Manage updates with the Download AppHarman Kardon SoundSticks III
Manufacturer: Harman Part number: SOUNDSTICKS3AM
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The $170 SoundSticks III speakers offer light cosmetic upgrades (and unfortunately retain a few irritations) from the previous model, but if you're a fan of the iridescent design, this speaker system won't disappoint.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Harman Kardon SoundSticks III price range: $131.66 - $169.99
- Reviewed by: Justin Yu
- Edited by: Rich Brown
- Reviewed on: 09/09/2011
The good: The Harman Kardon SoundSticks III 2.1 speakers equip music lovers with four drivers in each satellite and a large subwoofer to pump extra bass.
The bad: There's no external jack for plugging in headphones, the bass controls are mounted on the subwoofer itself, and there's no way to turn off the translucent lighting without powering down the entire system.
The bottom line: The $170 SoundSticks III speakers offer light cosmetic upgrades (and unfortunately retain a few irritations) from the previous model, but if you're a fan of the iridescent design, this speaker system won't disappoint.
User reviews
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Disregard reviews by newbie owners--good for one date.
by caponsacchi on September 22, 2011
Pros: Pretty to look at. Make a good first impression. The looks enhance the sound, which is quite lovely if not striking (lacking a rich mid-range). The common mini-plug for the whole unit is handy.
Cons: User inaccessible parts. Delicate wiring that shorts out in a few months, leaving you with one satellite speaker or worse. Delicate tiny 4-pin connector for one of the satellites. Pointless "touch" volume control (and impractical). Good for playing on
Summary: Ultimately, these are going to lead to Harman Industries shooting itself in the foot. The first impression, infatuation has worn out, and consumers are unlikely to keep coming back and ...
Summary: Ultimately, these are going to lead to Harman Industries shooting itself in the foot. The first impression, infatuation has worn out, and consumers are unlikely to keep coming back and buying these (at ever inflated prices) as frequently as some replace their Apple gadgets. But Harman keeps raising the price without attending to durability and practical issues. I refuse to be seduced into buying a 3rd pair, and I've never ended up with a unit worth trying to sell to someone. You'll get the same sound from Harman's ugly but much less expensive JBL Creature speakers. But you'd do better to pick up Cyber-Acoustics ]3:1 computer speakers n the $30-40 range.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best computer speakers I've ever owned
by Stacyx on April 18, 2011
Pros: Beautiful looks, fantastic sound, well-built, price
Cons: nothing major
Summary: I got rid of my Bose computer speakers after the cat ate through the wires and after reading some reviews I decided to go with the Soundstick III. First, the ...
Summary: I got rid of my Bose computer speakers after the cat ate through the wires and after reading some reviews I decided to go with the Soundstick III. First, the only difference between these and the last version (II) is the color of the base of the satellite speakers and there is a white light in the subwoofer. For the price of these speakers, the sound can't be beat- they sound better than computer speakers that cost almost twice as much. I was pleasantly surprised at the build quality- they are very, very solid. The down-firing subwoofer provides deep, rich bass but note- it's a pretty good sized sub so if space is an issue- either on top of or below your desk, keep that in mind. It works best on the floor but right now I have it on top.
My only complaint and it is so minor it's hardly worth mentioning, but I will- the volume controls on the right satellite are a bit annoying. It's not a huge issue because I mainly use my computer volume control and itunes volume control but I am used to 2.1 systems having a little volume pod as opposed to having to reach over and adjust the volume on a satellite. But really, it's not a huge issue at all.
Uses- all types of music, movies. I am not a gamer so I can't speak to how they sound with games.
I really would recommend these speakers without any hesitation.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Sounds, Could listen for Hours...
by ryokusanagi on March 28, 2011
Pros: Non-fatiguing sound.
Cons: My only complaint is no remote control I guess. But what the hey, I need the exercise anyway. ^_^
Summary: I first tested this with my xfi2. Fell with it. First song I did not even need to use the EQ (its a pop song), I only needed to tweak ...
