Harman Kardon Champagne 2.1 Computer Speakers (3-Speaker, Burgundy)

by Harman Kardon

Product Details

• Item Weight: 7.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005U23U
• Item model number: CHAMPAGNE SE
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 21, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Champagne 2.1-channel speaker system from Harman Kardon offers a compact, stylish, and great-sounding satellite/subwoofer set for use with all laptop and desktop computers. Compatible with 2- and 4-channel sound cards, the system is guaranteed to enhance your listening of music, video, DVDs, games--you name it.

Harman Kardon's rich audio heritage and its continual research in all things audio has provided the unique technologies built into the Champagne. Technologies like VMAx, an audio image-processing algorithm that seamlessly supports both 2- and 4-channel sound cards. The algorithm results in an aural hologram that sounds like a 4-speaker sound field from just 2 speakers when used with a 4-channel sound card. In addition, the algorithm provides enhanced stereo when used with a standard 2-channel card.

Harman International's Multimedia Odyssey I transducer (speaker driver) is another key technology in the Champagne. The driver was designed specifically for extremely small speaker enclosures and engineered to provide sound from high treble down to significant mid-bass frequencies. In addition to the bass, the small, rigid, and lightweight inverted-aluminum cone provides performance designed to rival any tweeter used in multimedia speakers today. The result is a small and elegant satellite speaker that perfectly integrates with the subwoofer while providing superior midrange and high frequencies.

The system's 5.25-inch Magnum-series subwoofer transducer provides deep bass, extending the Champagne's frequency response down to a solid 35 Hz. Magnum woofers are designed to match the timbral characteristics of the Multimedia Odyssey I.

Treble, bass, and VMAx surround level-adjust knobs are located on top of the subwoofer unit, and the system on/off switch is located at the rear of the subwoofer. The system's 2 desktop speakers and subwoofer can be placed either on the floor or on your desk. All speakers are magnetically shielded to provide the greatest protection against computer monitor image distortion. For optimal stereo imaging, separate the speakers by a distance equal to your sitting distance from the speakers.

The subwoofer's sound is non-directional, so you don't have to position it in any particular relationship to the satellites.

What's in the Box
Two satellite speakers, a subwoofer with attached power and audio input cables, and a user's manual.

Product Description

Get ready to rock the house or at least your PC with the Champagne 3-Piece Speaker System. With 40 watts of total power, this system delivers high-quality stereo sound. While the right speaker contains an integrated volume/mute control combination for instant sound level adjustment, the subwoofer features bass, treble and surround controls. Give your computer audio the boost it craves.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just some SPEAKERS 101, March 19, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Harman Kardon Champagne 2.1 Computer Speakers (3-Speaker, Burgundy) (Personal Computers)

Ok, as you all know years ago they used to have those desktop satillite speakers for computers that you just plugged into the computer and they didnt need a wall outlet for power.. much like headphones.. They still have those now. And to help accomodate this, sound cards in computers pump out a very small amount of voltage to basically give power to those speakers or else they will have the power of 2$ headphones... I know why your speakers, especially the subwoofer, have been giving problems... The subwoofer uses copper coil wrapped around a small cone in the bottom of the speaker and changing in Electromagnetic waves cause it to react with the built in Natural magnet causing the speaker face to Move... THats just fine if you had wattage only. But with the voltage from the sound card.. The copper wire, not built to hold much voltage at all, will over time deteriorate much like iron will rust causing shortages in the wire or even hissing crackling sounds because of the damaged magnetic fields... TO prevent this problem only turn your MASTER VOLUME in volume control up halfway or very close to halfway whether over or under. This will allow for a sufficient amount of wattage from the sound card to reach the amplifier in the subwoofer to give yu great sound. Ive had my own RCA PROFESSIONAL SERIES audio video receiver for about 6 years now and i researched sound cards because my sound card being plugged directly into the amplifier i always got an *Overload* safety shut down... meaning there was too much wattage going in or out of the receiver.. i found out about the computer wattage thing and the middle master volume tip has worked Tons...

If you dont believe me about the computer putting out voltage to power its parts... what do you think powers the LED lights on your keyboard or the LASER on your optical mouse, what about the power to your webcam.

I hope ive been helpful to future buyers of subwoofing products... this also works for desktop speakers

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sounded Great when they worked. Don't work anymore, January 9, 2004

By 

Rocco J Torre (Niceville, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon Champagne 2.1 Computer Speakers (3-Speaker, Burgundy) (Personal Computers)

Acquired these with my Dell computer 2 years ago. Speakers had very impressive sound quality. Thoroughly enjoyed them. But now the subwoofer makes a horribly distorted deep bass sound that overpowers all other sound. It's so bad the speakers must be turned off. This speaker set is too expensive to have such a rotton service life. Speakers should last a lifetime. I see from other reviews that other people have experienced the same failure I have, even sooner. I hope the problem is reparable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bought Them 14 Months Ago, And I'm Shopping For New Ones, November 7, 2004

By 

G. Roberti "Lube Man" (Toms River, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harman Kardon Champagne 2.1 Computer Speakers (3-Speaker, Burgundy) (Personal Computers)

I'm part of the group that has had no luck with these. They worked in the beginning...then something fried inside the sub...returned them, got new ones...Same thing happened...now they are unuseable. They start to go when you hear the light crackling...then it moves into the bass distortion mode...now they just hum loudly with intermitent loud crackling. I'm now shopping for new speaker and when I saw that they were still available I just wanted to see what other folks were saying about them...WOW, I'm not alone! They look cool but they have a quality issue for sure...hit or miss I guess, a gamble for sure!