Sounds good, looked like a quality product.

reliability, what is being said here!

I was very excited to get a Harman Kardon product, after all, my father swore by their sound and quality. But after this unit, never again! It is not reading discs and the tray that keeps spinning! I am disappointed to say the least! I called customer service and they just gave me a service center. When it broke I was just out of the 30 day return policy so was forced to send to a service center. What a bummer to have to send something to get fixed before I even got a chance to enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!! What can I do???

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Onkyo

sound, looks

reliability

I purchased this cd player a little over a year ago, unfortunately before I was familiar with this web site. The sound quality is nice, very clean and detailed, but as most everyone else says it quit recognizing discs just after the warrenty expired. I payed full retail which was another mistake. I also own an HK amp and reciever, both of which I love. For low cost quality I would recommend them in a heartbeat. But, the cd player sucks and you should look elsewhere. Sound is good, but if it doesn't work properly you can't enjoy it, which is the reason for my low rating.

warm sound that is natural, seems well constructed to me
(solid, heavy)

none so far

Once I heard this CD player at a Fry's store I had to have it, but not at the price they were asking since it's had a history of mechanical problems. Saw them at uBid for under $100.00 so I bought it and have had no problems so far. Sound is detailed in the upper end but not bright. The low and midrange are smooth and clean. I guess when all you have ever heard is a JVC 5 disc changer anything is going to sound good, but I have heard several mid-fi players and liked this one the most. One thing that HK has always been known for is their sound. If they can correct the reliability problems with so many of their products they would earn themselves a great reputation in the audio industry. I hear they are coming out with a new line of products. I am now searching for an A/V receiver (currently using an HK3250 receiver, which is awesome)and would like to see the new line and maybe take a chance on one. The HK sound is worth taking the chance.

Similar Products Used:

JVC

Sound

Mechanical Design

--->READ BELOW FOR REPAIR INFORMATION<---

I have repaired my HK FL8350 CD player myself and it has been working for over 4 months.

I posted a review a few years back (8300 Review) and indicated that my 8300 had failed and HK had sent me a new unit without any problems. My 8300 was in warranty when it failed and HK had replaced it with an 8350. Well, within 9 months the new CD player was skipping, not reading, and giving messages of "no-disc" when I had 5 in the tray. I did not want to deal with HK service or any other service technicians anymore so I took the player apart and figured out what was wrong. Within an hour I had it operating again. It acted up about 1 month after I had fixed it and I decided to go ahead and permanently modify it. I had nothing to lose, it would not read a disc at all. I made a very small modification to the player's tray and it's been operating for over 4 months now without any trouble. I am a mechanical design engineer and can tell you that the HK tray is one major screwed up design. If you have problems with the player reading discs and spinning around without finding a CD, e-mail me and I will tell you exactly how I fixed mine. It is a very simple modification to your plastic tray that may solve your problems (modification to the slot that the player uses to determine if there is a disc in the tray).

Similar Products Used:

Older HK Products

Great looking player, solid unit

Display, Recognition, Tray

I bought this unit about a year ago, at first I thought it was great. One day it stopped recognizing half my cds, two days later the tray jammed up on me. I took it back to Future Shop where they replaced it for me..the new player sounds fine but the display lights are burning out...pretty upset...cant recommend it.

Similar Products Used:

First Player

Solid look, sound quality

none so far

I have not experienced any problems with the player and I have had it for about 2 months now.

It sounds remarkably better than the Denon DCM-270 that I had been using. I only changed because I wanted a cd-player that had a digital out. I got this unit at U-bid for $87 plus shipping. As long as the unit continues to work as it currently does,flawlessly, I would recomend that you pick this great player up. I give it 5 stars for sound.

I am using it with a Denon AVR-1700 and Bose model 4b mains, Infinity SL-20 surrounds, and a KEF 40 sub.

If you have a limited budget and are looking for a quality cd-player I would definitly recomend watching U-Bid for this great value.

Similar Products Used:

Denon dcm-270, pioneer

Solidly built metal chasis. Pleasing aesthetics.

No power button on remote. Hard to read FL display from accross
the room

I bought this thing at Circuit City because of three elevataor failures I had with my 10 disc Sony magazine changer. They didn't carry the Onkyo Integra anymore so this was the only decent model they had in the store. It is certainly attractive and well built but that's about the scope of my positives. I have been using thing about a year and have had none of the mechanical problems that other people have. However, the sound is not very impressive. The soundstage is shallow and highs are somewhat muddled. I think mostly that the imaging is inferior because HK rates this model's channel separation at only 80 dB. That's horrible my Hi-Fi VCR has separation that good or better. The thing actually sounds passable when using its coaxial digital output connected through one of the digital inputs on my AV receiver. But that is because it uses 20bit DAC's!!

My system:
Sherwood Newcastle R-945
HK FL8350
Infinity Ref. 2000.6 x 2
Infinity CC 3
Infinity Ref. 2000.3 x 2

Similar Products Used:

Replaced Sony CDPC505 and Sony CDPC910(10 disc)

Great sound, good styling

Reliability

In spite of all the negative comments here I took a chance with a refurbished unit. I bought over Ebay because the price was tempting (99 dollars). Since it was refurbished I figured that the problems had been fixed, I was wrong. From the beginning it has had trouble recognizing disks and clatters loudly when turned on. Eventually it does find the disks and does play, but I doubt if it will have a long life. I sure wish its mechanics were as good as its electronics because it is a pleasure to listen to. I bought from a small company (in someone's garage?), and didn't even get a receipt so I am probably stuck with it. While moonlighting at CC a few years ago I was impressed with H/K, but I have rethought my views. Don't buy H/K from someone without a strong return policy.

Similar Products Used:

Nakamichi MB3s, JVC 254

It has not broken yet!!!!!!!!

Tinny sound, like most cheap cd players

It still hasn't broken! After going thru hell with the 8550, I was given a 8350 for a gift. It is the worst sounding cd player I have ever heard! And, I have heard a lot of them.. The 1 good thing about it is that it has a digital out, so I hooked up a MSB Link!!! Now I guess I will not throw it away! Using it simply as a transport is the only way I would keep such a machine.My old Phillips which was 10 years old, sounded better. But with no digital out, I had no use for it and gave it away after I compared them. The reputation of HK is so poor, I was actually contacted by a lawyer who is going after HK.
I know that sometimes quality control problems occur, but after I dealt with customer service at HK (see 8550 review) I would never, ever deal with them again! Also, be careful of netmarket, they do not stand behind their sales either!

Similar Products Used:

8550-see review

Great sound quality, while it lasted.

Brand new unit; played three songs and started skipping.

This is for the HK FL8380. Had chronic reliability problems with my HK 8300. Took it back to Circuit City and received a full store credit. Purchased a new HK FL8380. Great sound for three songs, then started skipping. Because of my previous experience with reliability problems with HK, I returned it, got back my store credit. Not sure what CD player I'll try next.

Similar Products Used:

HK 8300