Design classic brought into the modern age

The Harman Kardon SoundSticks are one of the longest-lasting audio products, with their basic design having remained recognizable for decades.

The series dates back to 1999, when Apple and Harman Kardon introduced the transparent iSub subwoofer for the iMac. The actual SoundSticks speakers were released the following year, in July 2000 at Macworld. The original SoundSticks was a 2.1 speaker system, which, as the name suggests, had two narrow, ribbon-like “sound bars” as satellite speakers and a separate iSub subwoofer.

The transparent design matched the visual world of the era's iMac computers, and the iSub later ended up in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York as well.

The design and basic concept of the SoundStick have remained largely unchanged, although the technology has been updated several times. The SoundSticks II introduced 3.5mm analog input in 2004 instead of the original USB connection, the SoundSticks Wireless added Bluetooth in 2012, and the SoundSticks 4 was the first major external update in the lineup in 2020.

Two versions

The latest SoundSticks 5 generation is divided into two versions: SoundSticks 5 and 5 Wi-Fi. The “basic version” has a 3.5 mm line input, Bluetooth and HDMI ARC for the TV. The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi has a line input and Bluetooth, plus a built-in streaming player that includes all the major streaming services, including AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, etc. However, there is no HDMI ARC connection. In our opinion, this is a somewhat strange choice.

There is also a difference in prices, but they vary from retailer to retailer. The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi costs around 379–429 euros, while the Harman Kardon model on their own website costs 379 euros. The basic model of the SoundSticks 5 with an HDMI ARC connection costs around 279–329 euros, while the Harman Kardon website prices it at 329 euros. In practice, the additional cost for the Wi-Fi version is therefore around 50–100 euros. If you primarily use Bluetooth, analog audio, or the sound of the TV, the basic model may be a more reasonable choice. Otherwise, the models are technically similar.

The structure is familiar, the technique is new

The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi looks very familiar to SoundSticks. The whole thing consists of two narrow pillar-shaped transparent satellite speakers and a separate (almost) transparent subwoofer. The satellites are lightweight and discreet, but the subwoofer is clearly the larger component of the whole.
The satellites have three 40 mm mid-range drivers in each unit and one 25 mm soft dome tweeter. The subwoofer has one downward-facing 5.25-inch driver. The enclosure is closed.

The manufacturer uses the term "3-way" in its marketing for the structure, but in practice the SoundSticks are actually a 2.1-channel active speaker system with satellite speakers and a subwoofer.

The total power output of the speaker system is stated as 190 watts RMS (1 % THD), which can be considered a very realistic figure and even more than sufficient for its intended use.

The subwoofer unit includes the electronics and all the connections. The satellite speakers are connected to the subwoofer using fixed cables about 1.5 m long. This of course sets limits for the placement of the speakers and subwoofer. Therefore, the speakers cannot be placed very far from the subwoofer. On a desktop setup, this probably won’t be a problem, but if the speakers are placed in the living room to watch TV, longer cables might be necessary.

In this Wi-Fi model, there is only one physical input (3.5 mm jack) and you can play music wirelessly via Bluetooth. In addition, the device has Auracast support. Auracast is therefore a Bluetooth LE Audio-based technology that allows audio to be shared between compatible devices without traditional Bluetooth pairing. And there’s also a USB-C port, but for some reason in the European version it only functions as a “service port”. Those other two "USB ports" are for satellite speakers.

Use

SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi setup takes place after the connections are made using the Harman Kardon One app. The app guides you through connecting the speaker to your home network, after which you can play music from the available streaming services. The setup went smoothly and there’s no need to create a separate account, but of course, the streaming services require their own service and device-specific credentials, naturally.

Operation mainly takes place via the app. The only physical control is possible via the touch buttons on the stand of the second satellite speaker for volume control, Bluetooth connection, and the use of enhanced lighting and background sounds.

There is no actual separate input selection, but priority is given to the network playback and the aux input is automatically selected when a signal is received. And when the Bluetooth is turned on, this works in principle quite naturally, but the solution is not as clear as manually selecting the input/program source.

Those of us who are still using remote controls will miss having a small, ordinary one. It would be a welcome addition, especially for quick control of volume, source, lights and background sounds without using a phone. Now, with SoundSticks, we are often dependent on the phone and its app. That means we often have to install it for the whole family.

Sound quality

The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi sound very full for its size and intended use (with some reservations, though). The sound is larger than its size, which is in line with the expectations of a speaker. It has width, weight, and easy listening quality, which fits well with the device’s lifestyle nature.

