Harman Kardon HKTS-18 Review:
The HKTS 18 home theater speaker system combines identically voiced, magnetically shielded two-way satellite and center channel speakers with a 10-inch, 200-watt subwoofer for high-performance sound that complements the design of Harman Kardon receivers and DVD players, as well as today’s flat-panel video displays. Advanced features include a line-level Sub/LFE input, audio-sense or external-trigger on/off and a multicolor LED power indicator.

Harman Kardon HKTS-18 systems make it easy to choose the right speakers to use with your other home theater components. By providing a complete speaker system, they ensure that frequency response, dispersion and dynamic range are carefully matched so that all the speakers in a multichannel system blend, rather than compete with one another. Harman Kardon HKTS-18 systems complement any room décor, and perfectly match Harman Kardon’s components and today’s flat-screen video displays.

The Harman Kardon HKTS-18 Home Theater Speaker System features one Center Satellite Speaker, one Subwoofer, and two Rear Satellite Speaker. It includes two Front Satellite Speaker, and 200W RMS Subwoofer system power.

With a Video Shielded shielding, the Harman Kardon HKTS-18 Home Theater Speaker System also features a Power - On Subwoofer control, a Subwoofer Level Control - On Subwoofer control, and a Low Pass Filter - On Subwoofer control.

The Harman Kardon HKTS-18 Home Theater Speaker System also includes a Phase Switch - On Subwoofer control, an Audio Sense Switch - On Subwoofer control, and a LFE input On Subwoofer interface port.

Harman Kardon HKTS-18 User Review:
The Harman Kardon HKTS-18 speaker system has been producing magnificent sound in my living room since I installed it about a month ago. It is the most important element among the components I selected after much research to go with the Pioneer PDP-4272HD TV I bought last year. Here’s what I’ve learned from the shopping experience, the set-up and the audio results.

1. Don’t skimp on speakers!! Originally I looked at Home Theater in a Box systems, did my homework, and fortunately decided on the Harman Kardon HKTS-18. In a 15′X15′ room they sound simply magnificent. These speakers would easily fill a room 20′X20′, and perhaps much larger, with distortion-free, crystal-clear sound. The subwoofer will shake any room you put it in when those movie jet aircraft on your DVD fly over. In addition, the surround speakers are artfully shaped, beautifully constructed and perfectly sized. The black finish perfectly matches the TV. The center speaker sits unobtrusively in front of the TV on the television stand. The color-coded speaker wire makes set-up easy and the speaker brackets make wall mounting a breeze where you don’t choose to use the supplied leather pads under the speakers on a table or a shelf. To repeat, you can make a BIG difference in the sound of your system by purchasing the BEST speakers you can possibly afford. If you buy cheap or inadequate speakers there is nothing your receiver or DVD player can do to improve the sound. You can’t do better for the money than the Harman Kardon HKTS-18.

2. For your receiver and DVD player (or changer), look for features and price (in light of what your budget will allow after selecting the best speakers you can afford). I selected the SONY STR-DG910 and the Onkyo DV-CP704. Both are performing flawlessly. In my experience, the Amazon reviews of both provided very accurate, helpful information that has been born out in my experience.

3. The Kardon HKTS-18 is a 5.1 channel speaker system. I immediately turned it into a 6.1 system by retaining one of my “old” Bose 301 Series IV speakers as the sixth rear speaker. (I decided not to use the other Bose speaker to create a 7.1 system, but that remains an option, though I’m absolutely delighted with the rich surround sound I have with the 6.1 set-up.) The SONY STR-DG910 receiver does a marvelous job of driving the 6.1 surround-sound system in my living-room while simultaneously driving a pair of speakers on the “B” channel wired into my kitchen.

4. A bit of advice on set-up. If you use HDMI cables, be sure to read thoroughly ALL of the instructions for the receiver and the DVD player. You’ll need to go through the proper set-up programming to get the HDMI to function properly. A minor problem with the STR-DG910 receiver is the close quarters of the speaker-wire attachment points. Keep this in mind as you plan the sequence of what you attach when in the process and try to avoid making these attachments in close quarters. Poking the speaker wires into those little holes and turning the fittings down tight may try your patience. In regard to the Onkyo DV-CP704, my only temporary difficulty was getting it to play JPG images because I kept getting a “Bad Disc” message when trying to load the discs I had burned. You will get a “Bad Disc” message not ONLY when the disc is dirty (per the manual), but ALSO if the disc is not properly burned per the manual instructions (e.g., folder and file structure) and has been finalized properly using a burn program like Roxio.

By Craig B. Little

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