IFA 2008: Harman/Kardon GLA-55 loudspeakers

Duncan Geere Home audio, IFA 2008
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gla-55.jpgThere are two basic things you can rate speakers on. The most important is obviously how they sound. Harman-Kardon have a great track record in this area – I expect the GLA-55s sound amazing. They’ve got a 3.5″ mini-jack connection – designed for your PC or for an MP3 player – and they’re 56 Watts, so you should be able to crank them a fair bit.

The second thing you can rate them on is how they look. My god these are ugly. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this beholder really isn’t keen. They’re cut glass, and the press release claims that they’ll “integrate beautifully with home and office décor”, but you’d have to have a very special kind of Disney ice-palace themed house for them to blend in with your decor.

If you’re a Disney princess, and you’d like a pair of these, then they’re going to be available sometime this autumn. No word on how much they’ll be, but if you can afford an ice castle, you’ll probably be able to afford these.

Update: Lucy over at ShinyShiny loves these, as does DMJ in the comments. That’s 2-1 against my “ugly” opinion. Are you a fan? Or do they make you wretch? Let us know in the comments.

Harman/Kardon

For more IFA 2008 coverage head in this direction.

Related posts: IFA 2008: Logitech unveil Squeezebox Boom, Digital Video System and Z-500 wireless speakers | Writing about JBL modular speakers is easy if you’ve got the right angle to take

Duncan Geere
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10 comments

  • I hate guns If no guns of everyone,the world maybe well.
    Think they would read the BILL if they had to live by it?

  • I hate guns If no guns of everyone,the world maybe well.
    Think they would read the BILL if they had to live by it?

  • Ugly? Gawd, they’re gorgeous!

    Want ’em NOW for my nice new state-of-the-art office.

    Meantime, my H-K Soundsticks have given ace service over the years, and sound better now than when new. Only downside is they could do with more power, which the GLA55s should provide.

    • Fair enough, each to their own, I suppose!

      I’m more of a fan of the utilitarian look – I’m rocking a pair of Gale Golds with the front covers off.

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