Summary: I first tested this with my xfi2. Fell with it. First song I did not even need to use the EQ (its a pop song), I only needed to tweak it on low quality MP3s that are metal songs.
I definitely recommend it.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Jaw dropping! Eye opening!
by kurek412 on March 9, 2011
Pros: Magnificent sound, Gut busting clarity. truly a design marval.
Cons: i didn't design them.
Summary: Magnificent sound, im serious, I've had many different speakers in my life from Bose to Technic sound systems. None match to the clarity and bass accuracy of these speakers, ...
Summary: Magnificent sound, im serious, I've had many different speakers in my life from Bose to Technic sound systems. None match to the clarity and bass accuracy of these speakers, some people say that these miss strong bass cues in some songs, but the reason some people think this is because they are brain washed with those hard hitting sound systems and expect huge bass drops, but they're not hearing the actuality and accuracy of the real low notes, these truly capture the true colors of all music genres. Trust me, im an industrial designer, these speakers are worth ever penny. All in all these are fantastic speakers, if you want room filling clarity and accurate bass lines, these speakers are worth the money!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Looks great... poor sound...
by macevanscb on March 21, 2013
Pros: Beautiful design
Cons: Flabby bass... shrill highs...
Summary: CNet... you've got to be kidding. I just got a set of these speakers (refurbed from H-K) because I thought they would look great and sound great with my ...
Summary: CNet... you've got to be kidding. I just got a set of these speakers (refurbed from H-K) because I thought they would look great and sound great with my vintage Apple Cube system. Well, at least they look great. The woofer is woefully underpowered and the satellites are way too bright in the upper midrange... shrill, especially at higher volume settings. My reference speaker system on my main Mac is a Monsoon Planar Media 14 subwoofer (also a 6-1/2" woofer) along with a pair of Monsoon MM1000 flat panel satellites. This setup sounds incredible with anything coming out of the Mac... movies or iTunes... and doesn't give up at all at high volume levels. I was hoping for the Soundsticks to at least come close to the Monsoons, but no. I am very disappointed. Not sure yet if I'm going to go DYI and replace all the electronics to do a tri-amp setup with Tripath amps or just resell them to get some of my money back.
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I've loved these speakers since day 1 in 2000.
by JazzFingers34 on July 13, 2012
Pros: I regard my self as having a good ear so I rarely listen to bit rate under 320kbps & I'm blown away by the quality of sound they produce.
Plus they always draw an envious comment from a friends.Cons: The power button & Sub volume combined? But not that much of an issue as the only time I touch it is to turn the thing on. Floor boards I need new ones since Dub Step.
Summary: I first encountered these back in 2000. The original SS1's when a friend bought them in Singapore for a third of the price they were selling for back in ...
Summary: I first encountered these back in 2000. The original SS1's when a friend bought them in Singapore for a third of the price they were selling for back in the UK.
When I first bought my SS2's I used them to play back music from my Laptop, plug & go style. Now I'm an iVictim & with the use of an iPad & dock,iPhone & Air Play & App called Tango. My SS2's have access to 898gb of music & video. I hope your all not envious.
I personally have a set of SS2's that I've had since 2009 & never a problem with.
I imagine the addition of braided cables to be a plus on the SS3's as more protection is more protection.
I'm a little surprised at negative reviews about the light in the Sub, myself I was looking to see what improvements the SS3's offered over the SS2's as I thought to up grade if the SS3's had multi colored selectable mood light I'd of been straight down to PC world & the SS2's would of been on eBay.
I really don't know how HK can improve on the features of the Sound Sticks whatever incarnation they are, without adding bulk or new switches or knobs where they shouldn't be. They are a design icon & worthy of a space in the design museum in Manhattan.
Apart from the fact that they look fantastic & never fail to draw compliments from friends did I also mention that the sound they produce blows you away? I highly recommend these speakers.
