Hello, fellow MacRumors readers,
Let me warn [those who haven't experience with the speakers, but are likely to consider a pair] that Harman Kardon's SoundSticksII are a perfect waste of money!
Why? I'll relate my experience; first with a summary of its neutral points/positives:
- The sound quality is above mediocre, although not particularly high (by all accounts inferior to now out-of-production Apple HiFi speakerbox: I have one of each, and although not what one refers to as an "audiophile", do discern the qualitative differences in sound rendering). The SoundSicksII, among other things, distort the sound quite a bit more than alternatives (Apple Hi-Fi, in the case in question) when the volume is turned up considerably. However, I allow that it must be better than 30,- Logitech speakers (but who would expect otherwise!).
That was about it, the positives. Now, to the core of my review, the Negatives:
- First off, one of the speakers randomly loses contact with the subwoofer/power. Monkeying about with the cord on occasion works, but generally proves futile. The issue has bugged me from the day I set up the thing a couple of years ago, having just bought it, new.
- Many are drawn to the thing - the purplish-blue light emitted through the transparent case of the subwoofer - and not people alone, but also all sorts of insects (in very particular, moths). I hadn't even suspected I shared my house with moths until my late discovery of tens of them adorning the transparent internals of the subwoofer! The thing exudes an air of infinite hospitality to the insects, apparently. You see, due to the nature of the construction - it's open - any insect or arachnid - from an ant to a giant tarantula - can find its way into the thing.
- I tried to open the thing, but the screws, fastening the base to the lid, about 5 cm each, broke! All but one - that's three - they are cemented into the assembly!
- I called a local authorised Harman-Kardon service centre (there's but one in the whole of the country) to report the problem and to appoint a service session. Their response was entirely exclusive of the slightest willingness to collaborate: "No, alas, we can't do a thing to help you! The SoundSicks are not designed to be repaired. The guarantee never implies repairs, but since you're well over the guarantee period (e.g., 1 year since the date of purchase), you're not eligible for a replacement. At any rate, we can't help you!"
That's my experience with the Harman-Kardon's SoundSticksII (aka irreparable Moth-House).
Let me warn [those who haven't experience with the speakers, but are likely to consider a pair] that Harman Kardon's SoundSticksII are a perfect waste of money!
Why? I'll relate my experience; first with a summary of its neutral points/positives:
- The sound quality is above mediocre, although not particularly high (by all accounts inferior to now out-of-production Apple HiFi speakerbox: I have one of each, and although not what one refers to as an "audiophile", do discern the qualitative differences in sound rendering). The SoundSicksII, among other things, distort the sound quite a bit more than alternatives (Apple Hi-Fi, in the case in question) when the volume is turned up considerably. However, I allow that it must be better than 30,- Logitech speakers (but who would expect otherwise!).
That was about it, the positives. Now, to the core of my review, the Negatives:
- First off, one of the speakers randomly loses contact with the subwoofer/power. Monkeying about with the cord on occasion works, but generally proves futile. The issue has bugged me from the day I set up the thing a couple of years ago, having just bought it, new.
- Many are drawn to the thing - the purplish-blue light emitted through the transparent case of the subwoofer - and not people alone, but also all sorts of insects (in very particular, moths). I hadn't even suspected I shared my house with moths until my late discovery of tens of them adorning the transparent internals of the subwoofer! The thing exudes an air of infinite hospitality to the insects, apparently. You see, due to the nature of the construction - it's open - any insect or arachnid - from an ant to a giant tarantula - can find its way into the thing.
- I tried to open the thing, but the screws, fastening the base to the lid, about 5 cm each, broke! All but one - that's three - they are cemented into the assembly!
- I called a local authorised Harman-Kardon service centre (there's but one in the whole of the country) to report the problem and to appoint a service session. Their response was entirely exclusive of the slightest willingness to collaborate: "No, alas, we can't do a thing to help you! The SoundSicks are not designed to be repaired. The guarantee never implies repairs, but since you're well over the guarantee period (e.g., 1 year since the date of purchase), you're not eligible for a replacement. At any rate, we can't help you!"
That's my experience with the Harman-Kardon's SoundSticksII (aka irreparable Moth-House).
