Harman Kardon SoundSticks Computer Speakers

I have had these speakers for 4 years and there have been no regrets. Great sound, even better looks - you will want to keep the subwoofer on the desk.

I listen to quite a lot of music. It's rare for me to be home and at the computer without some music playing, at least in the background. I like good speakers. I like them a lot. In fact, I insist on having pretty good speakers. I also have a pretty good idea what I want in a set of speakers.

Perhaps, more precisely, I have a good idea of what I don't want in a set of speakers. I don't want much color and I don't want over-emphasized bass.

I know the latter is politically incorrect these days with bass-enhanced equipment everywhere.

Don't get me wrong -- I want bass, I just want balance. The bottom end is important (as a good bass-player friend of mine tells me), but it isn't the main fare in the course of a musical meal.

When I bought my first Mac over three years ago, the Apple rep at the CompUSA store where I bought the machine recommended a set of JBL creature-speakers. I didn't really like the looks of them and, while JBL has a pretty decent name, I haven't always been pleased with their systems. He pointed to the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks (originals). Those are pretty good and they will rock the house.

So, I bought a set of Harmon Kardon Soundsticks. They are two satellites and a sub. The satellites have four drivers arrayed in linear fashion. The sub has a downward firing four or six inch driver.

I've been listening to these speakers for over three years. They are simply the best computer speakers I've ever listened to. They beat the Yamaha, Altec-Lansing, and Klipsch systems I also own. Not only do they sound a little better, they are a LOT better. The bass is there, but it's tight and well-integrated with the sound from the satellites. Stereo imaging is plentiful at the keyboard. The mids and highs are present, but not harsh. Vocals are articulate and instruments place well in the soundfield.

I like these speakers and I'm so happy to have them in my workroom again.

well i got this product today I plugged them into my PC today to test them out and i can tell ya what I will be buying more stuff from Harman Kardon the sound is great!!!! from such a small little unit it packs some loud tunes!!!
also alot of people complaing about the touchpad volume controls i really like them i was not really expecting how easy they really are to adjust it sounded in the other reviews that its so hard I think maybe they are not up to speed with technology.

I know 1 thing i live in a 1800 Square foot home and i can hear the music anywhere in the house. Everyone should buy THEM !!!!!

I have had these sexy sticks since 2001. They have partnerd both PC and Macs. They are simply a classic design and the sound is excellent for a desktop setting. Five years on and the same design is still for sale, even at duty free shops at airports all over speaks volume for itself. Built quality is excellent as I have moved houses 4 times since. Not a crack on the perspex casing and no sign of any aging. A truly great design that is a must for Apple Macs. Just look too good for other PC, though.

I brought my set some 3 years ago. When I recieved them through the post I thought to myself: "These are so sexy".
When I hooked them up to my mac I thought: "These sound like heaven".
After the first six months, one of the satellite speakers stopped working altogether. That's when I thought: "What the hell?"

Ok, ok, I told myself, calm down and look on the bright side of things, the subwoofer and other speaker still work, right? Well, no. As it turns out it wasn't the satellite speaker that had the problem but the actual channel connection leading from the subwoofer. The real problem was the subwoofer itself. What is interesting to add is that the speakers work fine (with a dual audio adapter) when used with my iPod. Wierd, eh?

Well, recently the whole system just gave up. And I mean the kind where it goes: "Brrrt-pssh-KRRRT-faaaarrrrp-splbphph-dead". In comparison, I have had my mp3 player for some 4, going 5, years now. In that time I've dropped it, bashed it, submerged it, nearly crushed it, and generally had it put through all sorts of environments/situations by sheer mal attention. It still plays music as if it were just bought. My soundsticks however have only sat in the same place for three years, collecting dust in the subwoofer (just how does one clean that anyways?).

My best friend recently complained that his Soundsticks II system also had the same problems.

I say this is the last time I part money with Harman-Kardon for a sexy piece of junk.