Harman Kardon GO + PLAY II 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock

by Harman Kardon

Product Features

• Digital signal processing (DSP) optimizes system dynamics and bass impact while minimizing distortion during battery operation
• The woofers and tweeters are independently amplified for exceptional richness and clarity of sound
• Atlas woofers produce extended bass performance with minimal distortion, and Ridge tweeters project musical details over a wide listening area
• Self-storing, multidirectional remote control directs system operations and most iPod/iPhone functions from up to 9m (29 ft.) away
• S-Video output for high-quality iPod photo and video playback on TV monitors

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Product Description

From the Manufacturer

High-performance portable loudspeaker dock for your iPod or iPhone.

As a high-performance loudspeaker, the portable harman kardon Go + Play™ II lets you take your iPhone or iPod device to new musical heights - wherever you happen to be. In either AC or battery mode, simply dock your iPhone or iPod device on the harman kardon Go + Play II's angled cradle and let your favorite music fill up the space with a rich spectrum of sound, including thunderous bass. Benefitting from a full range of advanced technology, the harman kardon Go + Play II has dual high-frequency and advanced midrange transducers producing great clarity, and high-excursion, low-frequency drivers for a deep, impactful bass punch. Designed to complement any interior design scheme, the harman kardon Go + Play II is easily transported by its arched, stainless-steel handle and offers a distinct, modern look in black with silver accents. It even works as a sterling multimedia entertainment hub, syncing up with your iTunes library via a USB port and allowing you to send pictures and video straight to your TV monitor. This is no ordinary "boom box" - this is the harman kardon Go + Play II.

harman kardon Go + Play™ II at a glance:

Play music and video from your iPhone or iPod device

Modern industrial design

Intelligent equalization (EQ) technology

Bi-amplification

Advanced transducers

RF remote control

Works with batteries or AC power

Works as an iPhone and iPod charger

iPhone/iPod touch adapter kit

Convenient touch controls

USB port

S-Video output

Stereo mini-jack input

The harman kardon Go+Play II delivers incredible sound quality unmatched by other portable loudspeaker systems.
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A higher standard of sound quality.

The harman kardon Go + Play II will play your music and movies with an exceptional sound quality that most other portable loudspeakers can only dream of. It all starts with two Atlas™ woofers that produce extended bass performance with minimal distortion, while two Odyssey® tweeters project powerful musical details over a wide listening area.

The proprietary Atlas woofers deliver deep, extended bass response

The harman kardon Go + Play™ II system is then computer-optimized to produce an all-encompassing, 360-degree soundstage. With intelligent equalization (EQ) technology in place to improve stereo imaging greatly, the harman kardon Go + Play II delivers a powerfully tuned digital audio path that ultimately leads to unsurpassed precision in terms of performance. With clean, compact digital amplification coupled with digital signal processing (DSP), the harman kardon Go + Play II employs one algorithm that optimizes system dynamics and bass impact in AC-power mode - and another to minimize distortion during battery operation.

For the best sound possible, the harman kardon Go + Play II also independently amplifies both the woofers and tweeters. By using bi-amplification, the harman kardon Go + Play II delivers richer, more dynamic sound with higher output levels - far exceeding other companies' products in this category.

Flexible Connectivity.

In addition to having an iPhone/iPod dock that acts as a main connector for your music and multimedia, the harman kardon Go + Play™ II also has a 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo mini-jack input that lets you sync up with virtually any other audio device - including MP3 and CD players, desktop computers and laptops. Connect your high-performance loudspeaker to other sound sources, and immediately achieve compatibility with a full range of electronic devices. That's the goal of the harman kardon Go + Play II - to satisfy your every entertainment impulse while providing superior sound that enhances the experience.

And with an S-Video output, the harman kardon Go + Play II has a few other tricks up its sleeve - for instance, allowing you to export iPod photos and even play back video on your TV. Working as an elegant go-between for your iPod/iPhone and TV, the harman kardon Go + Play II ensures that images can accompany the harman kardon® signature sound as a consistent part of your entertainment experience - wherever you and your multimedia content may be.

