Home > Consumer Reviews > Harman Kardon FL8550 5-CD Changer

Within 3 months of using the FL8550 the turntable refused to switch CDs in random mode and sometimes would not even sense the existence of a single CD when loaded. Even when performing normally, it makes a loud irritating sound when switching between disks. When I took it in for warranty repair, I found that about 80% of the pieces brought into the shop for repairs were the HK 8550 and 8350. The technician told me that the sensor used in the model is too delicate and is the cause of frequent problems. The HDCD sound difference was certainly not "audible" to my ear. Definitely overpriced compared to a other brands.

Hi Mark:

Yes, this is an accurate evaluation of the initial batch of FL8550 units that were manufactured prior to May, 1999. We have provided a technical bulletin to all of our dealers and service centers that provides for a modification to eliminate this problem. Anyone who purchased an FL8550 that had demonstrated this problem was encouraged to take their unit to an authorized HK service center for the modification re-work at our expense.

What this review does not indicate however, is that all units manufactured after May, 1999 were modified to eliminate this problem and this is no longer an issue.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Katie Yarian Internet Support Specialist

If you like to listen to CDs where there is no break in the music between 2 tracks, avoid this player! I like to listen to classical music, and often I will program only a few tracks, e.g., to listen to one symphony on a CD with multiple works. The way it is designed, there is a break when switching tracks, so if you're listening to a movement that spans several tracks, you get a "skip"!

If I'm listening to an entire CD, it doesn't happen, but it's horrible if you're listening to part of it.

I've talked to the company, and it was hard to even explain the problem to them - I guess no one there listens to classical music (or other albums with continuous music) anymore. Their only suggestion, after weeks of discussion, was to take it to a repair shop. Given what I've read elsewhere, I suspect I've stumbled across a design defect, not something that can be fixed.

This CD changer has made me want to never by any product by Harman Kardon or it's parent JBL EVER! Mine suffered a malfunction after less than a year of use that would cost me more to repair than to simply replace. That is inexcusable in my opinion. I saw a response by a Harman Kardon rep before on this site saying that if the CD player was made after a certain date then the problem wouldn't show up. Mine was made before this date. Question, why was it still on a retailer's shelf? Why wasn't a recall done? That would have saved me a lot of time, trouble, and money. I would have had it serviced under the warrenty but I mail ordered it from the States while I was in Japan. However, I feel it's ridiculous to have to have such major repairs made to a CD changer after less than 1 year. Denon DCM-370 here I come. It's a cheaper, 5-disc changer, with HDCD, and can't possibly be any less reliable!

I read the above reviews before buying the product. The only one I agree with is that the product is a little noisy when changine CD's, but it really isn't a major issue. I have had no problem with getting the player to work as it was meant to.

The sound, clarity, HDCD and tracking are great.