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 Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Harman Kardon SoundSticks II Plug and Play Multimedia Speaker System
Customer Review: I regret buying this
Summary: 2 Stars
I am not the most correct person when it comes to technology and I, like everyone else, tend to like what I purchase, so when I purchased this rather expensive device, I expected a punching bass rather than mediocre sound and not the highest volume. After reading all the reviews on amazon.com, I decided I could not find better speakers, this would have been my first instance of usage. What I didn't notice while reading the reviews were the dates on them, most of these reviews are more than 2 years old, had I known I'm buying something that has been in the market for this long, I would have re-considered but then so many people cannot be wrong so I decided to get this particular systtem.
I recently moved into a modest location somewhere in the newest of Yorks. I am setting things up and have ordered more than two dozen things from Amazon.com - this somehow being the most expensive. I keep these on the carpet and would love to turn them into the walls but I fear my neighbours won't like the new guy next door.
Features -
a) well packed, prompt delivery
b) comes with an unfamiliar looking bass guy and extra terrestrial looking speakers
c) Wires and a manual people like me never bother with
d) I assume the speakers with the volume buttons is the "RIGHT" channel - the buttons are the kinds you just hold for a second or two and only then realize whether it's actually working or not
THE GOOD
a) If you've used ordinary or wose speakers in the past, you will surely notice something in the vocals you didn't before, for example, the sampling in the song "DRIVE" by Incubus will appear more clear and distinct. I noticed this immediately upon purchase.
b) The wires are long, the two speakers have a great stand and you can keep them on any surface because the padding or material on the bass is circular and just fits very nicely, impressive build quality on the four smaller speakers located on them satellites
c) You can disconnect both speakers from the system. My previous system was an altec lansing 2.1 which cost me 1/4the price and there was no way to disconnect the spears individually upon transfer. The wires are long and as long as you'll want them to be.
The Bad
a) There is no power button, the blue light that comes out of the the main speakers looks ridiculous in a dark room.
b) Portability - I will think three times before taking these speakers from the living room into the bed room because they look like such a mess with all the wires and they're so difficult to shift from one room to another, I realize 71% of you won't be shifting them but in my situation this is quite an issue. There is little or no way of setting these up and making the wires stay sane. The looks become so boring so quick.
c) If I'm listening to Led Zeppelin's Kashmir, I just know that there appears to be an irritating lack of bass, thump and the treble is just such a downer. Imagine listening to something in volume but not quite getting enough bass and vocals on it. This system is really a no-no for someone who listens to Classic Rock/Hard Rock/Grunge etc. However, if you have this system and intend to get it, do note that if you put the system in a smaller room the sound effects are a bit mangified in comparison to a slightly more open space.
d) The volume button is so annoying and I never know when it's going to work, push it a little and the speakers will start to blast
e) There is a 2 second delay when you're fixing this to your computer or ipod or phone or whatever the source might be. It takes two seconds to start. A very annoying thing is how much noise the speakers make if you have not connected them to a source.
The ugly
I have to live with these speakers so I hope I find something to like about them. The system doesn't look good, sounds ordinary, does not have a power button to swith off, has an annoying blue light and so difficult to transfer. It is not even a lot of fun to watch films with this particular speaker. I understand I can reconfigure the EQ and make the voice come out in a better way but really the trouble I've had with this system is immense.
I now think I should have paid even more and gone for something that actually fits the bill. I can't call this a rip off because my dear Amazon friends seem to love it. I guess this is just not the right speaker if you wish to be the only living boy in new york listening to Pearl Jam. Don't even try to play Dream Theater on this thing. Regret persists.
**UPDATED** 08/18/2009
I love these speakers and cannot live without them. 5 stars. Word.
Customer Review: Perfect for Classical Music!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been looking for a decent pair of speakers for my computer for almost a year. After going through many user reviews, as well as actually listening to some of them, I have to say the Soundsticks are one of the best computer speaker sets out there. You will be surprised that plastic speakers can sound this great! I have had the Soundsticks speaker for close to a month already. As with many others, I am very pleased with my purchase.
