Harman Kardon FL8550 5-CD Changer

by Harman Kardon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 15.1 x 17.3 x 5.1 inches ; 16.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 21 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00000JCU9
• Item model number: FL8550
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,364 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

With its five-disc capacity, Harman Kardon's FL8550 CD changer doesn't exactly push the limits in terms of the quantity of discs it can play. But Harman Kardon has opted for quality over quantity and it's the FL8550's build quality and audio performance that puts this unit onto a short list of stellar CD players under $1,000 (single or multidisc).

The FL8550 offers features such as 32-track, cross-disc programming and Random Play alongside flashier extras such as Play/Exchange, which allows you to open the tray to switch four discs while the fifth is playing. All features are readily accessible through the well-designed remote control.

Chief among the FL8550's virtues is its sound. The FL8550 uses High-Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD), which is an encode/decode system developed by Pacific Microsonics to identify and correct "artifacts" in the digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion processes. HDCD-encoded CDs will play on all CD players, but when played on an HDCD-equipped player, such as Harmon Kardon's FL8550, these discs produce audibly superior clarity and depth. Furthermore, the HDCD processing is supposed to enhance the sound of standard CDs, and the FL8550 proves that this is true.

In our tests, the FL8550's sound was dynamic, natural, and astonishingly clear. While a coaxial output allows the FL8550 to feed an external digital-to-analog converter, the player sounded great through the standard RCA analog outs, despite the cheap connection cable supplied with it. If you plan on using the digital output, you'll need an HDCD-decoding external converter to appreciate HDCD discs.

The FL8550 can be linked to other Harmon Kardon equipment through a supplied remote connector. For elegant simplicity in both operation and appearance, it's hard to beat the FL8550.

Pros:

• Great sound
• Solid build
• Ergonomic design

Cons:

• Low-grade analog connection cable

Amazon.com Product Description

The first popularly priced CD changer with HDCD processing. The FL8550 delivers audibly superior performance from standard compact discs and reproduces the full depth and clarity of the widely available HDCD encoded compact discs. High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) was previously available from only the most esoteric CD players. Combined with other advanced features, the FL8550 offers the discriminating music lover unsurpassed reproduction of compact disc recordings.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Problematic turn-table sensor, July 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon FL8550 5-CD Changer (Electronics)

Within 3 months of using the FL8550 the turntable refused to switch CDs in random mode and sometimes would not even sense the existence of a single CD when loaded. Even when performing normally, it makes a loud irritating sound when switching between disks. When I took it in for warranty repair, I found that about 80% of the pieces brought into the shop for repairs were the HK 8550 and 8350. The technician told me that the sensor used in the model is too delicate and is the cause of frequent problems. The HDCD sound difference was certainly not "audible" to my ear. Definitely overpriced compared to a other brands.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Additional IMPORTANT Feedback, December 17, 1999

By 

Mark Dorfman (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon FL8550 5-CD Changer (Electronics)

Hi Mark:

Yes, this is an accurate evaluation of the initial batch of FL8550 units that were manufactured prior to May, 1999. We have provided a technical bulletin to all of our dealers and service centers that provides for a modification to eliminate this problem. Anyone who purchased an FL8550 that had demonstrated this problem was encouraged to take their unit to an authorized HK service center for the modification re-work at our expense.

What this review does not indicate however, is that all units manufactured after May, 1999 were modified to eliminate this problem and this is no longer an issue.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Katie Yarian Internet Support Specialist

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid this player if you like classical music, November 27, 2001

By 

Barry Hoggard (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harman Kardon FL8550 5-CD Changer (Electronics)

If you like to listen to CDs where there is no break in the music between 2 tracks, avoid this player! I like to listen to classical music, and often I will program only a few tracks, e.g., to listen to one symphony on a CD with multiple works. The way it is designed, there is a break when switching tracks, so if you're listening to a movement that spans several tracks, you get a "skip"!

If I'm listening to an entire CD, it doesn't happen, but it's horrible if you're listening to part of it.

I've talked to the company, and it was hard to even explain the problem to them - I guess no one there listens to classical music (or other albums with continuous music) anymore. Their only suggestion, after weeks of discussion, was to take it to a repair shop. Given what I've read elsewhere, I suspect I've stumbled across a design defect, not something that can be fixed.