Harman Kardon GLA-55 2.0-Powered Loudspeaker System (Clear)

by Harman Kardon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 17.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001GXQNWO
• Item model number: GLA-55
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 13, 2008

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

I'm just going to get this out of the way now, since I'm guessing I'm not the first to say this and know I won't be the last--the Harman Kardon GLA-55 2.0 speakers look like they were hewn cold out of the side of Superman's Fortress of Solitude.  With their sculpted, gemlike appearance, the GLA-55 ("glass", get it?) speakers are certainly conversation pieces, with their clear PMMA enclosures.  But the key question to ask of course if you're going to pony up the $999 retail: how do they sound?

First let's talk about the tech inside of it.  As though no one told the Harman Kardon engineers that they were working on computer speakers, the GLA-55s pack a lot of the same technology as Harman Kardon's high-end audiophile speakers.  For example, the superior frequency range of the CMMD Lite tweeters gives the GLA-55s the clarity and versatility of a three-way speaker for the highs and mids, despite the two-way design. 

The woofer is an Atlas AL, which claims to mimic the performance of an 18-inch woofer in a 3-inch package.  I will say that while I disagree with that assessment--bass is clean but not booming--you're definitely not going to feel cheated out of low-end.  The excursion on the aluminum woofers is among the highest I've seen anywhere; the GLA-55s don't have any grilles, so you can see immediately how the woofers move so much air under load you could probably dry a wet towel with them. Helping with the heavy lifting on the bass is a variable-width port design that eliminates whacking distortion, and an enclosure made of PMMA (an acrylic used to make bulletproof glass) which creates a super-stiff, resonance-free enclosure for the woofers.  All of this is powered by 110-watt integrated amps, so you don't need to worry about your input--important when considering computers or laptops as potential sources.

Volume is controlled via plus and minus touch-sensitive metal buttons on the left speaker.  The buttons are very responsive and you can even quickly mute sound by pressing both the plus and minus signs simultaneously. 

For my listening test I used a regular Dell Latitude D630 laptop playing some of my own FLAC-encoded digital music through WinAmp 5 with a flat EQ and the stock sound card settings.  I have to admit when I received these speakers that despite their pedigree I wasn't sure what to expect, whether or not these were simply status symbols or serious business.  I'm happy to say that the GLA-55s performed not just admirably, but surprisingly well.  The imaging was strong and rivaled floorstanding speakers at the same price point; not only was there clear localization between the guitar and snares in Alexi Murdoch's "All My Days", it seemed like there was no bad place to stand in the room.  I could hear the soft clicks of the opening and closing of the pads of the clarinets in the opening bars of the National's "Geese of Beverly Road".  The Fender Jazzmaster distortion of J. Mascis' "Out There" was a thick wall of sound you could almost recline on.  The bass on OutKast's "Call of the Wild" didn't shake me out of the room, but it was crisp and punchy without any "whack" or distorted grumble. 

Oh, and since they're computer speakers I suppose you could use them for games, too.  For gaming I used my home gaming rig, an AMD 64X2 4800+ with a Radeon 3870 and just the stock AC97 integrated sound card.  Most sound in games is digitally compressed and can therefore only be helped so much, but recent games that lean heavily on strong sound design such as EA's Dead Space sounded great even without an expensive sound card, thanks to the broad soundstage the GLA-55s can support.  Because so much sound in games can be significantly compressed, however, you may notice yourself getting the most out of the GLA-55s by using your iTunes library moreso than your games directory.

Are these speakers worth a grand?  Ultimately that's up to you to decide, but I will say that I have heard so-called audiophile speakers at this price point that didn't sound this good.  Regardless of the price, the GLA-55s are strong performers with virtually no downsides, save bass that slightly weakens at full volume (but, to be fair, these are 3-inch woofers) and a cosmetic styling that's hardly conservative and therefore may not appeal to everyone.   

Pros: Great imaging; responsive touch controls, extremely high woofer excursion for clean, punchy bass; performance equivalent to similarly-priced floorstanding three-way speakers in a two-way design that's one-fifth the size.

Cons: Styling borders on gaudy; bass thins out slightly at full volume.

