Harman Kardon Go + Play Portable Speakers System with Dock for iPod (Black/Silver)
From Harman Kardon
- Color: Black and Chrome
- Brand: Harman Kardon
- Model: HKGOPLAYBLK
- Dimensions: 9.50" h x 9.00" w x 20.00" l, 3.97 pounds
Understated, sublimely functional industrial design with unsurpassed performance and ease of use. From its flat, protective iPod cradle to its smart RF remote to its arching stainless-steel handle, this portable loudspeaker iPod dock is one that only Harman Kardon could build. Harman Kardon Go + Play delivers tight, thunderous bass from high-excursion low-frequency drivers. Just as important, the highs are distinct and crystal clear. Go + Play is AC- or battery-operated, so it will go anywhere your iPod or other music player goes--and make your favorite music sound better when it arrives. No matter how or where you use it, it's the sound that sets Go + Play apart.
 The Harman Kardon Go + Play multimedia loudspeaker system is designed to entertain. Click to enlarge. |
 Go + Play works equally well on the go or as a personal home entertainment system. Click to enlarge. |
 The system features the extraordinary industrial design, innovative technologies, and meticulous engineering that you'd expect from Harman Kardon. Click to enlarge. |
 Go + Play delivers an incredible sound experience from most dockable iPod models, MP3 players, or other audio devices, regardless of where you happen to be. Click to enlarge. |
Designed to Entertain
For more than 50 years, Harman Kardon products have delivered--through extraordinary industrial design, innovative technologies, and meticulous engineering--the ultimate listening experience. And for the past 10 years, Harman Kardon has used these techniques to develop some of the world's best-sounding and most-striking-looking multimedia products available. Whether for your computer or your iPod, Harman Kardon multimedia products deliver rich, high-quality sound from systems that look just as good as they sound. In fact, the Harman Kardon SoundSticks system is now in the permanent collection of New York City's Museum of Modern Art. So hook up your computer, dock your iPod, or connect nearly any other audio device, and enjoy the ultimate listening experience from the world's ultimate multimedia products.
A World-Class Listening Experience on the Go
The Harman Kardon Go + Play features an eye-catching industrial design that delivers an incredible sound experience from most dockable iPod models, MP3 players, or other audio devices, no matter where you happen to be. Using an arching stainless-steel handle and a flat protective cradle for keeping your iPod secure, the Go + Play works equally well on the go or as a personal home entertainment system.
Using proprietary speaker design and technology, the sound quality from the Go + Play is simply stunning. And with flexible connectivity, this incredible sound can be had from nearly any audio device, not just your iPod. There's even an S-VHS output so you can watch the videos from your video iPod while enjoying their sound in incredible detail through the Go + Play speaker system.
With an included wireless remote control, using the system is a snap. The remote gives you full control of and access to your music, however and whenever you want it. The Harman Kardon Go + Play system is the perfect combination of functional design and unparalleled sound quality.
Flexible Connectivity
Great sound shouldn't just be limited to a stand-alone system in your home. You also should be able to have great sound from your music devices when you're on the go. With the Go + Play, you now can enjoy great sound wherever you happen to be. Take it with you anywhere; it works with both the included AC adapter and on batteries. You can rock out for nearly 18 hours from just 8 D-cell batteries, and there's even a handy battery-save feature that will save your battery power when the system isn't in use.
When it comes to connecting your musical devices, it couldn't be easier. Do you have a dockable iPod? Simply place it in the flat protective cradle, and instantly enjoy the sound of your favorite musical artist. The Go + Play uses a OnePoint iPod connector so that, by connecting a standard USB cable to the rear of the unit, you'll have a connection that enables you to synchronize your iPod with your computer. The Go + Play will even charge most iPods when they're docked in the cradle. Don't have an iPod? Well, you can still connect your MP3 player, portable CD player, satellite receiver, or computer through the Go + Play system's 3.5-mm input using a simple cable.
The system even has the ability to connect to a television or display device using an S-VHS connection. Now, watching movies, TV shows, and other video content from your video iPod is just a connection away--and you get to listen to them through the high-performance speakers built into the Go + Play.
Advanced Technology
To deliver unmatched high-performance sound, the system features a number of proprietary technologies, including dual-proprietary Ridge transducers. They're made from aluminum, which is inherently strong yet lightweight. This design allows these drivers to reproduce sound with unparalleled accuracy and detail for their size, and means that your music will be played back with a rich midrange and crystal-clear highs, without distortion.
 The included wireless RF remote control gives you the freedom to enjoy your music from across the room, in another room, or even from outside--from up to 20 feet away. Click to enlarge. |
To deliver thunderous bass, the Go + Play uses dual Atlas woofers, which maximize audible output. The Atlas woofers are a high-excursion design, which allows them to deliver the bass response of much larger woofers, and means you'll hear tight, deep bass that will make your music sound more dynamic.
Powering the speakers are two 30-watt Harman Kardon amplifiers, which are designed to deliver high output with minimal distortion. The system even uses highly advanced digital signal processing and equalization to deliver cool, efficient power.
All of that technology comes together in the Harman Kardon Go + Play system to provide a sound experience--whether on the go or in your personal entertainment space--you need to hear to believe.
Easy to Use
No need to be a rocket scientist to use the Harman Kardon Go + Play system. Its elegant, stainless-steel touch-volume controls mean that a single touch increases or decreases the volume. And with the included wireless RF remote control, you have the freedom to enjoy your music from across the room, in another room, or even from outside--from up to 20 feet away. With full access to your iPod, you can easily change tracks, browse libraries, adjust settings, and scroll through extras. It's the perfect way to enjoy your Harman Kardon Go + Play system, no matter where you happen to be.
