Harman Kardon SB 30 - Page 5

How is the 550? Been looking at the new Panny 550 as well...more demo's???

thank you for your feeling.
waiting your testing after moving to new APT.
I really appreciate what you talking about.

ndrj69,

I find one used from amazon, it maybe the one you returned.
link is here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B006ZZNM9U/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&m=AHF4SYKP09WBH&condition=used
I am also afraid of the "hissing ", so I will not buy this one.
Edited by ernest100 - 7/5/12 at 9:08pm

So I have narrowed it down to either the Bose SR1 $1599 or the HK SB30 $949 respectively here in Canada.

Has anyone been able to compare the two and my main question I can draw after looking at specs is in regards to coding.

Bose according to websites isnt compatible with Dolby digital format.

Flip side SB30 is DD pro, 2 etc compatible but doesn't read DTS.

I will be using it with my Sony 46EX500 and main use aside from digital tv is bluray movies and gaming with my PS3.

Which format is better or would I benefit most from being able to use? My TV has pass through from what I've read so would be HDMI ps3 to tv and optical from TV to sound bar.

Any advice or points of view is greatly appreciated.

Nic

I have not heard the bose setup in home...owned the HK for 4 weeks and sent it back on my dime. What will be your primary use? I was under-whelmed.

Blurays and games run off a PS3.

So I went with the Harman Kardon Soundbar, first impressions are I like the sound bar alot but I've run into a few problems I am hoping some other owners might know about.

For some reason the 3 white LEDs on the front that dictate volume up and down will turn into a purple LED? And when they are purple the green lights for room size while using Kardon Mode do not show up or work? But I can hear a sound change when pushing the room size button.

So does anybody know why the purple lights show up and what it means? Not any info on it in the manual or online, called HK tech got hung up on twice and told twice they don't know what it means or that it even had purple lights?

Thank you for your time and help,
N

Dude, purple means return it asap...sounds good but quirky and not enough power to fill a room. I kept finding more issues after my first few days of bliss. Still looking for that perfect soundbar. Customer service is a 1800 INDIA number.

Nick

Having not hear or used a multi speaker system I find it fills out room fine. HK customer service was a joke I agree, do you know what the purple lights mean?

No, but seeing as the manual did not list (I could not find) I would sense pending doom. It isn't about it being a bad sounding bar...just not worth the $800 you pay.

Nick

I remember the blue light (static, not moving or flashing) indicates which surround mode you are in. 1 blue means straight Stereo, 2 blue means the same surround mode of the SB16, 3 blue is the exclusive virtual surround mode for SB30. However, if you see blue/purple lights while trying to change volume (instead of white moving lights), then it is not normal and should go for an exchange.

I like this soundbar. It can sound very good (for my standard), but lacks volume in dialogue in some movies if you use the virtual surround at its widest output without any Dolby Volume. But that depends on the movie's sound mix. Some movies sound perfectly fine as is, others I have to bump up the Dolby Volume or lower the virtual surround room size to make the dialogues louder. Also, I noticed randomly, it has some split second of junk noise when the blu-ray switch tracks (black screen from trailers to movie) or in PS3 when I browsing menus. Not a biggy, but would be nicer when it is silent at all times when there is no audio playing. Little imperfection, but I like its performance.

Hi,

I was just looking for some more info about this system. I actually bought mine 2 weeks ago and love the sound, but noticed the 2nd day after i hooked it up, the subwoffer made a popping sound. The volume was not loud and did not have the bass up loud either. I kept noticing it because it would startle myself and my dog. So i took it back and got another SB30, and the same day I hooked it up it made that popping sound from the sub.

has anyone had this issue or know what might the problem be and that I can correct this?

I emailed HK twice on and I am about to call them and tell them off and see if they can help me out, Otherwise i will be returning my 2nd SB30 and will be getting the bose 3 speaker system.

thanks

craig

I just got the SB 30. It's in a gym playing music tv and Xbox kinect games. No movie watching.
Room is 15'x24' with 9' soffit then tray ceiling up to 12'. 2 walls completely windowed. Hard wood floors. ...It's an acoustic echo chamber at best. Sheer and fabric curtains coming to traverse along the windows to deaden some sound.
Question is this... Testing the SB 30 out of the box, I had it situated about 3 feet off the floor.. Sounded better on stereo mode playing iTunes music via analog in. TV sounded ok playing via optimum app on ipad via analog in. Futzed with the harmon wave setting. Its ok in certain instances and i figure i would have my harmony remote dictate what mode its in based on activity. So I know I'm listening to the worst config no since the SB 30 will be getting my tv's optical out once hooked up.
That said, we have a 60" Samsung going on the wall (waiting for it) and I'm thinking of putting the soundbar over it but tilted down 10 degrees. About 7 ft high. Is the tilt necessary? I'm thinking up high tilted gives more concentration in the room instead of bouncing up into the tray off the floor like it did when placed below the TV.

