Harman Kardon's transparent GLA-55 2.0 speaker set gets glaring $1,000 price tag

Look, we've no qualms with Harman Kardon -- in fact, we've been continually impressed with its wares over the years -- but we're about 99 percent sure we'd never pay a cool grand for a 2.0 speaker set. Yeah, as in a pair of speakers and no subwoofer. Clearly designed for "high-end consumers," the GLA-55 is a two piece setup meant for fashion-forward desks and bedroom nightstands. The set relies on Atlas AL and CMMD transducers, with the former capable of nearly 1-inch peak-to-peak travel for what we're told is exceptional bass response. That said, we find it tough to fathom that a pair of speakers such as this could really be worth the $999.99 MSRP, but we'll be sure to withhold final judgment until Jim Goodnight (or similar) brings over his dog's set for us to try out.

Harman Kardon's transparent GLA-55 2.0 speaker set get glaring $1,000 price tag

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:15PM]

At that price, that transparent casing better be made of diamond.

[Ryan Deen Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:32PM]

@(Unverified) Speakers by Elizabeth Taylor.

[Macbeth Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:34PM]

@(Unverified)

If they were made of diamond that price tag would be woefully short a few zeros.

[mattcoz Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:48PM]

@(Unverified) That's the upcoming D1A-M0ND.

[Aguiluz Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:08PM]

Looks like Monster Cable moved to the speaker market!

[NHAnimator Posted Dec 8th 2009 8:22AM]

At least the audio comes across crystal clear.

[Raziel66 Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:17PM]

I thought these came out awhile ago? I remember when Amazon was advertising them on the homepage last year... the product page says it was available October 2008.

Did they get pushed back or something?

[NirvanaFlames Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:18PM]

Now if those were diamonds and not glass, it might be worth it

[Red Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:20PM]

One word fugly!

[mbushnell Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:21PM]

Wouldn't even consider these if we weren't in a recession.

[Ark Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:23PM]

These have been out for awhile, I've seen them before and they were cheaper too (around $850 I believe). It's odd... but they certainly look pretty awesome.

[Meekermoloko Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:26PM]

$1,000?

I wouldn't get these if they were priced at $10.00.

[Freakintoddles Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:27PM]

if these came out around the same time as WoW Lich King... I bet they could have sold several more to the rich nerd demographic than they will now.

[Apple patent troll Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:28PM]

Have HK been bought out by Bose!

[Frankenstein Black Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:30PM]

Damn! So close! It shoulda been a CRYSTAL SKULL. Just sayin...

[therodt Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:44PM]

@Frankenstein Black
It could match my VODKA!

[Mick Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:30PM]

there are very few companies that actually create great sounding 2.0 speakers that are worth 1000. these are not. imo harmon/kardon falls into the same category as bose ok sound but way way to over priced

[Ark Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:40PM]

@Mick
Hmm, these are definitely overpriced, but I have their (HK's) sound stick speakers and they sound good and look awesome. Of course I'm no audiophile, and the music I listen to is from the 60's so the quality of the recordings are not amazing to begin with, but I paid $100 for the speakers and am very satisfied. I don't think you can say the company as a whole is overpriced.

[xkaosu9x Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:46PM]

is it just me or does it look like the bass port runs up to the back of the tweeter and not the woofer? i'm....we'll say curious....as to how a bass port on a tweeter with a woofer in what looks like near zero airspace would create good sound.

[xkaosu9x Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:50PM]

nm. i just realized it's hollow and the port has stabilizing brackets holding it to the back of the tweeter.

[Chaosdivine Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:47PM]

"High-end consumers" - So that's what we're calling people with more money than brains these days eh? Some people will do anything (and pay any price) to have their egos stroked...

[UnsilentMajority Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:48PM]

Not quite sure where the production cost is, looks like 3-4 plastic molds, those woofers better be some serious quality. The internal wiring channels look clever. If they sounded really good they might get somebody who just dropped 5-large on a MacPro.

[Dee Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:48PM]

IMO: This is what happens when the deciding factor of our consumerism is based on the need to be better than others or "keep up with the Joneses", rather than to provide quality and functionality at a reasonable price.

[Blaker Posted Dec 7th 2009 4:51PM]

There are no good computer speakers.

Not even ones with 'subwoofers' (more like cheap, crappy midrange woofers crossed-over to play low mids).

