The first time I ever heard about the concept of home theater sound was about 30 years ago at a friend’s house. We watched Star Wars: Episode IV on a 14-inch widescreen TV, so it wasn’t the picture that was impressive – it was the sound. That was where my interest in home theater was born, and I have updated and followed its development ever since. However, not everyone has the space for or wants a multitude of speakers and a subwoofer, and for them, there is the soundbar. Soundbars have exploded in popularity, and nowadays you can hardly buy anything else in most electronics stores. I can understand why, because a soundbar is incredibly convenient and stylish.
First impressions of the Harman/Kardon Enchant 1100
Harman/Kardon Enchant 1100 is truly a high-end product, which is evident from the second you unpack the speaker from its box. It features eleven built-in speakers and is packed with advanced technology.
Installation and features
I connect it directly to the TV using the included HDMI cable and select the eARC function. It connects without any issues and receives the correct format. Harman/Kardon Enchant 1100 supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which provides incredibly clear sound. You can set up your soundbar via the app to get an overview of the audio settings you want to adjust. Enchant 1100 also features a calibration mode where it sends out sound pulses to analyze the room, thereby tailoring the sound to the environment. Truly impressive. The sound from the front is wide and well-rendered, but on the other hand, I don’t experience any direct surround sound no matter how I look at it.
Connectivity and comparisons
You can also connect your phone, record player, or other products to the Enchant 1100 via both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so you can use it for more than just movies and games. I compared it to the Sharp soundbar that I reviewed a while ago, and the difference in sound between the two is that the Enchant 1100 has a fuller sound that is crispier than the Sharp version. Anything else would be strange considering that the Enchant 1100 is more than twice as expensive as Sharp’s version, and the Sharp price includes a subwoofer. Because that is precisely one of the problems with the Enchant 1100 – no subwoofer is included; you have to purchase it as an add-on. So, if we subtract the cost of the subwoofer from the Sharp version, the Enchant 1100 suddenly becomes more than three times as expensive.
Price versus performance
I wouldn’t say that the sound in the Enchant 1100 is even twice as good as the Sharp version, and even less so three times as good. Now the costs are starting to add up, because you cannot connect your own subwoofer to the Enchant 1100; you must buy the matching one. Suddenly you are looking at a price tag well over 15,000 SEK, and if you then want surround speakers, they cost 3,000 SEK each.
Limitations and reflections
Unfortunately, I cannot determine how much better the surround sound and bass are since I only received the soundbar to review, so an exact comparison is difficult. However, I find it hard to believe that the sound is three times as good as the much cheaper Sharp version.
Another thing that bothered me is that, unlike the Sharp, there is only one extra HDMI port instead of two, which is very strange considering its price and size.
In summary, the Enchant 1100 from Harman/Kardon is truly a high-tech, impressive device with beautiful, crystal-clear sound, but its price tag doesn’t feel entirely justified when it is three times more expensive than a competitor that is close on its heels. If the subwoofer had at least been included in the price, the rating would definitely have been different, because regardless of everything else, the subwoofer does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to home theater. Of course, everything can be bought in stages, but you will likely be disappointed having only the soundbar until you can afford to get the subwoofer. So, there is no recommendation from me as I think the price is far too high for what you actually get, but since it is an incredibly impressive product (albeit an incomplete one), the rating is still high.
Harman/kardon sent a review unit for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with our readers and consumers in focus.
