Harman Kardon Harman/kardon SoundSticks II Computer Speaker

By Dion  Jul 23, 2006

By Phil  Apr 24, 2005

Awesome!!

By Josh  Mar 27, 2005 | 5 out of 5 found this Harman Kardon Harman/kardon SoundSticks II review helpful

Pros: Great bass, design, sound, clarity

Cons: Bass adjustment knob in back, rubber coating color on base of speakers maybe a little too feminine for some.

Prior to these speakers I had the JBL Creature (also amazing speakers, had them for years and were great). However, the Creatures's were lacking one particular thing: thundering bass. They had great bass, but just not the kind that shakes a room. It was more crisp and clean. I read some reviews and decided it was time for an upgrade. So, I went with the Soundstick II's. Harman Kardon is definitely doing something right because they combine style and elegance with unsurpassed sound like no other company has done, all at an incredible price. Don't think these speakers are all looks, they sound amazing. At first I was a little worried because I was getting some crackle during certain songs, however, the speakers just weren't broken in yet. Out of the box, you might be a little disapointed, but give it some time, play some differnt music for an hour or so, and these speakers warm right up. The bass is beautiful. It is precise, and fills up my entire room. When I want it to shake the pictures on my wall, it can. When I just want some nice classical music, it fills my room with amazing clarity.

There are only 2 things that I find as a con about these speakers, and niether has anything to do with the sound. The first is the rubber coating around the base of the stick speakers; they are kind of girly. The have a purplish tint which just makes them sort of ugly. However, I solved the problem by cutting the rubber off. Underneath the rubber is a thick and heavy metal that looks a million times better. Only problem with cutting the rubber off is that the sticks become a little less stable. The other thing I found sort of a pain was that the bass adjustment knob on the sub is in the back. I adjust my bass levels from song to song, and having it in the back is just more of an inconvienience.

If you're looking to buy a pair of amazing speakers for under $150, these are the ones to get. I would also highly recomend the JBL Creature's if you're looking for great speakers under $100.