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Harman Kardon Go+Play Micro Speaker System for iPod (Black) Review
 The Harman Kardon Go+Play Micro's striking and elegant design delivers exceptional sound quality from your iPod or iPhone. |
 The stainless steel handle and design details make the Go+Play Micro look as good as it sounds. Click to enlarge. |
 Odyssey drivers and an included subwoofer deliver rich, dynamic sound. |
Compatibility
The Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro is compatible with all docking versions of the iPod (including the nano G3, iPod classic and iPod touch) and iPhone. Via its auxiliary input, the Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro is also compatible with MP3 and CD players, as well as desktop and laptop computers (all platforms). When using the Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro with a docking version of the iPod or iPhone, it will even keep your device charged when plugged into AC.
Video and Photo Playback
Why not watch the video content from your iPod or iPhone on the big screen? With an included composite video output, connecting your Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro to a video display is easy. With your Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro connected, you can now enjoy all the video content from your device on a larger screen while still enjoying the incredible sound quality that the Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro delivers.
iTunes Connectivity
Have new music or movies that you want synced with your iPod or iPhone? Just dock your iPod or iPhone and connect the Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro to your computer via the USB connection. Once you have accessed your iTunes account, a simple click of your mouse transfers all of your favorite content easily to your device.
Flexible Power
Take the new Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro with you anywhere; it works both with the included AC adapter and on batteries. You can rock out for hours from just eight C-cell batteries, and there's even a handy battery-save feature that will save your battery power when the system isn't in use.
Stunning Sound Quality
The Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro is the true audiophile's portable loudspeaker dock for his or her iPod or iPhone. Its stunning sound quality starts with Harman Kardon's proprietary Atlas and Odyssey transducers. The dual Odyssey tweeters are designed to be very lightweight but extremely rigid. This means high frequencies are detailed and clear while delivering sound over a wide listening area. The Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro's Atlas woofer is also rigid but designed to move a lot of air. The result is deep, extended bass response with minimal distortion. To power these advanced drivers, the Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro actually uses two amplifiers to drive the woofer (30 watts X 1) and tweeters (15 watts X 2) independently for exceptional richness and clarity of sound. Finally, to ensure clear, low-distortion sound at high output levels, the Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro uses advanced digital signal processing (DSP) along with computer-optimized equalization.
Easy-to-Use Music and Navigation Controls
The Go+Play Micro's minimalist design means it is very easy to use. Its elegant, stainless-steel touch-volume controls mean that a single touch increases or decreases the volume. And for those times when you want complete control from across the room or across the beach, the Harman Kardon Go + Play Micro comes with a wireless IR remote control. The elegantly laid-out control allows you to direct basic system operation along with most iPod and iPhone operation from up to 4.5 meters (15 feet) away.
 The Go+Play Micro is perfect for around the house, on the beach, or anywhere you want to enjoy some music from your portable device. |
What's in the Box
Go+Play Micro, Remote Control, Power Adapter, 3.5MM connector
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Harman Kardon AVR 240 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver, Silver Review
 Take a closer look at the AVR 240's connections. You can also view the unit's front panel in detail. |
Adding to the receiver's versatility are such sound-enhancing features as Harman International's exclusive Logic 7 processing in both 5.1 and 7.1 versions, which creates a wider, more enveloping field environment and more defined fly-overs and pans; and VMAx, which uses proprietary processing to create an open, spacious sound field even when only two front speakers are available. The receiver's extensive bass management options, meanwhile, include four separate crossover groupings.
Other receiver essentials include high-bandwidth, HDTV-compatible component video switching with assignable inputs, an onscreen menu and display system with the choice of a blue or black background screen, and compatibility with the Bridge, a Harman Kardon device that works with most iPod models. The Bridge lets you operate your iPod from across the room using the AVR 240's remote control, which has been preprogrammed with several iPod control codes. As a result, listeners can select tracks and navigate most iPod functions, charge the unit, or even view track information on the AVR 240's LED display or onscreen menu.
The receiver's variety of audio and video connections include three wide-bandwidth, HDTV-compatible component video inputs, five S-video and five composite video inputs, and two analog audio inputs. Digital audio options, meanwhile, include three coaxial and three optical audio inputs, including one of each on the front panel. Other jacks range from 6- and 8-channel direct audio inputs to 7.1-channel preamp outputs that accommodate a DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, or universal player.
Anyone that's ever suffered from technology overload when setting up his or her audio/video system can rest easy with the AVR 240. The unit's intuitive onscreen menus coordinate with the system's EzSet/EQ function to provide automated system calibration and room equalization, thus greatly simplifying installation. The resulting speaker output compensates for the effects of a room's acoustics to improve the overall system performance. In tandem with EzSet/EQ--which comes with its own microphone--the AVR 240 also includes a full set of manual configuration settings for those who wish to custom-trim their system even further.
