Review of Harman Kardon BDS 880 Home Theater System

 

 

Specifications and Features

Harmon Kardon BDS 880 Home Theater System

Model# BDS 880/230-B2
5.1-channel, 325-watt, 3D Blu-ray Disc System with AirPlay and Bluetooth technology

A home entertainment system exceeding all expectations in sound, picture and connectivity with a beautiful design you’ll want to showcase
Meet the 5.1-channel, 3D Blu-ray Disc System that addresses your fully connected lifestyle.

The Harman Kardon BDS 880 is a sleek, high-performance, 3D Blu-ray Disc System redefining Blu-ray capability. It features three HDMI inputs with 3D; HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) for compatible TVs; Wi-Fi networking connectivity, eliminating the need for a wired Ethernet connection; Apple AirPlay for streaming content from your iPad, iPhone, iPod, or iTunes on your Mac or PC; Bluetooth MultiConnect technology for pairing two devices at once; NFC for easy Bluetooth pairing and DLNA 1.5.

With the BDS 880, you can also connect to Pandora, Picasa, AccuWeather and other online services (where available). Harman Kardon’s legendary best-in-class sound technology brings Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD to life. With Dolby Volume, you can hear everything as was originally intended without disturbing the neighbors. Optimize your listening experience with its EzSet/EQ speaker calibration system. Setting up and using the system is easy and fun with its clean and attractive, high definition graphical interface or with the free-of-charge remote app for iOS and Android.

Four powerful, voice-matched satellite loudspeakers, a center-channel loudspeaker with dual flat-panel midrange drivers and a powered subwoofer with an integral 200-watt amplifier with a wireless receiver module deliver an enveloping, 360-degree soundscape. In other words, the BDS 880 raises the standards of what you’ve come to expect from any Blu-ray system.

Features & benefits
Five 65-watt-per-channel power amplifiers

The BDS 880’s five amplifiers, rated at 65 watts per channel, power the system’s left, right, center and two surround loudspeakers, all of which feature voice-matched, flat-panel drivers and CMMD® dome tweeters for consistent sound from speaker to speaker. This amplifier-speaker combination dramatically improves the clarity and realism of directional sounds, even at high listening levels.

Space-saving, wireless 200-watt powered subwoofer
Unlike conventional, front-firing subwoofers, the BDS 880’s 200-watt, 8-inch (200-millimeter) powered sub fires downward, interacting with the floor for enhanced bass response. Installing the sub is a breeze with the included wireless transmitter that connects to the BDS receiver. Volume, phase and bass-boost controls make it easy to synchronize bass output with the satellites and then fine-tune the system’s performance to match your room acoustics and personal preferences.

Fully integrated home theater audio system
The BDS 880 system is an all-in-one entertainment solution featuring five matching loudspeakers and a downward-firing, 200-watt powered wireless subwoofer. It contains everything you need for great video and surround sound from virtually any movie or music source, combining the performance of separate components with the ease of use of a single, fully integrated home theater audio system.

Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth and DLNA 1.5 technology
The BDS 880 streams audio from virtually any portable device. For computers with iTunes, Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices – stream your entertainment using the system’s built-in AirPlay technology. BDS 880’s integrated Bluetooth technology with HARMAN TrueStream and MultiConnect enables connectivity to almost any tablet, smartphone or laptop. With MultiConnect, there’s no need to disconnect one device between streaming from a second. A front-facing USB port invites you to connect devices directly without the need of an external adapter or a wireless connection. The BDS 880 is also compliant with DLNA 1.5 for music, photos and video, providing multiple options for delivering content over your home network.

NFC Bluetooth pairing
Connecting your NFC-enabled Android and Windows devices to BDS 880 with Bluetooth is easy and fast. BDS 880 features an NFC sensor which, with Bluetooth technology-enabled, allows immediate pairing by simply touching your device to the BDS.

Built-in Wi-Fi networking capability
Place your BDS 880 anywhere. Its Wi-Fi networking capability connects you to your home network without the need for a wired network connection. With it, gain wireless access to streaming services, Apple AirPlay, DLNA, receiver updates, and additional online BD-Live content for your Blu-ray Disc media.

Easy access to online services
Full network connections provide quick access to your favorite online content from, Pandora, YouTube, Picasa, Accuweather, and others (where available).

HARMAN TrueStream technology
The HARMAN TrueStream guarantee is your assurance of receiving the best possible listening experience. Streaming audio wirelessly via Bluetooth technology, HARMAN TrueStream selects the most current, most advanced wireless option to deliver the highest-quality sound, regardless of which application or source device you choose.

