Re: Harman Kardon SoundSticks I on a PC

From: Neill Massello (neillmassello_at_earthlink.net)
Date: 11/04/04 

Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2004 23:40:05 GMT

Jonathan Wolfson <jon3825@gmail.com> wrote:

> I own the Harman Kardon SoundSticks (not II, but the first version)
> and I own a PC. I notice the sound quality is not what I expected from
> a 200 dollar pair of speakers. Is this because it is using a PC and
> not a Macintosh? Does one need a Mac to properly use these speakers?
> Thanks,

The original SoundSticks require a USB input. A driver for them is built
in to Mac OS 9.0.4 and later; but Harman never supported this product
for use with PCs and provides little technical documentation for it.
AFAIK, the signal sent to the SoundSticks is essentially PCM audio via
USB.

If the SoundSticks don't sound as good as you expected, I suggest you
connect them to a Mac -- a friend's or one at a nearby Apple retailer --
to see if the problem is the input signal or the speakers themselves.

Remember that the SoundSticks are computer speakers only, designed for
near-field listening. They can't double as room speakers, as some
multimedia speaker sets can. Part of what you're paying for in the
SoundSticks is the small footprint and the visual aesthetics. For sheer
sound quality per dollar, you're better off with Klipsch or some other
brand.

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