Harman/Kardon SB 16 Pro Reviews

The sound bar is svelte and lightweight enough to sit easily on a table or mount to a wall (8 lbs.) — the same can’t be said for the subwoofer which has 34 lbs. working, so be careful you don’t drop it on your feet while moving it about during the initial setup. The real issue — that of the audio response — is spot on for watching television and movies in a bedroom, because you can get a quality response that obviates the ho-hum coming from 95%+ of TVs with more than enough volume without hitting distortion. Although the price may be a bit off-putting to some, taking into account that besides a quality harman kardon “build” in the sound bar, there’s an included wireless subwoofer that is both convenient to use as well as a powerful addition to the audio experience. All ready to go in a single package that is the SB 16.

I love this Soundbar. It's not the fanciest. It doesn't come with a remote... Or a front panel display. Or AirPlay. Or a USB input. Or Bluetooth support. But it sounds awesome. And this is Audioholics, so that rates. Big time. If you want a great sounding Soundbar and sound quality is the most important thing for you, we have yet to hear one that sounds better at this price. It surprised us, it really did. But maybe it shouldn't have.

$600 is a lot to pay for a speakerbar system. To understand the SB 16, you first have to reconsider your ideas on value: this isn’t a space-saver, or a cheap way to bypass integrated TV speakers, but a straightforward and practical upgrade to better sound quality. Performance for movies and TV is stronger than for music, though the SB 16 does a good job holding its end up there too. A separates system might deliver more authentic surround sound or better music performance, though at the price of more complex setup and a potential wiring mess. For a balance of audio and ease the SB 16 does a lot for the money.

Considering the high price of the system, the lack of HDMI connectivity is rather baffling. Also, the remote control configuration won’t suit every TV, but the SB 16’s ability to delivery a wide soundstage with beautifully balanced audio goes a long way towards making up for these shortcomings.