Minimal Mac

lonelysandwich:

Harman Kardon Soundsticks

I adore them. Purchased in 2000, I cherished mine until I thought to replace them with studio monitors for more serious making of things which I probably wasn’t going to be making, if I’m being honest. I’ve since bought two pair of M-Audio monitors, both of which, within two years of purchase have gone tits up with a blown tweeter.

So I took these down from the closet and hooked them up again. I don’t know if they sound good to a fussy audiophile, but they sound like clear plastic heaven to me, like they’ve always sounded, which is round, a little airy, but crisp and poppy. And although they’re dated insofar as computer accessories seem to remind us of the computers they once accessorized (which in this case, was a graphite G4 tower), I don’t think they’ve ever looked dated. They just feel good on my desk.

I never had the full Soundstick setup. Instead, I had the “iSub” connected to an iMac DV (I still have the iSub kicking around, I have it in a sizable pile of dated computer equipment to go on Craigslist). Even that combination, with the iSub complementing the built in iMac speakers (which I think were also made by Harmon Kardon), sounded better than anything comparable today. That said, if great sound is what you are looking for today, Marco Arment has some opinions on what you should get.

If I get around to it soon, I have an opinion on a great sounding, yet minimalist, solution to post here.

Notes:

1. yraffah reblogged this from minimalmac
2. yummeh reblogged this from minimalmac and added:

   We have the Harman Kardon Soundsticks II here at home. They sound amazing.

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8. minimalmac reblogged this from lonelysandwich and added:

   never had the full Soundstick setup. Instead,...had the “iSub” connected

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19. ben reblogged this from lonelysandwich and added:

    Ah, the jelly fish speakers. You can actually still buy these at the Apple Store....have...

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23. fotonico reblogged this from stefigno and added:

    è stato uno dei regali a Lei, fatto quando mi aveva già lasciato…Lei per me è MUSICA.

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29. ballookey reblogged this from lonelysandwich and added:

    have the same speakers, also from about 2000-2001....and they sound great

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    I’m staring at that subwoofer right now. It sat on the floor next...desk though five...

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