--Aric Annear

Product Description

The Harman GLA-55 high-end two-piece speaker system has been engineered to raise the bar and deliver the industry reference standard in computer audio. No desktop system before has merged art and science so beautifully and so functionally. Offering versatility in its function, the Harman Kardon GLA-55 system is a stylized multimedia focal point, boasting breathtaking beauty, functionality and impeccable sonic performance. Combining numerous proprietary technologies, the GLA-55 system delivers clear and accurate high-impact sound with a large soundstage. Arguably the best 2.0 speaker system ever engineered, it integrates beautifully with home and office decor, and is perfect for audio enthusiasts looking for an audiophile-quality sound experience.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Near Field listening, September 27, 2011

By 

Charles Felker "Special K 42" (Oxford, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harman Kardon GLA-55 2.0-Powered Loudspeaker System (Clear) (Personal Computers)

I first bought these for my bedroom TV setup. They sounded great there, even without a subwoofer (though I would have attached one eventually). My problem was that they have an LED light that illuminates them. When they go into standby, these white lights start blinking, making two lighthouses slapping the roof with an annoying blinking light.

My girlfriend kept yanking the power out at night (in the dark), which made me nervous given the cones are not covered.

I now have them at my office, where I enjoy them for near field listening. The bass sounds excellent up close at low volumes (been enjoying the heck out of some dubstep radio on Pandora, which I upgraded just because of these speakers), and can shake the office at high volumes. They are connected to my PC through a Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty sound card and sound phenomenal (I have the sound card's Crystalizer funciton on).

They also make an excellent conversation piece for anyone coming into my office. They're definitely unique works of art.

Overall, glad I moved them to the office, since I now can enjoy them all day. Sure they were an investment given the price, but you're worth it! They pay me back all day with clear/responsive audio.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harman Kardon GLA-55, December 22, 2010

By 

Kelvin Nham "K-World" (Orange County CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harman Kardon GLA-55 2.0-Powered Loudspeaker System (Clear) (Personal Computers)

I did some research before spending this chunk of money, and certainly NOT disappoint by the these lovely speaker
I read an article saying the 3 inches sub-woofer suppose to mimic a 15 inches which i did not think possible,however it is now, the lower end of the sound spectrum in these spectrum certainly impressed me. The high is clear and strong never fade out regardless how high. They definitely live up to the specification saying 35hz to 20khz.

One recommendation Harman Kardon should consider is having volume remote control for it.

Certainly worth every penny
strongly recommend for anyone

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Computer Speaker Money Can Buy Period!, January 19, 2012

By 

IronCan "ironcan" (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon GLA-55 2.0-Powered Loudspeaker System (Clear) (Personal Computers)

Do not be fooled by the beautiful crystal-like appearance into thinking this is all looks and of no utility. In my opinion this is the best speaker in it's category as dedicated pc/laptop speaker (to prevent argument, I know you can build better sound system via home theater setup, but not everyone is interested in such complexity, so lets not go there).
Back on to the review. The tweeter is amazing, reproducing sound in beautiful clarity. I love being able to hear the singer's breathing sound and all the little details in the different musical instruments. The midrange is also very good. The Low is incredible considering a 2.0 system. To get the ultimate result from this setup, I recommend adding a 8 inch subwoofer which will add two hundred or less to your overall cost. However you will not be disappointed with this setup.
Competitors: The most frequently mentioned competitors are the bose 5 series and the bowers and wilkins (B&W). The B&W's sound is just not loud enough, so you'll just have to sit close to it to enjoy your music, certainly not room filling sound. The bose has a dedicated woofer so of course it will give loud sound, and what seems enveloping sound. However, you must decide is loudness more important or is clarity more important. I find that if you don't listen very closely, you will love the bose, but if you pay attention, you will be amazed at that lovely tweeter in the GLA-55. That's is why, I recommend adding a subwoofer to get the best of both worlds.
For me, GLA-55 is the best PC speaker that not only looks amazing, but also produce sounds that makes me smile every time. I don't own this speaker myself, my brother does, and I was the one that recommended a subwoofer to him, that's how I am able to give you my experience now.
Lastly you are spending a lot of money on these speakers, regardless of your choice, so I highly recommend you to go into a store, perhaps the apple store, and listen to each one and see which one is for you, don't just read reviews.