I primarily use Soundsticks to listen to classical music, which I believe is very demanding towards speakers. Due to the very dynamic nature of classical music, speakers need to perform well all the way from the highs to the lows in order to give a reasonable interpretation to the music. Because a lot of the speakers on the market now are geared towards the R&B / Rockn'Roll / Rap crowd, many of them only have some bass to shake the floor. Their inadequacy in reproducing the intricate details in classical music is indeed painfully obvious.
On the contrary, Soundsticks give a balanced performance across the spectrum, providing classical music fans the perfect solution to computer music. The highs are sweet and clear. If you try to play the "Voice of an Angel" album from Charlotte Church on Soundsticks, you will see what I mean. Midrange is a little bit on the tight side, probably because the tweezers aren't equipped very well to handle that. Nevertheless, Soundsticks still show considerable warmth and refinement. Bass is solid with good definition. The subwoofer won't shake the floor like other systems. What Soundsticks give you is quality bass, not quantity. Overall, the sound is very spacious and rich. You can try the Tchaikovsky piano concerto no. 1 on Soundsticks. The grand poetic opening of the piece will give you a very good idea what Soundsticks can do for you.
Of course, nothing is perfect. Soundsticks do have shortcomings:
1. Lacks a little bit of midrange.
2. Sound is very directional. Once you move away from the "sweet spot", the spaciousness of the sound disappears.
3. Bass adjusting knob is on the subwoofer unit, kinda hard to reach if you put the subwoofer under your desk.
4. Touch sensitive control will take some time to get used to.
5. Soundsticks cannot be turned off unless you unplug them. So, they are not very friendly to your electricity bill.
6. Relatively pricey.
However, I guess all the shortcomings mentioned is relatively trivial compared to the wonderful sound they produce.
I highly recommend Soundsticks to all classical music fans. You will get the biggest bang of your buck investing on Soundsticks! They will perfectly fill up your office / bedroom / dorm room and give you the most intimate experience with your favorite music ever! Amazon has been offering the Soundsticks at the lowest price on the internet as far as I know. For the record, I brought mine for $120.
One last point I want to draw your attention to is the pitfall of connecting the Soundsticks to computer. You may hear a good deal of statics noise in doing so, even when you are not playing any music. Chances are that it is the fault of your bad computer soundcard. You can verify this by connecting the Soundsticks to a CD player, preferably those with a dedicated optical lineout. If you don't get statics anymore after that, then it is definitely your computer's fault!
You may also want to check out the Bose Companion 3 speaker set. The Companion sounds at least as good as Soundsticks if not better. However, they cost twice as much as Soundsticks. And of course, they don't look quite as good! Is this a trade off you are willing to make? You will have to decide on your own.
Some good recordings to try on the Soundsticks:
Dvorak Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op.104 (Rostropovich)
Bruch Scottish Fantasy (Perlman)
Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1/Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 (Van Cliburn)
Voice of an Angel (Charlotte Church)
Classics (Sarah Brightman)
[...]
Happy listening to all the intellectually sophisticated classical music fans!!
Customer Review: Simple, elegant, stylish, capable office/room speakers
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Soundsticks because I needed a simple but capable speaker system for my iMac. I could not see having thousands of songs on my iTunes Library, hundreds of cds, and constantly streaming music being piped through the tiny iMac speakers. But I didn't want a big, cheap, clunky sound system to ruin the elegant and graceful look of my entire computer setup and office.
The Soundsticks are perfect for someone who looks at style as a key feature when purchasing equipment. The clear plastic is a nice touch, adding a hint of sophistication to a simple design. The two actual soundsticks have four tweeters, so midrange vocals are not easily isolated -- you will have to use your computer's equalizer to capture any details of midrange sound. Otherwise, the sound is adequate for the size, price and design of the speakers.