Multiple HDMI connections with 3D, Audio Return Channel (ARC) and MHL Interface
Three HDMI inputs with 3D and 30/36-bit Deep Color deliver full, high-definition digital video at resolutions up to 1080p with full-fidelity audio through a single cable. Experience no loss of video or audio quality from format conversion – just full-impact Hollywood excitement as its creators meant for you to experience it. BDS 880’s Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) interface allows for high-definition audio/video content directly from your camera, phone, tablet or Roku Streaming Stick. You can send sound from your TV to the BDS 880 without extra cables using HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC).

Front-panel USB port
Enjoy multiple options for audio playback through BDS 880’s front-panel USB port. Simply connect an iPhone, iPad, iPod or USB stick to play your favorite tracks through your home entertainment receiver. The BDS 880 plays back a full complement of video and image formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP3, WMA and JPEG.

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding
High-resolution audio to match the digital-video quality of Blu-ray Disc formats will unlock the full potential of movie soundtracks formatted with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD . Regardless of mode selected, you’ll applaud the exceptional audio quality realized with BDS 880 – as you make the most of your entire system.

Dolby Volume
Harman Kardon’s BDS 880 is the world’s first Blu-ray Disc System equipped with Dolby Volume technology. It maintains a consistent volume level no matter what entertainment you’re viewing, automatically boosting quiet dialogue as it moderates loud commercials. One volume setting is all you need to eliminate changes in volume as you surf between TV shows, commercials and movies.

EzSet/EQ III auto-calibration
The new HARMAN EzSet/EQ III auto-calibration process precisely adjusts BDS 880’s volume levels, speaker-distance/delay-time settings and equalization to optimize audio performance automatically for your specific speaker system and room conditions. This calibration system features an easy-to-follow menu display and includes a plug-in calibration microphone to help you realize the best results for your listening and viewing environment.

Built-in FM tuner
The BDS 880 broadcasts all your favorite FM radio stations as it displays what you’re listening to from its elegant front-panel display. Save your favorite stations to its 30 presets or use the auto-preset function to find and save all available stations.

Multi-device, programmable remote control
The BDS 880 simplifies your life with a programmable infrared (IR) remote control with premium, user-friendly layout. From its ergonomic design, which works seamlessly with the System’s multilingual, on-screen display, it coaches you through system set-up and basic operation with ease. This multi-device remote also controls your TV, cable boxes, satellite tuners and other playback sources.

Beyond User-friendly
The BDS 880 comes equipped with a smart new user interface, optimizing your experience while simplifying the process of set-up and content access. A music system built into the home screen provides instant control over your audio, displaying album artwork and metadata during playback. A high-resolution display features capacitive-touch controls on the BDS 880’s front panel, providing instant access to content without turning on your TV or accessing the remote.

Remote apps for compatible iOS and Android smartphones and tablets
The Harman Kardon Remote app, available from the iTunes App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play service for compatible Android products, extends the functionality of your system by connecting with your compatible smartphone or tablet to drive the BDS 880 – without needing to pick up the remote. It’s also the perfect tool to organize and play back your music from your mobile device and home network.

AUDIO SECTION
Continuous average power, stereo model    65 watts per channel, 20Hz – 20kHz, @ <1.0% THD, both channels driven into 6 ohms
Signal-to-noise Ratio (IHF-A)    -90dB
Frequency response @ 1W (±0.5dB)    20Hz – 20kHz

FM TUNER SECTION
Frequency Range    87.5MHz – 108.0MHz (US and EU) KHz
Usable Sensitivity (IHF)    >14dBf
Distortion (Mono/Stereo)    0.3%/0.5%

DISC PLAYER SECTION
Supported Disc Formats    5-inch (12cm) or 3-inch (8cm) BD-Video (single-layer or double-layer), DVD-Video, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CDDA (CD digital audio), CD-R/RW discs
Audio Formats    Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS Digital, PCM, MP3: 32kbps – 320kbps bitrates, including variable-bitrate encoding
Still-Image Formats    JPEG
Video signal system    NTSC (USA) or PAL (EU)
Frequency Response    20Hz – 20kHz, ±0.5dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio    –90dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic range    90dB (16-bit)
THD @ 1kHz (DVD/CD)    0.1%
Wow & Flutter    Below measurable limits

SUBWOOFER FEATURES
Dimensions (H x W x D – Metric, English)    267mm (L) x 267mm (W) x 353mm (H); height measurement includes pedestals

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Power Requirement    100 – 240V AC, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption (standby)    110 maximum

Price: £1,499.99 / $2,546

 


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