Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #688 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Harman Multimedia
• Model: SOUNDSTICKSIIEU
• Released on: 2007-05-28
• Dimensions: 11.24 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Harman Kardon's SoundSticks II three-piece speaker system produces high-quality stereo sound for Music, MP3's, movies and gaming experiences. SoundSticks II encourages consumers to step out of the ordinary speaker world and offers sound in an original and unique package. The system, described as curvy, sleek and sexy, provides consumers with sound that is loud and clear.

SoundSticks II employs a new computer-optimized multi-band parametric equalization and Harman's unique capacitance touch control buttons on the right satellite allow for direct access to volume control

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Truly Amazing
The first thing you notice about these speakers when removing from the box is the feeling of weight and quality. As they are transparent, even the insides have to be very neat and well put together. Set up is a doddle, plug the sub into the PC and the satellites into the sub. The cables are all quite thick and seem to be better quality than the average bell-wire you normally find with PC stuff.

The sub has its own volume control (a turn dial) and the speakers have fancy touch sensitive buttons. There is no on/off switch; they stay on the whole time with the sub giving off a lovely pale blue glow at night.

Playing MP3's over the speakers they sound very punchy and lively, much better than anything else I have had. I bought these speakers after becoming tired of replacing burnt out cheap and even not-so-cheap ones from other well known brands and I am very glad I did. They look as good as they sound!

There is no headphone socket but this is not an issue for me. the touch buttons, although very cool can catch you out as there is no visual reference of where the sound is as you power up so remember to have your finger on the 'volume down' button late at night just in case.

Don't buy ugly black or beige speakers, buy these or the surround sound equivalent from Harman / Kardon...............they are in a different league to anything else I have heard.

Reality check needed - they're good, but not that good
These speakers get such rave reviews wherever you look that you’ll expect them to be pretty amazing.
In many ways they are. They look amazing, for a start, all transparent and space age, and nicely built. The satellites look particularly good, and you can angle them easily. It’s odd that the little blue globules inside the satellites don’t light up like the ones in the subwoofer though.
The subwoofer is too good-looking to be hidden under a desk, but that’s where the instructions recommend you put it.
There are rather a lot of wires: one for the power cord, one to your computer, another to the satellite connector, and then cables from that to the satellites themselves.
But it all worked once I plugged it in, and my immediate feeling was disappointment. I thought they sounded quite ragged. But… taking note of something I read, I let them play to themselves for a few hours. I also fiddled a lot with the volume controls (a knob on the subwoofer and a pair of annoying touch sensors on the base of one of the satellites).
Turn the volume on the sub above about ten percent and you get lots of bass, but none of it very nice. The resonances drown out bits of the music and sound awful. This may vary depending on your room and particularly your floor of course.
I’m used to a carefully set up, neutral-sounding hi-fi separates system. Some people suggest these speakers sound as good as a hi-fi – they don’t. Nowhere near.
But once I’d set the sub and satellite volumes to my liking (the sub volume way, way down) they sounded pretty good.
Vocals are projected very strongly by the four drivers in the satellites, and for a lot of music this is quite a good thing. With the bass turned down, the sound is solid and focussed, and you’re not too aware of the gap in the mid range. You do have to crank up the volume to get them to sound good though. At lower volumes they are quite weak. I suppose you could up the sub volume to compensate, but you really won’t want to be crawling under your desk to do this all the time.
The last thing to mention is that the position and angle of the satellites is annoyingly critical. Even leaning to one side in your chair spoils the effect somewhat.
I’m not sure I totally recommend them, but they’re not bad, and sometimes they’re great. Because they’re self powered, you can always take them elsewhere with your iPod so that adds versatility.
Try to listen before you buy.

Super sexy Looking And sound just as good !!!
Ok firstly I'm writing this from an angle of somebody who has used very expensive home cinemna equipment in the past...

looks & build quality

Going by out of the package looks, totally sexy weighty speakers with the most delicate touches with the best ever volume control buttons very sensitive but compliment the speakers & small enbough no to be noticed but practical in the same breath, lean them back & toe them in slightly & they do look very good indeed, the sub is the most awe inspiring item I've ever seen with a subtle blue glow coming from the back portion of it all the cables & connections tidy around the back. Overall attention to detail is what I would expect from a top AV manufacturersuch as HK...overall build & design quality 5 out of 5

Sound quality

In this section, I'll be covering sound imaging & reproduction, with 4 tweeters in each speakers you get great imaging & depth of soundfield something lacking in the vast majority of pc related speakers remember you can altering imagining & depth of field by toe'ing in the speakers so they angle in slightly, by placing the sub by a solid wall you will re'inforce the bass making it slight more solid sound & not so booming... With pop & rock they are nice & bouncy with plenty of speed & great imaging with games the added sense of depth & level of detail picks up the most intricate sounds you can imagine... With movies the soundstage is alive with effect bouncing left to right & the sub growling away when it needs to ...

Remember though these speakjers will be only as good as the source that they are getting the sound from, I'm running these with a onboard soundcard on my media centre pc, I'll be getting a THX based sound shortly & will write a addtional review when thats arrived ....

Dont worry about spending your money these are worth every penny ...My only gripe is I wish they would make them bigger as it could rival the Blueroom hi fi speakers with a little tweaking here & there ...overall SPANKING !!!