Our lab is no longer limiting audio product testing to TWS or headphone sets only. On the contrary, home theater sets are now in our portfolio. After testing speakers from Samsung, Sony, Sonos, JBL and many more, we also tried the Enchant series by Harman Kardon which surprisingly has audio with a stinging venom not only in the ears but also in the pocket.
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
Enchant 1100 Enchant Sub Enchant Speaker
Type of Soundbar Subwoofer Speaker
Driver 8 x 30 W woofer and full-range
3 x 25 W tweeters
Soundbar transducer 6x (55 x 90) mm racetrack drivers
3x 1″ (25 mm) tweeters
2x 2.75″ (70 mm) up-firing full-range drivers 400W
1 x 10″ (254mm)
1x 25 mm tweeter
1x 92 mm woofer
2x 50 mm full-range drivers
Dolby Atmos Audio Standard Not Notified Not Notified
Bluetooth 5.3 connection
1x HDMI 2.3
1x HDMI eARC
1x USB-A
1x Optical
1x Ethernet
WiFi 2.4G/5G 1x Power plug connection Bluetooth 5.3
1x USB-C
1x Ethernet
Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G
Unique Audio Features 3D surround sound with Dolby Atmos
DTS:X
MultiBeam Not reported Dolby Atmos Music for 3D spatial sound
Apple AirPlay Streaming
Chromecast
Spotify Connect Only with Apple AirPlay Soundbar
Chromecast
Spotify Connect
CODEC MPEG 1 Layer 2/3, MPEG 2 Layer 3, MPEG 2.5 Layer 3 Not reported Not reported
Microphone None None None
Buttons + Display Basic button on the top surface
LED Screen Basic, On the top surface Basic, On the top surface
Sale Price RM 4,899 RM 2,499 RM 1,599
This Harman Kardon home theater set consists of three main products, namely the Enchant 1100 soundbar, Enchant Sub subwoofer and Enchant Speaker speaker. In our test, the Enchant 1100 and Enchant Sub became the home theater set while the Enchant Speaker became the speaker in the room. Connecting all these speakers into one ecosystem is very easy like Sonos where all components can be combined with just a few buttons in the application.
The Enchant 1100 is Harman Kardon's latest premium soundbar for 2024. It is designed with a standard black and minimalist design. It can be connected to the wall or neatly arranged under a giant smart TV. All physical controls are via basic buttons on the top surface, while all I/O connections are on the back and there is a small LED screen for various usage status displays on the front.
This soundbar supports 7.1.4 audio channels with Dolby Atmos system and HDMI connection also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 through (pass through) if connected to a TV box or game console.
For the Enchant Sub it looks very simple and like a block of opaque granite. It supports WiFi connection and Moment shortcut button for quick access to various music playlists. Harman Kardon itself does not disclose the full specifications of this audio product on their website. The main specification that is known is the audio driver used is 10″.
The third product is the Enchant Speaker, a small speaker that supports stereo audio when paired with another Enchant Speaker. To use it with a Soundbar, you need to have two units and use the party mode connection method. It is also quite powerful with Dolby Atmos audio and supports audio casting via Apple AirPlay, Chromecast and Spotify Connect.
USAGE EXPERIENCE – MOVIES WITH MULTIBEAM
Harman Kardon has its own virtual speaker system or phantom speaker that can reflect audio as if there were additional speakers for more immersive audio. This feature is called Multibeam and it really worked in our tests. In a small room, the effect is easier to feel than in a room with a larger space.
The listening experience is more focused on the deeper bass thump. Watching action movies with lots of shooting scenes and explosions will shake the room a little as if you are in a mini cinema. The Dolby Atmos audio support on this soundbar really helps make the audio more comprehensive rather than turning it off.
I also like using the HDMI eARC connection to connect my Apple TV 4K box, as it supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision pass-through. Even though my TV doesn't support Dolby display, the audio output is still nice and satisfying compared to using the TV's built-in speakers.
Using the Enchant Sub also makes the listening experience more immersive. The bass it produces makes every audio sound deeper, clearer, and a little more satisfying. The issue with the Sub is that its effect is very minimal, the average user will have a hard time hearing a noticeable difference.
Using the Enchant Speaker continues to provide a very different experience. In the Harman Kardon One app, it tells you that not all speakers can be connected at the same time. In my case, only the Enchant 1100 and Enchant Sub can be used together while I set the Enchant Speaker as a foreign speaker. To use together, it may require another additional unit and the full immersive experience must be used with party mode. This issue is clearly felt, when during the demonstration session they had to switch between theater mode and party mode to use the full set.
Thankfully, the audio quality delivered is very interesting. It has real clarity, more realistic audio than digital simulations and in a small size it has deep bass. Unfortunately, for this kind of audio quality at RM1,599 it is quite expensive – especially if you want to use it fully which requires another additional unit. If the price is this high, the Sonos Era set is more worth it in my opinion.
The Harman Kardon remote control system is also a bit strange, because it is not a plug & play type – so the remote control cannot be used as soon as the power plug is connected. Users still need to use the app to do a full tethering and what is offered from within the app is the same as what is available on the remote. Sonos’ decision makes more sense as it continues to not mention the remote in the purchase package.
Each speaker focuses on wireless connectivity. The Enchant 1100 with HDMI eARC on the TV or there is also an optical connection option, then the Sub directly from within the app and the Speaker is also wireless. Their other unique ecosystem is the Moment feature that is available in the app, physical buttons and on the remote to access playlists of songs from various platforms.
This Harman Kardon Enchant series home theater set uses one app for everything, namely Harman Kardon One. The app reminds me of Sonos, it is very simple and easy to use. What is displayed is what is usable, not confusing and suitable for all types of users. Unfortunately, more technical users may find it difficult to appreciate this app because of the very limited audio controls such as equalizer.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Enchant 1100
1x Soundbar
1x Remote control
1x HDMI
1x Power Cable
1x Wall mount
1x Manual/safety set
Enchant Sub
1x Sub
1x Power cable
1x Manual/safety set
Enchant Speaker
1x Speaker
1x Power cable
1x Manual/safety set
CONCLUSION
I tested the Harman Kardon Enchant 1100, Enchant Sub and Enchant for 2 weeks at home and also at the our Lab. There is no doubt that what Harman Kardon is trying to do looks interesting. The neat and minimal design, looks elegant and most importantly very easy to use. The audio quality that focuses on bass is also quite thrilling, the clarity of voice/dialogue/vocals is very bright and the immersive audio is exciting through Multibeam.
Unfortunately, the selling price for what Harman Kardon is offering is not quite right. All three products are priced at RM8,997 and if you want to complete the addition of another Enchant Speaker, the price will be RM10,596. With RM10,698 for the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4, even though it's only two speakers - the listening experience and audio quality are much better.
PROS AND ADVANTAGES
Premium design that looks minimal, neat and elegant.
Dolby Atmos audio quality, immersive audio and vibrant bass.
Very simple application usage.
Unique features of Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect
CONS AND DISADVANTAGES
The product page does not display complete specifications.
Confusing use of home theater sets.
Quite expensive selling price compared to competitors.