Manage updates with the Download AppHarman Kardon SB 16 Video
Harman Kardon SB 16 Video Transcript
-Hi, I'm Matthew Moskovciak from cnet.com and we're gonna take a look at the Harman Kardon SB 16. This is a soundbar home theater system and is currently selling for about $600 online. While $600 is a bit more than most of the soundbars we reviewed, but you can see why as soon as you take it out of the box. The soundbar has some real weight to it and the subwoofer is absolutely huge compared to many of the soundbars out there. Well, luckily the subwoofer is wireless so it's easy to stash in the corner of your living room where its size won't be quite as imposing on your decor. The back of the subwoofer has a few controls you'll adjust during the set up and the back of the soundbar has 3 inputs including an optical, coaxial, and analog input. The whole system is self-powered so you don't need a separate AV receiver. The only design issue we ran into is that the SB 16 doesn't include a remote instead relying on you to program the soundbar to receive commands from your HDTV's remote. We like the idea of simplifying out to one remote, but the problem is your HDTV is still gonna receive those volume commands. And if you disabled the TV speakers like it says in the manual, some TVs show a message that says TV speakers off. If you like to adjust the volume frequently like we do, it could be pretty annoying to see that message keep popping up. Now, not every TV shows a message like this, but it was a problem on about half of the new HDTVs we have at CNET. So if you're thinking about buying the SB 16, it's worth checking out how your HDTV handles the issue. Remote issues aside, sound quality is really what the Harman Kardon SB 16 is all about. Thanks in part to its giant subwoofer, the sound quality is a step up above most soundbars. It can get loud enough to create a real home theater experience, but we also found that sound detailed and neutral. If you're looking for a performance based soundbar and don't wanna deal with the bulk of an AV receiver, this is one your best options. So, overall, the Harman Kardon SB 16 is expensive and it does have some remote control quirks. But ultimately we felt like its excellent sound quality and stylish design make it worth the extra cash. I'm Matthew Moskovciak and this is the Harman Kardon SB 16.
Related Videos
Harman Kardon resurrects its premium boom box, but skimps on some of the features and sonic details that made the original so exceptional.
Harmon Kardon Guide + Play GPS-500
The Harman Kardon Guide + Play GPS-500 features a stylish design and a wide screen.
Harman/Kardon Go + Play iPod boom box
The Harman/Kardon Go + Play is one of the best-sounding portable iPod speaker systems you can buy, but its high price and lack of compatibility with recent iPod models make it a limited recommendation.
The sexy Harman Kardon HS 300 delivers sophisticated styling, solid performance, and better connectivity and speakers than last year's model, if you can look past the quirky interface and high price.
Harman Kardon sweet-sounding Classic headphones
Harman's $199.95 on-ear headphones combine good looks and excellent performance to create an enticing package.
The Harman Kardon HKTS 20BQ is a very stylish and affordable 5.1 speaker system with a particularly detailed sound, but it's not our top pick for a system this size.
The Harman Kardon GPS-810 is a unique in-car GPS device, and Brian Cooley had a chance to play with it.
The Samsung HT-C6500 combines outstanding sound quality, Blu-ray playback, and tons of features into an excellent home theater system, with only some design quirks holding it back.
The Harman Kardon Drive + Play 2 is a stylish and functional aid for playing digital music in the car. Its iPod compatibility and dynamic channel creation function really separate it from the pack, although you pay for what you get.
Boston Acoustics TVee Model 25
The Boston Acoustic TVee Model 25 is a competent, but unexceptional, sound bar with some design flaws that make it not quite worth its premium price tag.
Harman/Kardon SB 16 Review
The good: The Harman Kardon SB 16 has excellent sound quality for a sound bar. Its exterior design is also a cut above budget sound bars, and its two digital audio inputs should be enough for basic home theaters.
The bad: The subwoofer's giant footprint may be too much for some buyers. The SB 16 also relies on your TV's remote to adjust volume, which may result in annoying onscreen messages on some HDTVs. And $600 for a sound bar is more than many are willing to spend.
The bottom line: The Harman Kardon SB 16 features a premium price tag and some remote control quirks, but its excellent sound quality and exterior design make it worth the extra cash.
Harman/Kardon SB 16 Specs
Manufacturer: Harman
Part number: SB 16
- Product Specifications
Harman/Kardon SB 16 Prices
Online stores
| Store | Certified rating | Inventory | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $599.00 |
 | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $599.00 |
| Crutchfield | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $599.99 |
| Harman International |  Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $599.95 |
| TigerDirect.com | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $599.99 |