Did anyone ever respond with the Remote code? Trying to get ours set up and the little one is not ideal. My harmony does it, but wanted that for different room. Just wanted to use our cable one

Hi all,

I realy like to buy a SB30.
The problem is that the wall in my livingroom where my television is on is only 104cm what forces me to buy the SB16 in stead of the SB30.
Another option is to buy the SB30 and hang it in my bedroom, but I prefer to have my livingroom as my "theater" iso the bedroom.

Can anyone tell me the difference between the SB16 & SB30?

Is there much quality difference?

Hope to hear from you guys!
Thanks!

Hi Davio,

I am waiting on my new sammy 64pne7000 to arrive. Having looked at the specs of the sb30 , do you think as it lacks HDMI, that it will work ok if the Sammjy can pass through DTS via optical? I will only have 3d BR player , a multi region DVD player and a RokU 2 (just arrived) connected.

If not, do you think I would be better off getting the YSP2200 and connecting everything into that and then using ARC ?

I am buying a soundbar to tide me over until I get a 3.1 / 5.1 system using probably Onkyo 818 with B&W 804s, so do you think I would be better off getting a sony 150 or sammy 450 just for 12 months or so ? Which of those two in your opinion is best ? My gut says to go with the YSP 2200 - what do you think ?

thanks

Hi,

Also , found the sb30 for 600 delivered and YSP 2200 for 579 delivered. Looked at Sony 550 but don't like the seperate control box. The Sony 260 looks ok, Can't find if it will pass though 50hz region 2 PAL DVD though, or 3d content via ARC. Any thoughs with this additional info ?

thanks

Nick,

I was recently searching for a sound solution for a second residence and was nearly ready to pull the trigger on one of the new Yamaha YSPs ($1500+). While haunting these threads I saw Davyo's glowing review of the Bose 1 SR and that really intrigued me. The only problem with the Bose was a lack of extensive inputs.

I had decided to order a Bose Lifestyle 135 but after talking to Bose on the telephone they recommended the LS 235 which was less expensive! If the 1 SR/LS 135 is anything like the LS 235 it should be able to reach the volumes that you require. The LS 235 sounds great with music and movies and can play very loud cleanly. I ended up getting the LS 235 for nearly the same price as then 1 SR from Bose direct. Also of note is that Bose customer service is really good and you will be talking to someone in the US.

If you have the space and can spring for 1 SR, I say go for it. I am really enjoying my new system and I am glad that I went into the purchase with an open mind.

Maybe give Bose a call and see what you can work out.

Good luck!

anyone know where I can search to find it for under 800 ? All the usual places like amazon, BB and Crutchfeild all at 800.

thanks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harman-Kardon-SB30-Open-Box-Home-Theater-System-with-Wireless-Subwoofer-/150969674702?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item23267e6bce

thanks,

Saw that. Just pulled the trigger on brand new one - 599 including delivery -

http://www.paulstv.com/Soundbars/Harman-Kardon-HKSB30BLK.asp

promo code speak25.

I still like the YSP 2200 for connectivity , but I went with this anyway. The way I see it, it will be better than TV speakers , so I still win lol.

That seems like a good deal. Hope it works out well for you as I know you've really been struggling with deciding which soundbar to choose. Please post your impressions of it after you have it up and going as that will surely help others considering a purchase.

Thanks for your help - I will post. I was member of uk av forum for 9 years, so know how it helps.

What swung this for me was that as I have a 20 foot open wall along wall then I think the ysp 2200 would not be in its element and 2.1 isn't its strong point. So the HK 2.1 will be better than a poor 5/7.1 solution, particularly as I want to listen to music too and ysp rates really badly for that.

Having said that, I can't wait to go get a pioneer elite amp, svs 13 ultra s/w and some PMC speakers

Does anyone know if I can control the HK SB30 with an AT&T UVerse remote? I am going to purchase one of these and hoping my U-verse remote has a remote code that will work. Otherwise I guess I have break down and get a learning remote.

I can't speak for the UVerse remote, but my Time Warner remote controls the SB16 with no problems. On the SB16, there were no codes to enter, the receiver built into the soundbar "learns" your remote control.

The SB16 is very different from the SB30 in that regard. The SB16 must learn from an existing remote. The SB30 comes with it's own remote and does not have the learning feature. So with the SB30 you must either use their provided remote, have an learning remote that can learn from the SB remote, or have a remote that supports a remote code that works. I'm hoping the UVerse remote has a remote code that works with the SB30 but can't find any reference to that anywhere.