Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Harman Kardon gets on the wireless multi-room band wagon with new hi-res speakers

Ryan Waniata
By

They say there are only a few stories out there, and every story teller just repeats them in their own way. It seems the same holds true for wireless audio — there are only a few ways to go. And the most popular story these days for wireless speakers is the multi-room speaker format pioneered by Sonos. Like Samsung, LG, Bose, and many others before it, Harman Kardon today jumped into the multi-room speaker game with its two new Omni speakers, the Omni 10, and the Omni 20.

Following the Sonos roadmap, the sleek new bulbs of sound communicate through a proprietary central app for iOS and Android. The speakers can access your music catalog, or Internet radio apps via Wi-Fi to play separately, or in tandem throughout the home, with zero latency. Speakers can be linked for stereo playback, and Harman Kardon claims future updates will allow for larger speaker configurations, such as 5.1 surround. Each of the speakers also incorporate Bluetooth technology, allowing you to connect even when there’s no network in sight.

HK also claims that “custom applications can be added to extend functionality,” with an open programming interface that will allow users to leverage third party apps. Just what kind of features those apps would incorporate is anyone’s guess, but it’s an intriguing concept: Open source in the hands of creative developers can make for some fun features.

Harman Kardon Omni 20
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The system already includes some interesting options, including party mode, which autostarts all speakers on your system, as well as a feature which cycles all songs playing on the speakers so you can pick your favorite. The link button on top of each speaker will automatically connect to whatever music is playing over the app, allowing easy switching of speakers from room to room.

Related

As for performance, Harman Kardon has an edge on many multi-room speaker systems, allowing support for hi-res audio files at up to 24 bit/96kHz resolution — most speakers, Sonos included, top out at 16 bit/44.1 kHz, or CD quality audio. If the speakers sound anything like HK’s satellite shaped Onyx studio (of which they bear a slight resemblance) they could be a very enticing addition to the multi-room speaker landscape. The Omni 10 packs dual 20 watt drivers, while the Omni 20 has four 15 watt drivers.

Related: LG announces new Music Flow multi-room speakers

Along with the two speakers, the company has also launched a wireless adaptor for those who want the same wireless functionality on their current setup, called the Harman Kardon Adapt. The company claims that, due to its hi-res capabilities, the Adapt is the first of its kind.

Harman Kardon hasn’t yet announced specific release dates for the system yet, but they are slated for release in late October. The Omni 10 will be priced at $200, the Omni 20 at $300, and the Adapt will sell for $130. We’ll update this story as more details surface, so stay tuned.

Update 9/04/2014 at 1:00pm PST: This story has been updated to include manufacturer confirmation of the driver wattage and number in both the Omni 10 and Omni 20 speakers.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ryan Waniata
Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
HD to 4K: these home theater projectors are up to $2,000 off
The Optoma UHD55 projector.

While TVs are great, if you want to have a large screen TV that goes over 80 inches, you're liable to spend thousands of dollars, and if you want to go over 100 inches, you may not even find any options at all, especially at the consumer level. Luckily, there are a lot of great projectors that can not only hit those targets but exceed them and do it at a much cheaper cost than a regular TV. Even better, there is quite a big sale right now at Crutchfield on home theater projectors, with everything from budget-friendly options to top-of-the-range stuff.

What you should buy in Crutchfield's projector sale
Not all projectors have to be incredibly expensive, and you can grab a great project for a good price with the Optoma HZ40HDR, which is , saving you a solid $450 in the process. It's an FHD projector, although it can handle 4k and HDR sources,  and the bulb has a 30,000-hour life span, which is pretty great for a budget-oriented projector. On the other hand, if you want 4k, Optomo has a good budget option for that too, the Optoma UHD35STx, which is a 4k short-throw projector with HDR10 and HLG HDR going , which isn't a massive discount on the usual $1,549, but it's still pretty good.

Read more
Best AirPods Max deals: New and refurbished for $440
A woman wearing the Apple AirPods Max.

Shopping the best headphone deals will turn up a number of options from a wide variety of headphone brands, but if you’re interested in what Apple has to offer in terms of premium audio, the Apple AirPods Max are where you’ll want to turn. The AirPods Max are Apple’s top-of-the-line headphones, and while they churn out some impressive audio experiences, they also churn out a hefty price point. With the rumors of AirPods Max 2 going on you’ll be able to find some decent AirPods Max deals out there. We’ve done that hefty lifting for you, however, and have laid out the best AirPods Max deals below. You’ll find deals on both new and refurbished AirPods Max, but click quickly if one of these deals works for you, as Apple deals can be unpredictable and we don’t know how long these will last.
AirPods Max -- $519, were $549

The AirPods Max are Apple's first attempt at a set of over-the-ear headphones. They got a lot of things right. We love these headphones, even when compared against some audiophile options that prioritize sound quality. The AirPods Max have awesome noise cancelling. Everything Apple learned with the earbud-style AirPods works even better with the cup style of the AirPods Max. Along with great ANC comes a great transparency mode. With a twist of the Max's massive knob, you'll go from complete silence to feeling like you're not wearing headphones at all. The audio on phone calls is great as well, and they pair better with the iPhone than any non-Apple headphones could ever hope to.

Read more
Best AirPods Pro deals: Get Apple’s flagship earbuds for $122
The Apple Airpods Pro in their charging case.

Apple’s lineup of headphones has grown over the years. It currently makes a number of AirPods models that can be talked about among the best wireless earbuds. Among them are the AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro are regularly in contention to be among the best headphones overall as well, and because of their popularity it can be difficult to track down AirPods Pro deals worth shopping. We’ve managed to find some out there, however, and below we’ve rounded up all of the best AirPods Pro deals you can shop right now. You’ll find discounts on both new and refurbished AirPods Pro models, as well as some information on why each model might be best for you.
Apple AirPods Pro (Refurbished) — $122, was $220

While there’s a newer model of AirPods Pro available, the first generation Apple AirPods Pro can still hold their own against some of the best wireless earbuds. Made for a slightly more premium user than something like the Apple AirPods 3, the AirPods Pro have higher end features, including active noise cancellation and a transparency mode, which allows you to hear and interact with the world around you while you have the headphones on. Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking is another impressive feature. This makes watching movies and other content a truly immersive experience. This refurbished model of the Apple AirPods Pro comes with free 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty.

Read more