Harman Kardon SB26 Review

The first impression I got when unpacking it was the comparatively low weight of the sound bar. This makes the SB26 suitable for wall mounting as it weighs in at 7.7 pounds (3.5kg). A look at the back reveals all the source in- and outputs, and of course, the power input DC and a port for an IR transmitter, which will come in handy if the soundbar is blocking the IR receiver on the TV. If this is the case, you can plug in a transmitter and point it in the direction of the TV. A USB port is also available, but only serves to update the software.

The other ports are used for audio signals. There are three HDMI ports for this purpose, two of which are inputs for source devices, and one HDMI output labeled 'HDMI TV' to connect to the TV allowing you to 'pass-through' the incoming signals. If your TV has ARC (Audio Return Channel), the soundbar should be connected to the TV's ARC input. This lets you send the sound from the TV to the soundbar. If a TV is equipped with such a function, the corresponding HDMI port is usually marked with the lettering 'ARC'.

If you don´t have an ARC channel, the audio signals can be sent via an optical digital cable or via the auxiliary input. The digital option is always preferable of course, and a corresponding output on most modern TVs is usually available. All necessary cables are supplied by the way - very handy if you don´t have any cables lying around at home. The cables aren´t very long though, so if you need cables longer than 5 feet, be prepared to acquire additional cables.

The layout of the inputs is pretty straightforward and each port is labeled to make sure you don´t get lost. It´s best to connect all cables before the sound bar is in place because the inputs become less accessible, especially if you wall mount it. This also applies to the equalizer setting on the back - a small switch with the options 'Table' or 'Wall' - which should be set at the correct position depending on the placement of the soundbar.

To pair the sound bar with the subwoofer you have to use the pairing buttons on the back of each unit. By pressing the Wireless Pairing switches on both the units one after another within 30 seconds, the units will communicate with each other and operate at the same frequency.

For the lowest frequencies, the active subwoofer uses a 10" down-firing woofer in addition to a generous bass reflex port on the back. Now, I always advice people to experiment with subwoofer placement to get the best result, and in my case the SB26 sub didn´t do very well when placed too close to a wall as it easily became too overpowering. Moving it a couple of feet from the wall did the trick, and this also gave me better access to the controls for phase and crossover on the back of the subwoofer.

After a successful pairing, the SB26 is shown on the lower third of the start screen in the app. If you tap the icon you reach the Operation menu, where you can select sources and can adjust volume and bass. In practice, the app is very easy to use, but if you find the use of apps a bit daunting, it is possible to use the remote for your TV to control the soundbar. Instructions on how to program the TV remote is found in the very detailed manual (downloadable), among other things.

It works equally well with less chaotic movies, like dramas and comedies, thanks to its dynamics, attention to detail and ability to immerse you with a surprisingly large sound image.