[ajoan0077 Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:00PM]

@Blaker

Exactly!

I just bought myself a pair of M-audio DSM2's and i couldn't be more happier. They are definitely worth it, even if i didn't have a career in studio engineering.

[Arkv2 Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:03PM]

Why would ANYONE get these? They don't even look good enough.

[Denus Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:10PM]

My wife purchased a pair of Yamaha HS 80M powered monitor speakers for her computer desk as she got a little music studio.
(450 euro including two standards)
These Yamaha speakers are blowing those crystal toys into pieces hands down.

If you need serious sound, check the music stores as their product are not that expensive, and really good (you'll get the real stuff).

[essensial Posted Dec 8th 2009 12:32AM]

@Denus I wouldn't be considering Yamaha speakers for studio work...never did, there's much better speakers than Yamaha on the market...but it's just me...:)

[Denus Posted Dec 9th 2009 2:29PM]

@essensial
Oh well, she's very happy with it, I don't ask more from it.
But I can believe there're always better speakers available.

[glamajamma Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:20PM]

These would look great in my fortress of solitude!

[mtkupp Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:45PM]

Relax, noone ever pays MSRP for consumer electronics :)

[Apple patent troll Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:15PM]

@mtkupp


Apple buyers do!

[barbtx Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:46PM]

They are butt ugly. What are they suppose to be? Crystal Skulls? Crystal fish? I'm with the person who said they wouldn't pay $10 for them. I don't think I would take them even if they were free.

[mtnDewFTW Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:49PM]

Okay, so I'm really not the type of person who looks at the price before the actual product, hence me having so many Apple gadgets.
But, I mean, besides the ridiculous price on these speakers, they really aren't that amazing.
I don't know, maybe it's just be, but I'd feel like a douche of I bought those and put them on my desk.
I might have liked it a little more if they thrown in a sub.

but to be honest, these speakers don't even look that amazing to buy.
I think that even if they were $200, I'd say no thanks lol.

I'd rather get a whole giant set of logitech speakers that actually come with decent amount of speakers, a sub, and remote controls.
But then again, that's just me.

[theswiss Posted Dec 7th 2009 5:56PM]

I want to buy it but where is my 990$ mail-in discount?

[Lowest Ranks Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:06PM]

If you fell over this, you're a dead man

[ExNomenDei Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:07PM]

For sale now for all your showing-off-on-TV purposes! Put it next to a Mac Pro and a Cinema Display, and you'll make the whole of the TV world jealous! Wait for them all to buy the same thing and you kill off all relevance of product placement! For sale now, at $1000!

[Emerald Flame Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:25PM]

Very similar for $40.00. Don't look quite as cool though and quality might not be as high but still the same concept.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/speakers/aa5f/

[squrul Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:31PM]

So unnecessary! Who would buy these! You're better off with the $400 tiny bose speakers like a quarter f the size. totally

[Daveiops Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:48PM]

Goodluck buying that. I'll save the money and buy every high-end phone coming out next year.

[Volknut Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:52PM]

So how do they sound...? Crystal clear? :-/

[Gyalis Posted Dec 8th 2009 5:34PM]

Sounds like a ripoff to me!

[CaptainFitz Posted Dec 7th 2009 6:59PM]

OK, I get that there is a market for ridiculously overpriced fashion gadgets, but why are they always so goddamn ugly? I can't think of a single setup that these would look good next to.

[Brendan H Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:18PM]

To paraphrase Fry from Futurama: Wouldn't a solid crystal speaker weigh hundreds of pounds and sound crummy?

[ch3burashka Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:31PM]

@Brendan H
http://intensities.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/fry.jpg

[ColinMcGraw Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:23PM]

I have a pair of SoundSticks and think they're the best 2.1 speakers I've owned!

No way I'd ever buy these, though.

[ch3burashka Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:30PM]

Gla-55... Gla55... Glass... GLASS! I got it! That's hilarious!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 7th 2009 7:37PM]

These might look OK in Superman's or Iceman's lair, but no where else.

[laughingisfree Posted Dec 7th 2009 8:26PM]

I better be able to freeze some ice in there and have a spout so i can have chilled vodka for $1k

[RLJSlick Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:14PM]

A fool born every minute, and you would have to be to spend $1000 for those speakers.