Stay in control of your music with the included RF remote control

It's one thing to have a loudspeaker that plays only the music you have. It's another to have one that allows you to acquire the new music you love. Whether you're on the go or staying put, the harman kardon Go + Play™ II can sync up to the iTunes music store using a USB cable, allowing you to expand your music library - even as you're listening to the library's songs.

Get smarter with an RF remote control.

The harman kardon Go + Play™ II system offers you infinite control by including a smart RF remote for two-way communication and superior signal reception. In Music mode, the remote lets you adjust volume, change tracks and fast-forward or reverse through songs from across the room - up to 29 feet (9 meters) away. In Navigation mode, you get full iPod or iPhone functionality, which allows you to browse by song, artist or album - as well as select playlists, slide shows and videos - as if you were holding your iPod or iPhone device in your hand.

Works with batteries or AC power.

Whether you're at home or on the run, the harman kardon Go + Play™ II works with battery power (eight type-C alkaline batteries) or with AC power if you simply plug it into a wall outlet. And when it's in AC mode, the harman kardon Go + Play II never uses battery power - and it keeps your iPhone or iPod device charged and ready to go. The battery-power feature offers you the convenience of taking your harman kardon Go + Play II to any adventurous destination without relying on electricity - be it to a beach, a park or wherever your imagination takes you.

Brushed stainless steel underscores the Go+Play II's elegance

Modern, unique industrial design.

From its arched stainless-steel handle to its iPhone/iPod docking cradle, the high-performance harman kardon Go + Play™ II loudspeaker combines high-minded utility with an understated, sublimely functional industrial design. Stylish yet not too flashy, the harman kardon Go + Play II has a black body with silver accents, designed to complement virtually any interior design scheme. Defying convention at every turn, the harman kardon Go + Play II puts harman kardon® award-winning design on display for all to see.

For more than 50 years, Harman Kardon products have been delivering great sound and extraordinary design

harman kardon® sound - a legacy of achievement.

The harman kardon Go + Play™ II enables you to take your digital music anywhere - and look good while doing it. Striking the balance among modern design, technological versatility and audio ingenuity, the harman kardon Go + Play II is a true embodiment of the harman kardon® spirit of innovation - a tradition celebrated by audio enthusiasts across the world for almost six decades.

From the world's first stereo receiver (the Festival® TA230) to the multimedia masterpiece that became part of the permanent collection at New York City's Museum of Modern Art (the SoundSticks® desktop sound system), harman kardon engineers have consistently advanced the science of sound, developing magnificent audio products that are dedicated to quality, durability and, most importantly, generating rave reviews from audiophiles.

What's in the Box

It's one thing to have a loudspeaker that plays only the music you have. It's another to have one that allows you to acquire the new music you love. Whether you're on the go or staying put, the harman kardon Go + Play™ II can sync up to the iTunes music store using a USB cable, allowing you to expand your music library - even as you're listening to the library's songs.

Spec Sheet

Click here for Spec Sheet

 

Product Description

High-performance portable loudspeaker dock for iPod and iPhone devices

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best iPod Docks out there. August 13, 2011

By Jasper Lynn

I've had the original HK Go + Play for about two years unit the unit finally blew out when I blasted it too loud for a party. I contacted HK support and they promptly sent me a new HK Go + Play II and I could not be happier.

This is THE BEST SOUNDING iPOD DOCK OUT THERE. Hands down. I've owned everything from Logitech to Sony to iHome to Bose and this Harmon Kardon beats the sound and the *oomph* out of all those i've tried. I'm so happy with this purchase.

My only gripe is that it auto shuts off after about 10 minutes of no audio, so you can't use this as an alarm unfortunately.

Amazing customer service, absolutely astounding sound performance. If you put this in a small to medium sized room, you've got full, rich sound with deep bass that everyone absolutely loves.

And to address the comment made before me - I had the same issue when I *didn't* follow the manual and left is blasting for hours on end. I've been able to use this unit in outdoor pool parties and its loud enough at 90% - so its obviously user error.

I would recommend this over any other iPod dock out there.