The biggest strength is the stereo image produced by the separate satellite speakers. When the speakers are placed at a distance that is sufficiently wide, the sound does not remain confined to a single point, but opens up clearly and expansively between the speakers. This is particularly useful in desktop use, where the listening distance is short and the satellites can be placed on both sides of the screen. There was no separate stereo image extension for the application, so the spacious effect is primarily based on the physical placement of the speakers.

The mid-range is at its best clear and easy to listen to. The vocals, speech, and acoustic instruments are reproduced clearly and distinctively, but the sound is not overly bright. The treble is distinct enough, but does not take center stage. Overall, it’s not analytical or completely neutral in a hi-fi sense, but when adjusted it’s pleasant and works for its intended purpose. But...

With the factory settings, the SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi isn’t at its best. The default Signature setting emphasizes the bass too much. In this case, the sound may initially sound impressive, but soon you notice that the bass covers the mid-range and makes the whole thing heavy, even grating. The other presets also don’t fix the problem. Of course, the placement of the subwoofer also plays a role, but the bass level is still too loud.

Unfortunately, there is no separate level adjustment for the subwoofer, so the bass volume cannot be adjusted directly by lowering the subwoofer level. Fortunately, the sound can be modified using the Harman Kardon One app’s Custom equalizer. In the test, the best result was achieved with the setting that significantly lowered the bass and upper bass regions and slightly increased the upper frequencies.

Once the bass boost was brought under control, the SoundSticks sounded noticeably better. The mid-range opens up, the vocals stand out better, and the overall balance becomes more natural. The subwoofer still adds weight to the sound, but no longer covers up other frequencies in the same way. When adjusted, the overall performance is better, although the speaker in the very lowest bass range does not perform as well as a system of this size in this class.

The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi target group probably has many users who expect the device to sound great without having to adjust the equalizer separately. Many may not even notice the settings. Therefore, the default bass gain settings are a special choice. This also weakens the overall sound of the speaker, because the speaker can perform much better when the sound is adjusted to its proper level.

Lights and background sounds

And that's not all. The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi isn't just a sound system; it also features enhanced lighting and separate background sounds.

The transparent design is emphasized by the built-in lighting. The lights can be turned on or off from the speaker’s own touch button, and the lighting modes can be switched with a double press of the button.

In the app, you can choose from several lighting effects. You can adjust the lights to fit the device's overall look, or keep them subdued if you don't want the speaker to stand out too much from the surroundings.

The app allows you to choose the speaker to play various background sounds as well, such as rain, sea, or forest sounds. In some of them, you can even adjust individual elements: for example, how loud the rain sounds, whether there are other natural sounds like a rustle or other noises from nature. This sounds special on paper, but in practice the function may not be entirely pointless. A peaceful forest background sound could be perfect for when you go to bed.

Lights and background sounds and their necessity certainly divide opinions. They are not strictly related to the music playback, but depending on the use case and purpose, they can be a good addition.

A design classic from its time, modernized

The Harman Kardon SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi is a combination of modern design and modern streaming features.

The basic structure remains the same as in the original SoundSticks in 2000: two transparent satellite speakers with a grille and a separate transparent subwoofer. What is new is web streaming, app control, enhanced lighting, and various background sounds. And in the side model there is an HDMI ARC input.

At its best, the SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi works on the desktop, in a small living room or in any other space where its appearance is part of the overall design. The separate satellite speakers deliver a noticeably better stereo image than in single-piece wireless speakers usually do, and the subwoofer gives the sound structure.

From an audio quality perspective, the most important consideration concerns the adjustments. With the preset audio settings, the bass is too loud, and the end result is not balanced. The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi can do better, but it requires the use of the Harman Kardon One app and the clear reduction of low frequencies. However, we believe this is a clear problem in a product of this type, as the buyer expects the device to sound well without any additional adjustments.

It is also worth noting the difference between the model versions. The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi is a streaming-oriented model, but it does not have an HDMI ARC connection. If the speaker is primarily intended to be placed next to the television, the "regular" SoundSticks 5 may be a more practical (and also slightly cheaper) option. On the other hand, if the primary focus is on wireless music streaming, this Wi-Fi version may be a better choice.

PLUSSAA: Distinctive design / Good stereo image and, for its size, large and full-bodied sound / Versatile streaming features (WiFi version) / Light effects and background sounds (on request)

MINUS: Default settings: Bass-rich sound / No HDMI ARC connection (Wi-Fi version) / No separate subwoofer level control / Short speaker cables may limit placement / Use with reservations