Features:
- Decoding of High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) discs
- Superior reproduction of standard CDs
- Full-function five-disc CD changer
- Play/exchange capable
- Coaxial digital output
Description:
With its five-disc capacity, Harman Kardon's FL8550 CD changer doesn't exactly push the limits in terms of the quantity of discs it can play. But Harman Kardon has opted for quality over quantity and it's the FL8550's build quality and audio performance that puts this unit onto a short list of stellar CD players under $1,000 (single or multidisc). The FL8550 offers features such as 32-track, cross-disc programming and Random Play alongside flashier extras such as Play/Exchange, which allows you to open the tray to switch four discs while the fifth is playing. All features are readily accessible through the well-designed remote control. Chief among the FL8550's virtues is its sound. The FL8550 uses High-Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD), which is an encode/decode system developed by Pacific Microsonics to identify and correct "artifacts" in the digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion processes. HDCD-encoded CDs will play on all CD players, but when played on an HDCD-equipped player, such as Harmon Kardon's FL8550, these discs produce audibly superior clarity and depth. Furthermore, the HDCD processing is supposed to enhance the sound of standard CDs, and the FL8550 proves that this is true. In our tests, the FL8550's sound was dynamic, natural, and astonishingly clear. While a coaxial output allows the FL8550 to feed an external digital-to-analog converter, the player sounded great through the standard RCA analog outs, despite the cheap connection cable supplied with it. If you plan on using the digital output, you'll need an HDCD-decoding external converter to appreciate HDCD discs. The FL8550 can be linked to other Harmon Kardon equipment through a supplied remote connector. For elegant simplicity in both operation and appearance, it's hard to beat the FL8550. Pros:
- Great sound
- Solid build
- Ergonomic design
Cons:
- Low-grade analog connection cable
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