62 of 80 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't "Go" Far Enough for Me. December 13, 2011

By Scott Sherman VINE™ VOICE

Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The Harman Kardon GO + PLAY II Portable Loudspeaker Dock for iPod and iPhone is a mixed bag for me.

Pros:

Very good, room filling sound: I'm no audiophile, but I appreciate good acoustics and have quite a few docks around the house. The HK Go + Play II offers impressively rich sound, with deep base and clear highs. I find TV and movies piped through my laptop and the Go's aux port are particularly impressive. Not that music doesn't sound great through them - it does - but the system does an even better job mixing dialogue, soundtracks and effects from TV shows and movies, which is tough to do. Five stars on pure audio quality. In the end, speakers are about reproducing sound, and the Go is strong here.

Design (good parts): This is certainly a slick looking, industrial design that feels solid and not excessively heavy without batteries.

Cons:

Missing features: At this price point, there are several features I'd like to see in the Go that just aren't there. First up is a rechargeable battery. For a system made to be portable, I expect it to feature one. Worse, although the product description says the Go takes 8 "C" batteries, it actually requires "D's." Not only do these tend to be more expensive, but they're a lot heavier. Amazon's product description of the Duracell brands lists the batteries weight as 2.4 lbs for 8 D's and 1.3 lbs for 8 C's. That's over a pound extra on top of 8.6 lbs that the Go already carries. Ten+ pounds for a "portable" system is stretching it.

No iPad dock: Yes, you can hook your iPad or almost any music playing device through the Aux port, but it's another wire and it doesn't charge the device when the Go is plugged in. Other manufactures have figured out how to build in iPad accessibility, so there's no excuse.

No wireless capacity: Again, as with the lack of a rechargeable, built in battery and no way to dock an iPad, the exclusion of Bluetooth or Airplay technology makes the Go feel somewhat dated. In this price range, I'd expect to see some attention paid to the fact that streaming music is only going to become more popular.

Design (disappointments): There are some puzzling aspects to the Go's design. The company boasts about it's "infinite control by including a smart RF remote for two-way communication and superior signal reception. In Music mode, the remote lets you adjust volume, change tracks and fast-forward or reverse through songs from across the room - up to 29 feet (9 meters) away. In Navigation mode, you get full iPod or iPhone functionality, which allows you to browse by song, artist or album - as well as select playlists, slide shows and videos - as if you were holding your iPod or iPhone device in your hand." What they don't tell you is that it's the most complicated remote in the world, with tiny buttons and a shape that's awkward to hold. You have to toggle between two modes to switch from simple operations like increasing volume to the more complex navigational commands. It took me a long time to figure out how to use it, until I realized the remote has its own manual that comes with the Go - and it's no quick read. It seems needlessly complicated - I have other docking stations that allow similar functionality with much simpler remotes. It's mystifying why this is so complex on the Go, unless it's a style over function choice to keep fewer buttons but count on the user to remember what does what. (In all fairness, the remote comes with a separate set of decals you can apply to it to label the different functions, but, come on, what am I, five-years-old? I'm not going to take the time or effort to put stickers on my expensive home AV equipment - why didn't Harmon Kardon label it for me rather than make me put on little decals that will undoubtedly peel off?)

Also, the unit comes with a variety of inserts to hold your iPod or iPhone in its optimal position, but darned if I can figure them out. Other companies come with one or two that hold your device upright and they work fine. The insert that best fits my iPhone lays it down almost flat, in which case the Go's handle blocks access to some of the controls. Just weird.

So, overall, three stars for the Go. Putting sound first, it's a winner. But the lack of modern conveniences and some odd design-over-function choices (and that's saying a lot coming from an Apple fan-boy like me, who doesn't mind trading off some "wow" factor for practicality!) really hurt this product's usability for me.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good sound, terrible batteries June 16, 2012

By JillKarsky

The HK GO + Play II provides very good sound, loud and clear. It is touted as portable, which it is. However, it does not use rechargeable batteries, meaning that you have to cycle in and out D-size batteries every couple of days. That's not only wasteful, it's expensive. For a few bucks more, HK should have included a rechargeable battery system.