness of sound that comes out of this system since, well, I played vinyl lps in my dorm room way back when. In a head-to head comparison with my BOSE Companion 3s, the sound sticks are a clear winner. The BOSE are somewhat clearer, but that's it. The sound sticks more than hold their own in clarity and blow the BOSE away in the low-end. And that's at half the price. If you are in the market for a pc speakers, these have to be the all-time best. The only downside is that my love for BOSE has probably been permanently shaken. I'll have to check out other brands from here on out.Customer Review: Amazing Soundsticks!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently bought the Soundsticks 2 from Amazon. I have been a music teacher for more years than I care to think about and good quality sound is really important to me.
I have a great Hi Fi system at home in the living room and our family computer is in the kitchen. I've connected the Harman Kardons to the computer and to say the least, I'm over the moon with their performance. I listen to all types of music and these speakers produce the goods. This evening I have listened to Joe Cocker, Herbie Hancock, Gustav Holst, Samuel Barber, Vivaldi and Stevie Wonder! In every instance the speakers produced clean, well balanced music. Plenty of volume and amazing sound quality and stereo image. I spent a little time in iTunes when I first got the speakers and adjusted the equalizer to my tastes. The bass is full without being boomy, the highs nice and clean and the voices come through beautifully. I find myself sitting in front of the computer listening to music more than I do in the living room with my expensive sound system! For the price these speakers are hard if not impossible to beat. They may not be what you want if you want earth shattering rumble to accompany video games but if you want to hear great music on a set of remarkable speakers, you won't be disappointed with the Harman Kardon Soundsticks. By the way, I have never written a review of any product before this one. When listening to them tonight I just had to get on line and spread the word.
Customer Review: Sexiest speakers on the market
Summary: 5 Stars
My dad had a pair of Harmon Kardon soundstick 1's for his old G5. Couple years later, I'm in college and in need of a new pair of computer speakers. There was really only one choice.
Installation is hassle free, no device drivers or anything. Connect each pylon to a joint receiver, attach that to the subwoofer, power the whole thing up and plug it in. Super simple.
The bass in this thing is incredible. It is very clear, not muddled at all. Volume control is controlled by one pillar with a touch sensitive panel... nothing actually to push down. The bass is controlled on the subwoofer itself; a little troublesome if you tuck the subwoofer in a corner and have to reach down with your hand. HK says that theres 20 watts in the subwoofer and 10 in each pylon... trust me, it won't matter because you will easily be able to hear bass.
Harmon Kardon is excellent in making audio equipment; they deck out the Mercedes S550 class so if Mercedes trusts them you probably can too.
Pros:
+ Excellent sound quality
+ Very simple installation
+ Amazing Bass response
+ Unique Design
Cons:
- Design might turn some people off
- Subwoofer control is located on the subwoofer
- Cable length is not especially long
Overall, I'm very happy I purchased these speakers. Memories of home + great sound quality (this coming from a classical musician) = happy purchase.