| Harman Kardon SoundSticks II Plug and Play Multimedia Speaker System |  | Brand: JBL
Category: CE
List Price: $169.99
Buy New: $110.53
as of 9/6/2010 18:06 MDT details
You Save: $59.46 (35%)
New (22) Used (2) from $102.98
Seller: WonderElectronics
Rating:  553 reviews
Sales Rank: 113
Color: Clear
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: DOS
Processors: 1
System Memory: 128000
Memory Type: DRAM
Hard Drive Size: 1
Graphics Card: This is the description of the PC Graphics
Graphics RAM: 256
Graphics Card Interface: AGP
Native Resolution: 640x480
Display Size: 669.2913385826772
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 16 x 20 x 12
Legal Disclaimer: Shipping is 3-5 days FedEx or UPS with tracking number. Brand New. Continental USA street address ONLY, we do not ship to P/O box, APO, AE, or international addresses
MPN: SoundSticks II
Model: SoundSticks II
UPC: 028292501807
EAN: 0028292501807
ASIN: B0001DBEM4
Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days
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| Features:
| • | 3-piece plug and play multimedia speaker system | | • | Stunning, original design with great sound | | • | Features computer-optimized multi-band parametric equalization | | • | Capacitance touch control buttons provide direct access to volume control | | • | 20 Watts RMS subwoofer power output |
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Product Description
3-piece speaker system designed for easy plug-and-play with any existing audio device equipped with a standard speaker jack. Beauty is in the ear of the beholder. Main Features Manufacturer : Harman International Industries, Inc Manufacturer Part Number : SOUNDSTICKSII Manufacturer; Product Type : 2.1 Speaker System Speakers Details : 2 x Satellite, 1 x Woofer System Power : 40W (RMS) / 65W (PMPO) Shielding : Magnetically Shielded Interfaces/Ports : 1 x 3.5mm Stereo Pin Color : Transparent Standard Warranty : 1 Year(s)
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 553
 "The eye sees (and hears) more than the heart can know" September 3, 2010
Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States)
The quote is (mostly) by the most mystic of English poets, William Blake. The parenthetical insertion I'll accept responsibility for, but it's appropriate in the sense that Blake's best- known poems come from two collections with a musical title: "The Songs of Innocence" and "The Songs of Experience." The Harmon-Kardon speakers, if nothing else, validate and even illuminate the bard's proverbial statement. The form factor stops just short of being gaudy or a mere kind of gimmickry, instead underscoring the translucent, clear, absolutely pristine quality of the audio.
"SoundSticks" is perhaps an unfortunate designation, bringing to mind kids playing video games and using joysticks. But no doubt the makers of the unit sensed that a term such as "Twin Towers of Peace and Tranquillity" just wouldn't cut it in the marketplace. It does seem strange, though, that the most conspicuous of the three objects--the "woofer" component--isn't even mentioned in the name. With its eerie yet alluring blue luminescence, it's bound to strike some as a spaceship mock-up, but I prefer to see it as an "oasis" or "grail," a feminine mother-ship that magnetically attracts the onlooker to the music.
Be assured that the sound of these speakers is anything but "overwhelming," loud, or arresting. The operative word here is "understatement," but the emphasis on subtlety merely serves to bring out the faithful, utterly "natural" quality of the human voice, the piano, the orchestra without gratuitous spikes or artificial boosts. Formerly, I owned the woofer alone, and the only way I could be certain that it was working was to disconnect it now and then. It provides a rich and complex foundation to the mids and highs, yet never calls attention to itself. (Just be careful not to advance the bass control beyond the mid-point.) Not to become picky, but the touch sensitive, near theremin-like control of the volume, while a clever modernistic touch, seems no more practical than an ordinary rotary knob. Also, a jack for monitoring recordings would have been preferable to the Y-connectors I now must use to connect the HK speakers to a computer.
I hope I'm not being nostalgic, but I wouldn't necessarily view these as the kind of "audiophile" speakers that aroused endless comparisons and controversy among those of us who, in the '60s and '70s, stood passionately by our chosen transducer. I remember the thrill of hearing an AR2 speaker for the first time (I could afford only one), only to be challenged by the possessors of a KLH or Advent loudspeaker (the tones all the warmer because of the tube amplifiers that seemed made to bring out their inexhaustible vibrant potential). When I finally had saved up enough, I broke ranks with these overly fastidious and often snooty champions of hermetically-sealed East Coast speakers in favor of the brighter-sounding West Coast speakers make by JBL--first, the Lancer 100 speakers with the colored foam grills and next the Athena S99 model with its enormous 14" woofer.