Lastly, the AVR 240 comes with an AM/FM tuner with 30 station presets. The AVR 240 measures 17.3 by 5.9 by 13.8 inches (W x H x D) and carries a two-year warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the Box
AVR 240 receiver, remote control, power cord, AM and FM antennas, EzSet/EQ microphone, user's manual.
7.1 Channel Audio/Video Receiver that can hook up to your Ipod for Audio Playback, Control, and Charging.
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Harman Kardon GLA-55 2.0-Powered Loudspeaker System (Clear) Review
I'm just going to get this out of the way now, since I'm guessing I'm not the first to say this and know I won't be the last--the Harman Kardon GLA-55 2.0 speakers look like they were hewn cold out of the side of Superman's Fortress of Solitude. With their sculpted, gemlike appearance, the GLA-55 ("glass", get it?) speakers are certainly conversation pieces, with their clear PMMA enclosures. But the key question to ask of course if you're going to pony up the 9 retail: how do they sound?
First let's talk about the tech inside of it. As though no one told the Harman Kardon engineers that they were working on computer speakers, the GLA-55s pack a lot of the same technology as Harman Kardon's high-end audiophile speakers. For example, the superior frequency range of the CMMD Lite tweeters gives the GLA-55s the clarity and versatility of a three-way speaker for the highs and mids, despite the two-way design.
The woofer is an Atlas AL, which claims to mimic the performance of an 18-inch woofer in a 3-inch package. I will say that while I disagree with that assessment--bass is clean but not booming--you're definitely not going to feel cheated out of low-end. The excursion on the aluminum woofers is among the highest I've seen anywhere; the GLA-55s don't have any grilles, so you can see immediately how the woofers move so much air under load you could probably dry a wet towel with them. Helping with the heavy lifting on the bass is a variable-width port design that eliminates whacking distortion, and an enclosure made of PMMA (an acrylic used to make bulletproof glass) which creates a super-stiff, resonance-free enclosure for the woofers. All of this is powered by 110-watt integrated amps, so you don't need to worry about your input--important when considering computers or laptops as potential sources.
Volume is controlled via plus and minus touch-sensitive metal buttons on the left speaker. The buttons are very responsive and you can even quickly mute sound by pressing both the plus and minus signs simultaneously.
For my listening test I used a regular Dell Latitude D630 laptop playing some of my own FLAC-encoded digital music through WinAmp 5 with a flat EQ and the stock sound card settings. I have to admit when I received these speakers that despite their pedigree I wasn't sure what to expect, whether or not these were simply status symbols or serious business. I'm happy to say that the GLA-55s performed not just admirably, but surprisingly well. The imaging was strong and rivaled floorstanding speakers at the same price point; not only was there clear localization between the guitar and snares in Alexi Murdoch's "All My Days", it seemed like there was no bad place to stand in the room. I could hear the soft clicks of the opening and closing of the pads of the clarinets in the opening bars of the National's "Geese of Beverly Road". The Fender Jazzmaster distortion of J. Mascis' "Out There" was a thick wall of sound you could almost recline on. The bass on OutKast's "Call of the Wild" didn't shake me out of the room, but it was crisp and punchy without any "whack" or distorted grumble.
Oh, and since they're computer speakers I suppose you could use them for games, too. For gaming I used my home gaming rig, an AMD 64X2 4800+ with a Radeon 3870 and just the stock AC97 integrated sound card. Most sound in games is digitally compressed and can therefore only be helped so much, but recent games that lean heavily on strong sound design such as EA's Dead Space sounded great even without an expensive sound card, thanks to the broad soundstage the GLA-55s can support. Because so much sound in games can be significantly compressed, however, you may notice yourself getting the most out of the GLA-55s by using your iTunes library moreso than your games directory.
Are these speakers worth a grand? Ultimately that's up to you to decide, but I will say that I have heard so-called audiophile speakers at this price point that didn't sound this good. Regardless of the price, the GLA-55s are strong performers with virtually no downsides, save bass that slightly weakens at full volume (but, to be fair, these are 3-inch woofers) and a cosmetic styling that's hardly conservative and therefore may not appeal to everyone.
Pros: Great imaging; responsive touch controls, extremely high woofer excursion for clean, punchy bass; performance equivalent to similarly-priced floorstanding three-way speakers in a two-way design that's one-fifth the size.
Cons: Styling borders on gaudy; bass thins out slightly at full volume.
--Aric Annear
The Harman GLA-55 high-end two-piece speaker system has been engineered to raise the bar and deliver the industry reference standard in computer audio. No desktop system before has merged art and science so beautifully and so functionally. Offering versatility in its function, the Harman Kardon GLA-55 system is a stylized multimedia focal point, boasting breathtaking beauty, functionality and impeccable sonic performance. Combining numerous proprietary technologies, the GLA-55 system delivers clear and accurate high-impact sound with a large soundstage. Arguably the best 2.0 speaker system ever engineered, it integrates beautifully with home and office decor, and is perfect for audio enthusiasts looking for an audiophile-quality sound experience.
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