The main subwoofer points downward to create a substantial boomy effect. It doesn't reproduce the sound as well as many other powered subwoofers, but for the price and knowing these are designed for a bedroom or office, it's pretty decent. Also keep in mind that the downward facing sub will make whomever lives below you (either in a house, condo/apartment) probably not appreciate a bass speaker positioned there, and there is no practical way to redirect the sub. When powered, it has a nice blue light that illuminates the entire globe. Unfortunately, the base level control is on the back of the sub so if you (likely) have it on the floor, you have to have access to the back of it in order to adjust the bass volume/level.
The main volume is controlled by two tiny kidney-shaped chrome pads on the front of one of the sticks. I think the placement is better than having a third cable eminating from the subwoofer (as the Bose system does) but the volume pads are too small and awkwardly placed. Ideally, the volume pads would be larger and placed on either side of both sounds sticks so you'd have flexibility in which one you used for volume. If you have a Mac, I recommend just turning the sounds sticks to their highest volume (which isn't extremely high) and use the keyboard or your music-listening software to control the volume. Some speaker systems have software and a remote to control volume and sound quality. I don't miss those here although I didn't get the sense that there was any layering or surround involved.
Setup was very easy. It is doubtful you will need the instructions. It took about 3-4 minutes to have it ready to go. The power cord, left/right speaker, and subwoofer wire are color coded and is not an issue. The biggest decision will be where to place the soundsticks themselves. I appreciate the fact that they are weighted and have a rubberized base (although the rubber looks like it will become discolored with time, potentially taking away from the elegant and sleek design cues).
PROS: Modern, sleek, stlylish design. Simple setup and easy of function. Does not have a third cord to control volume. Funky blue hue when powered. Crisp highs, and deep bass lows. Good price, designed for an office or bedroom.
CONS: Difficult to capture midrange. Awkwardly placed and tiny volume controls. Longish power cord in comparison to the cable connecting the soundsticks. Bass control awkwardly placed on subwoofer. Sub can only be placed pointing down. Cheap looking rubber "donut" at base of soundsticks. No surround sound or layering detectable.
Bottom Line: A good substitute for standard computer speakers, if you want to maintain a modern, high-tech, look and adequate sound.
Customer Review: Amazing Sound, Amazing Value
Summary: 5 Stars
Subsequent to reading about 200 reviews on Harman Kardon's Sounstciks II, one of which was written by a consumate audiophile who found this system hard to fault, I ordered my first set from E-bay but which I returned because they were not cosmetically as advertised ("perfect").
I then ordered a second set from Amazon which sounded sublime--for five minutes before my
room was as silent as a tomb.
No sweat. If a GPS system can cage over the North Atlantic on a fresh-from-the-factory $250,000,000 Boeing 777, I can't really expect Harman Karmon to flawlessly crank out tens of thousands of these things for less than $200 without one or two having a glitch.
But it gets better.
Less than five minutes after I had the unit unplugged Amazon had fired me off a "mea culpa" assuring me I would be sent a new set and that I would have it before I could box up and send back the defective one--and they did.
When the unit arrived I was sure to follow the extremely simple sound-systems-for-dummies set-up instructions. The moment of truth was here--again-- but when I cranked these exquisitely designed speakers up, my room was filled with the sound that would make angels weep, assuming there are angels, they can hear music, and they are capable of weeping.
I'm not an audiophile. I have been told that I have a very primitive, binary nervous system: I sense either pleasure or pain with nothing in the middle. I do not know what the "middle range" is for sounds produced by speakers or what would be a sufficient level of base produced by a subwoofer to justify an investment of about U.S. $120.00. I do know that when I listen to the astonishing Cherubini's "Requiem", I can feel the "searing heat" of the piece in a way I never did before from speakers that cost 10 times as much. I marvel at how
such an inexpensive peripheral could make me understand why Berlioz said that the final moments of Cherubini's masterpiece, ""surpasses anything of the kind that has been written".