What's in the Box
Harman Kardon Go + Play speaker system, power supply, 3.5-mm auxiliary audio cable, remote, adapters for iPod
Hand's down the best ipod dock for the money
Pros:
Best sounding ipod dock under $500. PERIOD!!!!!
Phenomenally deep and **REFINED** bass for something the size of a toaster.
Bass is definitely NOT the only thing this does well. It's performance on the full audio spectrum (yes, that's midrange too) is also best in it's class!
It's portable!!
(*Cons listed at the end... where they belong)
First off I have to address the price issue. I, for the most part, think that the "made for Ipod" logo is license to over price. Almost no Ipod dock is truly worth it's price and I believe for what they do and what they sound like, the are **ALL** over-priced.
That being said, amongst the myriad of overpriced ipod docks, this one is THE ***MOST WORTHY*** OF IT'S PRICE TAG.
Compared to all of the other premium ipod docks this one is amazing. I can say that with confidence because I shopped around for MONTHS before I settled on this one. The only dock that sounds better in this price range is the Geneva Lab Model M which cost $499 (also worth it), which is NOT portable. (little do most consumers know, there are ipod docks that now cost up to $5,000 and more!!!)
The sound out of this thing is so very refined and robust when compared to any ipod dock you would find at the Apple store or any bigbox retailer. They only way you can find anything better is to look at items sold on-line (Geneva Lab) or at very High-End retailers. There probably is no other 'portable' dock that sounds any better. But don't let the word 'portable' fool you. It sounds the best when compared to ANY dock.
I was very surprised at how great this sounds in a noisy Apple store, but wait until you get it home!
WARNING: If you plan on using this thing in a small room with four walls it's Bass may be a bit too strong for you! DO NOT mistake this for BOOMY bass. There's just A LOT of strong deep bass, and BOY IS IT WAAAAYYYY DEEP for something that is about the size of a large toaster!!! Instead of boomy crappy bass, in a small room, this just sounds like you have a nice expensive subwoofer in a very nice home theater set turned up a bit too high. This is NOT a problem if you like a lot of bass, as it isn't for me.
What separates the Go + Play from other docks is that it's not just good at Bass (it's better than all of the others at that, by the way), but it's great at the full audio spectrum. It actually has a strong midrange presentation and really nice highs/treble as well. So many other ipod docks (as well the entire BOSE product line) impress consumers with large amounts of bass (notice I didn't say good bass) and simply decent performance on the rest of the audio spectrum. By the way, this is probably the only dock that actually gets up to 20,000 Hz (20kHz), for those of you who know what this means. Do not expect that out of the Bose, Altech Lansing or Apple docks.
I would definitely say that this is the Audiophile's Ipod Dock in this price range for sure!!!! (if an audiophile would ever, first of all use an ipod and then use an 'ipod sound dock' at all).
I must mention a con or two.
#1 - YOu will not get the same amazing sound with this is operating on it's battery power. This is VERY VERY loud when plugged in, but the volume is limited when unplugged (still no distortion, however). The bass extension and quantity is also, noticeably, cut by about 1/2. I am sure this is done in order to have it last 18 hours on the 8 D batteries as advertise (it actually does last a very long time by the way). Make no mistake though, you still get a ton of bass for something you can carry around in your hand anywhere. You're peers will still be impressed . Note that nothing else is lost. It's treble and midrange performance remains the same.
#2 Your ipod faces up when docked in this dock and you cannot see the screen from afar. This is not a problem me, but may be for others. I tend to just make large play lists and have play in "shuffle" mode anyway.
#3. The remote is fragile.
Excellent sound--but watch out!
The sound of this boombox is extraordinary, given the size. You can hear each instrument distinctly. The soundfield is big and the bass is impressive.
But beware: you might find yourself wasting time for two reasons.
1.) If you're like me, you'll wind up re-ripping all of your CDs. I had imported my disks into iTunes at the standard bit rate of 128, and music sounded fine through cheap earphones and speakers. Then I heard a lossless track through Shure 500/530 earphones and through this boombox, and wow! Tracks at 128 sound just dandy, but at higher rates the difference is quite noticeable, even to casual listeners. For the first time, I can hear the difference bit rate makes, and I'm no audiophile. So look out! If you buy this excellent item, you might suddenly find yourself re-ripping CDs, then shopping amazon for a new hard drive to fit that suddenly huge iTunes library. It's a slippery slope.
2.) If you're like me, you'll also end up zoning out and just listening to your music. I bought this boombox for its portability, so that I could take it along on activities. But it BECOMES the activity. For instance, when I take it into the kitchen, I often find myself staring into space, hands in dishwater, wondering why I'd never heard a detail before....
Yep, this box is costly, and as I've suggested, it can spoil you and lead to other costs. (I'm quite dissatisfied with my cheap-o home stereo now.) But this box can also enrich your relationship with your music.
The best sound in a boom box
I first heard the Harman Kardon at an Apple store in Florida. I couldn't believe how much better it sounded than 4 other brands, including the Bose. This one just had such a big sound in such an elegant package. I ordered one off Amazon and it's exceeded my expectations of how good portable sound can be. I just pick it up by the solid and ergonomic handle, and take it anywhere in the house I want. People have said to me repeatedly how great it sounds. It's definitely worth the money.