I understand that Mr. Harmon, the founder of JBL/Harmon Kardon, is now in his 90s and still active, so even with these latter-day plastic creatures, there's a connection with a tradition which, like the beckoning azure light, practically sanctifies the space around the computer screen, transforming it into an altar as at this very moment I hear the sound of Sinatra singing "My Shining Hour" with choirs of angels (a controversial addition for a 1980's album) surrounding me on all sides.
[Practical matters: Like many other owners of desktop machines, I first went with the much praised Logitech speakers at a "giveaway" price. Unfortunately, the audio quality was inferior to the internal speakers of my iMac (not surprising, since Harmon Industries first worked with Apple in the early to mid-90s to come up with a complementary, stylish and sonically matched bass driver--the "iSub"--for the early iMacs). The present bass unit replicates the dimensions of the iSub, but (thankfully) the power transformer is smaller and lighter than the big "brick" that accompanied the original subwoofer. Attention to detail is impressive, from "locking" jacks for attached cords, to unmistakable right and left outputs for the satellite speakers, to generous electrical and speaker cord lengths, with perhaps the exception of the 3.5mm audio cable that connects the unit to the audio out jack on a computer. The length of this cord is clearly designed to encourage placement of the SoundSticks unit in a configuration beneath and straddling the computer. (Fortunately, this is the cable for which an extension is a non-problematic "add-on" should the user wish to place the entire unit at a further remove from his or her desktop machine.) Finally, I'm relieved to discover that the 2 vertical towers, unlike some others I've checked out, have enough weight to hold their place--no velcro or sandbags required (reassuring to those of us whose desktops tend to be in a continual state of turbulence.)]
[Further: Price-wise, Amazon is selling these for almost half their original retail price. Not a bad deal, especially compared to the Harmon Kardon GLA-55 pair of speakers (jagged moon-rocks going for a grand). Occasionally, users have experienced frustration at the dropping out of one of the channels. The cure usually consists of connecting the speakers directly to the computer (not a hub) and/or going to the "Audio MIDI Setup Utility" in the Applications>Utilities folder and making sure it's set to "2 channels 16 bits," not "1 channel 16 bits."]
Great Sound September 2, 2010
Raul A. Acevedo Jr.
I really liked the quality of the sound from these speakers. I know many go cheap on speakers, but the extra bucks here was more than worth it.
 Great Sound, Funky Look August 31, 2010
Kirk Winkler (Nebraska)
I love the sound Harman Kardon crams into the Sound Sticks. It's true, rich, loud, and balanced. When set up properly, the sound seems to come from everywhere, not just the two sticks on my desktop and the thumping subwoofer down below.
That said, there are a couple of issues they could/should address. First and foremost is the on-off switch on the subwoofer. If you place the subwoofer on the floor, as recommended, you'll find it somewhat awkward to turn the unit on and off. If it's under a desk (as is mine), you either have to get on your hands and knees or poke the switch with something. We'll see how it lasts over time, but I'm already nervous about that.
The other major issue is the volume control located on the right stick. It's a little silver touchpad that works well, but you cannot see what the volume is set at. A more old-fashioned dial would make more sense even if it wouldn't be as stylish.
Finally, the blue light in the subwoofer has a certain funky charm--and it's the only way to know for sure the unit is on when there's no audio playing--but I would have settled for a jewel light on one of the sticks, where I can see it easily.
In short, they're great speakers in a form factor that may or may not appeal to everyone, with controls that should have been redesigned given how long the unit's been on the market.
Harman Kardon SoundSticks II August 30, 2010
Charlie M
The sound quality is great and they look really cool too! I'm very happy, good buy for the price.
I LOVE THIS SPEAKER SYSTEM ! ! ! ! August 30, 2010
Mz Dee
Sound quality is amazing !! !! Would I buy another one if something was to happen to this one- ABSOLUTELY !!!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 553
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