All this for less than a really good pair of shoes?
I've heard the criticisms of insufficient volume and bass and, frankly, I don't get it. My guess is that such knitpicking comes from those who you see in bumper-to-bumper traffic tapping on their steering wheels while the base from their car radios makes you feel as though, even with the windows closed, your ribs are exploding in your chest.
I've also heard both vague and specific references to the absence of "middle tones" and "sonic whallop" produced by these speakers and find such criticism baseless, pardon the pun.
No matter what your taste, no matter whether you prefer Mahler to Mick Jagger or Rod Stewart to Rossini, Harman Kardon, by way of Amazon, gives you a terrific bang for your buck with Soundsticks II.
And for an added bonus, the super-slick, space-saving design with it's ethereal blue-lighted subwoofer is a can't-miss icebreaker.
Add it all up--the price, the sound, and Amazon's warp speed customer service if things go wrong--and one word describes it all: intoxicating.
Customer Review: Wow.
Summary: 5 Stars
First let me say that I am not associated in any way with Harman/Kardon, JBL, or any of its affiliates.
Next, you should know that I am an audiophile. In terms of speakers, I own the Klipsch RF-62 II home theater system (obviously with the home theater), and these Soundsticks II, and then for headphones I own the Bose QuietComfort 15, the Klipsch image s4i, and the Sennheiser HD650.
Now into the Soundsticks.
Before I start, you should also know that I am a complete basshead and listen to these with the subwoofer bass volume turned all the way up.
I listen to all sorts of music, but mostly rock (pretty much everything from 1970 to the present) and hip-hop (not cheesy radio songs like "Like a G6" and such but real hip-hop, like Eminem and Dr. Dre). The first thing I will say is that the bass response from the subwoofer is incredible. I also use these with my electric drumset and the hip-hop kit on it is really well defined. But back to music: in terms of rock, the highs are incredible in guitar solos, the mids are well rounded and warm and the bass is great. Some songs like "Losing Touch" by The Killers sound absolutely incredible. That song was my measurement point for testing the rock. The guitar solo at the end was incredibly satisfying. The bass guitar is absolutely huge, my windows rattle. And all the saxophones and horns are very accurately reproduced. All in all, INCREDIBLE.
Now for hip-hop. My three references were "Teach Me How To Dougie" by Cali Swag District, "Cinderella Man" by Eminem, and "Still D.R.E (feat. Snoop Dogg)" by Dr. Dre. The soft (tone-wise not volume) bass in "Teach Me How To Dougie" is definitely accurate, and it actually sounds better than my Klipsch image s4i's (which I honestly did not expect; the s4i's have mind-blowing bass), and the voices were clear. Cinderella man is an oddball. The bass in that song isn't a standard hip-hop bass, listen to the song before you read on. However, something that went previously undetected for me (except with the HD650's), under that "bass" there was a very low rumble that came out through these speakers. I haven't heard it through the image s4i's, the QuietComfort 15's, and I have never listened to music through the RF-62 system. These speakers actually BEAT the HD650's, which was totally unexpected. Through the HD650's, it was a small rumble that I only heard if I paid attention to it. Through the Soundsticks II's, it was a big vibration that shook my desk. Like I said, that little subwoofer puts out some extreme power. Moving on, the somewhat rock-ish bass drum of "Still D.R.E" came out perfectly. A short, sweet thump that was accurately reproduced and sounded spectacular. Snoop Dogg's voice, although sometimes quiet through other speakers, came out clearly and audibly.
All in all, the SoundSticks II are everything you possibly would want in speakers.
One last thing, when you listen to a song with lots of bass (all four of my references are good examples), put your hand on the air hole on top of the subwoofer, and wait for a bass thump. Kept my sister entertained for a while, and is also a display of the sheer power of that thing.