Harman Kardon FL8370 5-CD Changer

Other products by Harman Kardon

Product Details

Product Manual [195kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 15 x 17 x 5 inches ; 17 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000300CZ
• Item model number: FL8370
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,002 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Harman Kardon's FL8370 is an elegant CD changer. In addition to its excellent build quality, clean look, and thoughtful array of features, the FL8370 has one thing that makes it a sure winner: a degree of sound quality that would be remarkable enough for a single-disc player at this price, and that's absolutely superior for a five-disc changer.

You can immediately sense the FL8370's touch of class--it feels solid and looks handsome. The front panel is cleanly and intuitively arranged, and the disc drawer and transport mechanism are unusually powerful and smooth.

Harman Kardon has put its money into sound-oriented features, not the stuff that impresses the bells-and-whistles crowd. HDCD decoding, rare in this price range, is one of the best things that ever happened to the compact disc. And with so many mainstream titles now being released with HDCD encoding, having the decoding ability in a five-disc changer is most welcome. In addition, the FL8370 has a coaxial digital output, which sounds superior to the more commonly used optical digital output, plus a headphone jack with an independent volume control.

Sonically, the FL8370 does great service to the music, offering a detailed and delicate top end, an open and beautifully balanced midrange, and a bottom end that's capable of tremendous wallop and yet equally capable of great definition and harmony with the rest of the frequency spectrum. Furthermore, this CD player has the stuff that gets audiophiles so hot and bothered--a transparent soundstage (a uniform sense of right-left presentation) and pinpoint sonic imaging.

Harman Kardon's FL8370 is an exciting five-disc changer with tremendous strengths and no discernable weaknesses. Unlike most changers, the FL8370 doesn't sacrifice sound for convenience. It's a step above the pack, both price- and performance-wise, and that's what separates the best from the rest. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Terrific sound
• Coaxial digital output
• Headphone jack with volume control
• Solid build

Cons:

• Supplied interconnect cables are cheap

Product Description

All Harman Kardon CD products are designed with advanced technology, such as precision digital-to-analog converters, to provide crisp, clear reproduction of your favorite discs. For the ultimate in CD playback, the FL 8370 include High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) processing for improved dynamics and presence from HDCD-encoded discs, and enhanced playback of standard CDs.The FL 8370 CD changer is an exceptionally well-engineered product that offers high performance and ease of use. This five-disc CD changer features advanced programming functions that create play lists of selected tracks, or play discs and tracks in random order, for hours of uninterrupted play. HDCD Decoding provides superior reproduction of all CDs, whether HDCD-encoded or not. When HDCD-encoded discs are played, special circuitry reveals detail and fidelity not possible in ordinary CDs. Other features include Coax Output for direct connection to outboard digital-to-analog converters or digital receivers and Intro Search to automatically scan a brief portion of each track to quickly locate your favorite selections. Play-Exchange feature allows discs to be changed while another disc is playing.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good sound If and When it actually works, September 9, 2000

By	Marcia Twain (Saginaw, MI USA) - See all my reviews

The Harmon Kardon FL8370 5-CD changer that I received from Amazon.com did not work, right out the box. The power light indicated that it was getting power, but the unit would not turn on. I checked my line voltages at that time, there was no brownout problem here. Amazon's customer service people were very nice, they sent me another machine immediately and accepted the first machine with a full refund. The replacement unit worked fine for a while, it produces fantastic sound, as one would expect from HK. But after a few uses, the same power failure occurred: power light on, but the machine did not power up. By pure luck I had not left any CD's in the machine, I would not have been able to retrieve them. Amazon's electronics department contacted Harmon Kardon and were told that I would be contacted by HK directly and that I would be sent a replacement unit (by HK) from a different serial number range. After not hearing from HK for a few days, I contacted them at their 800 number. After waiting a VERY long time on hold, I spoke with a customer service agent who denied that there were any reports of problems with that model (although I was telling him at that very moment that I have personally experienced two identical failures). He found a paper discussing my problem in a stack of papers on another service-person's desk and told me I would be contacted no later than the next day. It never happenned. After waiting another week I repeatedly tried to contact Harmon Kardon and gave up after interminable waits. After waiting to hear from Harmon Kardon for two weeks, I got back with Amazon. They are issuing me a full refund. Bottom line: Amazon is great, but I don't think I will ever buy another product from Harmon Kardon.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars HK Customer service the worst possible, August 3, 2000

By	"zubs" (Cleveland) - See all my reviews

Okay, H/K may make a product that is capable of reproducing the best sound, but if something ever goes wrong with it you are up a creek. I had an FL 8550 that went on the fritz. It sat in the shop for a month untouched due to the fact that they could not get parts for it. Finaly H/K agreed to get me a new one. Unfortuntely this took over a month as well. After working with Scott Snyder, and Marry Beth Chronan, of Harman Kardon, I am convinced that the entire customer service lacks all knowledge of how to serve their customers. One would think a company that makes such a high status product would be capable of serving their customers. Unfortunately I will never again purchase a Harman product again. This includes all Infinity and JBL products as well.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Whole New Appreciation for Your CD Collection, June 25, 2000

By	Barry Glasser (Fishkill, NY) - See all my reviews

I am so impressed with my new Harmon Kardon FL-8370 CD Changer. This newest additon to my Harmon Kardon system delivers clear, crisp yet warm, sound quality. The basses are rich and the mid-range true, the highs clean. I cannot believe the improvement in the sound of my system. The HDCD decoding provides excellent reproduction of standard CDs, better than any CD player I have ever owned. I can't wait to try it with a HDCD encoded CD. Programming is flexible and easy to understand. Within half an hour of installation I had already programmed multiple CD playback. The remote control is uncluttered and simple to use. The unit's styling is sleek and smart. It is clearly a product whose design, engineering and construction have been well thought out. Certainly a product that lives up to the Harmon Kardon standard.

But again, buy it for its sound quality. You will gain a whole new appreciation for your CD collection.