Updated on Jul 13, 2012 -
Great Speakers!
by okaygo on September 13, 2011
Pros: Good sound, fills a room, chalk resistant
Cons: Sensitive volume adjustments (though for my purposes no matter)
Summary: So we have a set of these speakers currently in our climbing gym. We used to have a surround sound system, but as we found out, chalk (you use it ...
Summary: So we have a set of these speakers currently in our climbing gym. We used to have a surround sound system, but as we found out, chalk (you use it to keep your hands dry while climbing) does not play well with open vents and subsequently destroyed our receiver. Thus the Harmon Kardon system. We usually just plug in a laptop or iPod, and blast the tunes away. It sounds great, and fills our racquetball court sized bouldering gym with more than enough sound without sounding hollow or weak. Also, all of the speakers are unorganized and sitting in the corner while playing amazing sound. On a side note, they continue to be highly chalk resistant.
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These speakers though beautiful didn't last long!
by cognac77 on September 13, 2011
Pros: The speakers are beautiful and they sound great. Their size makes them easy to hide if you have little space on your desk.
Cons: The volume buttons on the speakers are too sensitive and it's hard to control the volume. Also I had problems with the left speaker not playing more than 65% of the time which meant I had to turn the speakers on and off until they stayed on. I had that pr
Summary: Buy these speakers at your own risk. Even though they are beautiful, doesn't mean they are going to last.
Summary: Buy these speakers at your own risk. Even though they are beautiful, doesn't mean they are going to last.
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Great for any size room.
by Da_Badguy on September 13, 2011
Pros: Light weight.. quick setup..great sound!
Cons: Looks awkward.
Summary: I'm hoping that they re-up and make a new version with more sticks..
Summary: I'm hoping that they re-up and make a new version with more sticks..
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THE WORST, WORST , WORST SPEAKERS I'VE EVER OWNED! EVER
by 1924942ekim on March 7, 2011
Pros: The sound is awful. They are clearly the most beautifully designed computer speakers I've ever seen. I'd seen them in Europe and couldn't order them fast enough. Unfortunately, the sound is without a doubt the WORST I've ever hear. SO dissappointed.
Cons: The sound is completely distorted even at the lowest levels. There IS NO clarity whatsoever. HORRENDOUS. I question the competence of any 'editor' who claims to have even listened to these and says they liked them.
Summary: Don't buy the hype or the speakers!
Summary: Don't buy the hype or the speakers!
0 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Harman
- Part number: SOUNDSTICKS3AM
- Description: A 6-inch downward-firing powered subwoofer. Eight 1-inch full-range transducers. Plug-and-Play compatibility with virtually any multimedia device. And stunning industrial design that perfectly matches the clarity of the sound. The Harman Kardon SoundSticks III desktop sound system brings a new level of excitement to music, games and movies with a minimum of wiring - and looks spectacular doing it.
General
- Product type Speakers
- Speaker type PC multimedia speaker system
- Speaker type Satellite speaker,
Subwoofer - System configuration 2.1-channel
- Speakers included 2 speakers,
Subwoofer Features
- Speaker Type Active subwoofer, passive satellites
- Woofer size (inches) 1 in
- Nominal output power (total) 40 Watt
- Response bandwidth 44 - 20000 Hz
- Audio amplifier Integrated
- Connectivity technology Wired
Connections
- Connector type 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Details
- Driver details Satellite speaker : 4 x Full-range driver - 1 in
- Driver details Subwoofer : 1 x Subwoofer driver - 6"
Compatibility | Accessories
- Included accessories Power adapter
Power
- Power device Power adapter - External
PC Speakers (Extended Specs)
- Power consumption operational 65 Watt
- Component height 10.2 in,
10 in - Component weight 4.9 lbs,
1.5 lbs - Power device form factor External
- Power device type [Feb 24, 2011 from CDS: Power Device] Power adapter
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Harman products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Harman
- Address:
400 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT 06901 - Phone: 1-203-328-3500
