SoundSticks sound quality?

cerbero · July 21, 2002 9:44AM

Hi, 'tis my first visit to these forums, and you seem like a cool bunch, so I decided to register.

Got a question for ya;

I'm buying a used PowerMac in a couple of weeks (my first Mac ever, yes!

)

I'm thinking of getting the Harman/Kardon SoundSticks to go with the beautiful QuickSilver box, but I'm worried about the sound quality. I have great speakers already (Altec Lansing ACS340), they just don't look very good

so if I'm putting out 200 bucks I want good sound.

Can the sub really be any good with the plastic casing..?

[ 07-21-2002: Message edited by: Cerbero ]

ghost_user_name · July 21, 2002 9:51AM

I have a pair that my ex gave me for my birthday

You can find them for $135 if you shop around. I wouldn't pay $200 for them. They sound fine for what I use them for... I mean, my computer is not the epicenter of my home entertainment... I have my Bang & Olufsen setup for that in the living room

They sound fine though... they're not the best, but they suit their purpose. Only thing I have to compare them with are my Roland monitor speakers and my B&O stuff... so I can't really say more than that

cobra · July 21, 2002 10:50AM

Mark Levinson Amps, B&W speakers, and a Caver Sunfire Subwoofer is where its at my friend.

marquitin · July 21, 2002 11:11AM

They sound very good unless you want to be a sound snob (not that there's anything wrong with that). They'll meet and surpass 99% of listeners needs, unless the needs include rattling the walls. I just had a set of them in my house for a couple of day and wouldn't have any problem using them as my main home speakers for casual listening. (For comparison, I also have a quite nice stereo sytem already in place, as well as a home recording studio with some pretty accurate monitors for mixing and critical listening.)

Mark

cerbero · July 21, 2002 11:44AM

Guess I'll have to do a little trial listening at some store.

M3D Jack: Couldn't find any place that had them for below $200. There aren't that many places that has Mac stuff in this country unfortunately, so I guess there isn't very much competition

Thanks for your replies everyone.

eman · July 21, 2002 12:09PM

They're not that bad, but not worth $200.

jonathan brisby · July 21, 2002 5:41PM

[quote]Originally posted by Cerbero:

[QB]M3D Jack: Couldn't find any place that had them for below $200. QB]<hr></blockquote>

Try here.

<a href="http://overture.cnet.com/shopping/resellers/0-11596-311-2544673-0.html?tag=pt.overture.sound_sticks"; target="_blank">http://overture.cnet.com/shopping/resellers/0-11596-311-2544673-0.html?tag=pt.overture.sound_sticks</a>;

or here

<a href="http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=334391/ut=41a520063ebe1071"; target="_blank">http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=334391/ut=41a520063ebe1071</a>;

or if that fails....

<a href="http://www.macmall.com"; target="_blank">www.macmall.com</a> has um for 169.99

cerbero · July 21, 2002 5:52PM

[quote]Originally posted by Jonathan Brisby:



Try here.

<a href="http://overture.cnet.com/shopping/resellers/0-11596-311-2544673-0.html?tag=pt.overture.sound_sticks"; target="_blank">http://overture.cnet.com/shopping/resellers/0-11596-311-2544673-0.html?tag=pt.overture.sound_sticks</a>;

or here

<a href="http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=334391/ut=41a520063ebe1071"; target="_blank">http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=334391/ut=41a520063ebe1071</a>;

or if that fails....

<a href="http://www.macmall.com"; target="_blank">www.macmall.com</a> has um for 169.99

<hr></blockquote>Yeah.. But I'm in Sweden ("this country"

). And international orders are kind of complicated when you don't have a credit card.. Not to mention the shipping costs

Thanks anyway though.

ari · July 21, 2002 6:07PM

Have you considered the JBL Creature speakers? They come in both white and silver and are surely available in Sverige.

<a href="http://www.harman-multimedia.com/shop_detail.html?cart=HK2_1027292718552620&sku=c reature&id1=2" target="_blank">http://www.harman-multimedia.com/shop_detail.html?cart=HK2_1027292718552620&sku=c reature&id1=2</a>

salidar34 · July 21, 2002 9:33PM

The sound sticks have only 40 watts total, which is half of what most hight end computer speakers have, and they cost more. I have listened to the sound sticks and they sound pretty good, but my 80 watt altec lansing system is definetely better. In addition the usb connection makes the speakers far less versitle (sometimes i plug my ipod or video camera directly into the speakers and its like a stereo.) Unless having your speakers match your computer is the most important thing, I would look elswhere.

cerbero · July 22, 2002 4:54AM

[quote]Originally posted by salidar34:

The sound sticks have only 40 watts total, which is half of what most hight end computer speakers have, and they cost more. I have listened to the sound sticks and they sound pretty good, but my 80 watt altec lansing system is definetely better. In addition the usb connection makes the speakers far less versitle (sometimes i plug my ipod or video camera directly into the speakers and its like a stereo.) Unless having your speakers match your computer is the most important thing, I would look elswhere.<hr></blockquote>I see.. I guess I'll stick with my Altec Lansing set then. Maybe I'll try to paint the speakers or something

Shouldn't be too hard getting the plastic off the satellite speakers.

woozle · July 22, 2002 5:20AM

[quote]Originally posted by salidar34:

The sound sticks have only 40 watts total, which is half of what most hight end computer speakers have, and they cost more. I have listened to the sound sticks and they sound pretty good, but my 80 watt altec lansing system is definetely better. In addition the usb connection makes the speakers far less versitle (sometimes i plug my ipod or video camera directly into the speakers and its like a stereo.) Unless having your speakers match your computer is the most important thing, I would look elswhere.<hr></blockquote>

I think matching styles is good

Ive got two sets of little Yamaha's for my computers. They are only 6 watts per satelite and 18 for the sub. When Im just using them in front of my computer I never turn them up over 1/4 volume. In near field listening it is just too loud.

At 3/4 volume they do a good job of filling my whole lounge with sound.

So, while I think the soundsticks are too expensive, they do look nice, and I dont think you'll have any issues with them not being loud enough.

progmac · July 22, 2002 10:20AM

in my opinion, the best of the harman kardon line is not the Soundsticks or those Champagne things, but rather the JBL baby speakers. I am not sure what they are called, but they are the cheapest and smallest of the three. I listened to all three sets side by side and thought the little JBL sub satellite system had by far the smoothest sound with good crisp highs. I guess the bass won't shake the house, but i don't care too much about bass. The champagne set had tinny sounding highs and i was very unimpressed with them. The soundsticks with iSub had pretty smooth lows but i found the high end to be lacking and the mid-range to be a little too obtrusive.

ast3r3x · July 22, 2002 8:51PM

They are good. Not great mind you but unless your like me they will serve ur purpose. I'm that 1% that is a sound snob...i am the type of guy who will redownload a song if it is a 128 bitrate

If matching and style is important go for them they will do a great job.

flashgordon · July 22, 2002 9:31PM

I hope you paid for that song you downloaded...PIRATE!!!

Seriously though...Soundsticks are good but aren't worth the money..and the USB connection does get annoying sometimes. They are the coolest looking though.

badtz · July 22, 2002 10:11PM

actually......... IMO....... the coolest looking are the pro speakers & an iSub........

Love the iSub, but the soundsticks are ugly

chych · July 22, 2002 10:55PM

Hmm, for $200 I would easily go for the Swan M200s (www.av123.com)... I was not really impressed at all by the soundsticks anyway, didn't really like them...

SoundSticks sound quality?

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