Price Paid:  $350.00 from online store

Summary:
I owned this cd player years ago, and I thought it sounded pretty good, that is until it stopped reading discs. Then I had to fight with Harmon for months to get me a new one, finally they sent me a 8350 and for some reason, probably because I called every morning for a month, I was also sent a check for the 350-With the money I was sent, I bought a california audio labs Cal Ikon2-with HDCD and upgrade. In comparison tests the Ikon sounded much better, in fact it was no contest...the 8350 they sent me sounded so bad, and 2 dimensional that I gave it to a friend. As typical low quality doo-doo that one buys from the "big box retailer" it does sound good. The Ikon sounded so much better it was amazing, and when I bought a BAT cd player, well, I now feel that I am finally hearing what music is supposed to sound like, and quite frankly the 8550 sounds quite sad. If you care at all about quality of sound, stay away from this stuff. Or if you have a digital out, get an inexpensive outboard processor.

Strengths:
5 or 6 discs if a beautiful thing, but multiple changers do not sound good....

Weaknesses:
bad build quality.....

Similar Products Used:
Sony, technics, onkyo, etc.

Price Paid:  $140.00 from Ebay

Summary:
I have to agree with Markymark on his take on this player. It definitely got a bad rap because of mechanical issues and deservedly so. However, if you can get your hands on a later production model of one of these units you will be thrilled with the sound quality and maybe even the performance. Mine has functioned flawlessly for over a year and I purchased it used.

Anything after April 1999 manufacture date is supposed to have the problems rectified. I have had some very high end players and this one is the best sounding unit I have ever owned!!

If you like very smooth, warm sound this is the player for you. Needs good vibration isolation and power conditionig to really make it a giant killer. A new power cord also helps!

If you can find one reasonable after April 1999 buy it but make sure it wasn't abused or in a smoking environment. I think you will be very pleased. It could break tommorow and it would be worth every penny of the sound it has provided me with. Awesome sound!!

Strengths:
Outstanding, I mean outstanding sound quality!
Later models seem to perform well!! Stay away from April 1999 and before!

Weaknesses:
Somewhat noisy on the changer but nothing to worry about!!
Power Cord.

Similar Products Used:
Rotel
Sony
Carver
Technics
JVC

Price Paid:  $350.00 from super retailer

Summary:
I have had zero problems of any type concerning this unit, it must have built after HK handled earlier production problems. Lucky me.
This player/changer is a quality piece for the audio enthusiast. While it's true that there are a couple of reasons it may not satisfy all grey poupon-ish audiophiles (such as the lack of an anti-harmonic earth rotational-dampened 400 pound granite pedestal base), for most regular ol' music lovers it will probably be as fine a sounding CD unit as they may ever own. It has excellent DACs and great spec's. It's HDCD compatabile and fully programmable, with digital and analog outputs and a remote link input. Prices go down and technology advances each year, but less than outrageous priced CD decks have not really advanced much beyond this point.
To music lovers who are picky, but don't feel the need to spend a thousand or two or ten on a true audiophile CD player, I say: "If you find one for sale in good shape and at a decent price, buy it- you won't regret it."

Strengths:
Sound quality.
Dependability (mine never misbehaves).
A play while you re-load changer is a good thing.

Weaknesses:
The unit could weigh more so it wouldn't be pushed back by heavy handed button jabbers, otherwise I would have left this blank.

Similar Products Used:
Denon 3700 CD/DVD changer;
Harman Kardon CDR2 dual tray CD recorder;

Price Paid:  $279.00 from Onecall

Summary:
Compared to other reviewer's product since I bought it, 8/2001, has performed fine. Understood when it was purchased that it would be a conpromise unit and while build quality is cheesy I have the coax out going to an external dac...sound has always been very good.

Weaknesses:
For me, only one is that the carousel certainly isn't quite when rotating.

Similar Products Used:
2 different Sony models

Price Paid:  $249.00 from Sound City, NJ

Summary:
Good design. Poor craftsmanship. Overall quality is below average. This CD player lasted about a year and then became "jittery". Advised by HK Product Support 800 phone # a repair would cost about $150. Forget about it !!! Not worth fixing for at that price.

This IS NOT a well component. I agree with many of the reviewers. Harmon Kardon
designs their "stuff" in the USA and manufactures it in Asia. Quality control is lacking !!!

The sound quality was good when it worked. However, it didn't last very long with "normal use". Cheap, plastic, assembly.

AVOID !!!!!

Strengths:
AVOID !!!!!

Weaknesses:
Poor quality control in the manufacturing process. Below average workmanship.

AVOID !!!!!

Similar Products Used:
SONY ES is made better and lasts much longer.