Talk:Harman Kardon/Archives/2014

Contradiction
Receiver (radio) "The first integrated stereo receiver was made by the Harman Kardon company, and came onto the market in 1958. It had undistingushed (sic) performance..." Harman Kardon "One year after its founding, harman/kardon introduced the world's first true high-fidelity receiver, the Festival D1000. This monaural unit was not only aimed at non-technical consumers but also incorporated many now-familiar features such as the incorporation of a tuner, component control unit and amplifier on a single chassis." I find on one hand ascribing "undistinguished performance" to the Festival D1000 in Receiver (radio), and then at Harmon Kardon labeling the Festival D1000 to be a "high-fidelity receiver" to be contradictory. - MSTCrow 03:15, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

A piece of audio equipment can be both 'hi-fidelity' (a vague and generic term) and exhibit undistinguished performance. While the unit's modern design qualified it as hi-fi equipment, it did not outperform component hi-fi systems of the time (i. e. systems with a separate preamp, amp and tuner). This was simply the first time that modern (or hi-fidelity) amplifier, preamplifier and tuner designs had been combined in one unit. This combination is usually known as a receiver. Golden Brightfoot 23:13, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

The two passages also seem to be talking about different pieces of equipment, one being Stereo the other monaural(mono) that would look like a far bigger contradiction otherwise

According to Harman/Kardon's own web page, the Festival D-1000 was the first High Fidelity receiver, and the Festival TA-230 was the first stereo receiver (although it was not multiplex stereo; it received one stereo channel on AM and the other on FM). They also introduced the multiplex (the system we currently use) stereo receiver TA5000X in 1962, although they do not claim to have been the first to market


 * 2 different models. Removing the tag. Potatoswatter 06:12, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

Changes to answer and challenge the talk on contradiction:
When I read the original content in 2013, I agree that there were some misleading material that would cause a contradiction. I decided to update and reformat the original material. Areas of contradiction such as simulcast stereo on the TA-230 were explained as a step toward true stereo but not to High Fidelity performance we take for granted today.

The Festival D1000 was a monural receiver. But until true stereophonic production became possible by the 1960's, mono was high fidelity. Although many hi-fi folks then and even now are firm believers that buying the best amp, preamp, tuner etc is the best way toward hi-fi and integrated systems are "Lo-fi", integrated systems in the 1950's like the Fisher 500 and HK Festival D1000 could be considered as entry products to hi-fi. One cannot classify these receivers with monural table radios. These product do deserve a special place in the evolution of audio electronics. These products still require the person to buy quality speakers, turntables and tape recording units. Lets face it, a person could spend a lot of money on separate components but buy poor speakers. The result the Festival D1000 with quality speakers will perform quite well.

Bottom line is that the argument is a matter of opinion. However a little touch up could make this article better.Engradio 03:32, 20 April 2014 (UTC)