Harman Kardon Enchant 900 Review – Immersive Dolby Atmos Soundbar Experience

Step into the world of immersive Dolby Atmos with Harman Kardon Enchant 900, a soundbar delivering a powerful 5.1.4 soundstage that fills your room with cinematic energy.

Entering the Dolby Atmos Soundbar Arena

Jumping into the entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar market is like showing up at the Olympics as a rookie. The competition? Heavyweights everywhere, and if you want to be noticed among the reigning champions, you’ve got to bring your A-game.

Harman Kardon Enchant 900 embraces this challenge head-on. It throws down the gauntlet to multiple award winners and five-star market leaders by delivering a full-bodied 5.1.4 Atmos sound experience.

Originally launched at about $430 USD, the Enchant 900 quickly adjusted to around $450 USD in many UK stores. That pricing puts it neck and neck with the legendary Sonos Beam (Gen 2), a model that has been bagging awards year after year since its 2021 release thanks to its precise, detailed, and refined sound.

In the same category, JBL Bar 300MK2 also throws punches. Debuting at a friendlier $350 USD, it won hearts with its powerful and immersive sound, earning a well-deserved five-star rating.

Availability and Pricing Insights

Officially, Harman Kardon isn’t widely represented in many markets through traditional channels, making the Enchant 900 a bit of a treasure hunt in big electronics stores. It’s expected to appear through parallel import channels and specialty audio shops, with an estimated local price hovering around $550–$650 USD after shipping and import fees.

Using the Enchant 900: What to Expect

The soundbar is free from strict regional locks, meaning setup won’t pose issues wherever you are. The Harman Kardon One app is available worldwide on App Store and Google Play, making control and customization a breeze.

Voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant aren’t part of the package, which simplifies things but means no voice command fun here. Streaming services such as Spotify Connect, Tidal, and Qobuz work smoothly—though accessing some may require an active subscription from abroad and occasionally a VPN for initial setup. Connectivity options like HDMI eARC, Bluetooth 5.3, and optical inputs ensure compatibility with modern TVs without fuss.

Design and Craftsmanship

Enchant 900’s look is all about elegance and minimalism. The top panel is wrapped in acoustic fabric, stylishly intersected by a black metal strip.

Weighing in at just 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg), it’s easy to move around. Its dimensions (2.6 x 34.3 x 5.1 inches) make it a perfect fit beneath our 65-inch test TV.

No TV stand? No worries. Included wall-mount brackets have you covered.

Key Specs:

• Connections: 1 HDMI input, 1 HDMI output (eARC), optical input, Bluetooth 5.3
• Supported Formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio
• Streaming: Via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
• Voice Control: No
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 2.6 x 34.3 x 5.1 inches
• Weight: 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)

Minimalist vibes continue with the remote, boasting a silky finish that screams premium. It controls volume, source switching, bass, surround sound level, and quick launches for auto-calibration and playlists.

At the back, a cable nook hides two HDMI ports (one input, one eARC output), supporting passthrough of 4K video with Dolby Vision and HDR10.

Features That Elevate the Experience

Inside beats a 5.1.4 system pushing 195 watts. Under the fabric are nine speakers: four oval racetrack drivers, three tweeters, and two upward-firing drivers on top to deliver true Dolby Atmos overhead effects.

Harman Kardon’s proprietary MultiBeam tech crafts an enveloping soundstage without needing rear speakers. Native DTS:X support is missing, but it smartly processes DTS-HD Master Audio with MultiBeam to simulate spatial sound.

Control is through the Harman Kardon One app—no preset modes like “Cinema” or “Music,” but a full equalizer lets you fine-tune every frequency.

The app also manages auto-calibration, where the soundbar emits test tones, analyzes your room’s acoustics, and adjusts itself accordingly. Don’t skip this step—post-calibration soundstage depth is dramatically improved.

You can link streaming accounts like Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz, and use Spotify Connect. Of course, Bluetooth 5.3 is there for everything else.

A quirky little feature is “Moment,” which lets you play soothing nature sounds—think ocean waves or forest rustle—when your TV is off and you’re not in the mood for music.

Want more bass or surround? You can wirelessly add Harman Kardon’s Enchant Subwoofer and Enchant Speakers. Two speakers make a solid pair for rear channels.

Sound Quality That Commands Attention

First power-up unleashes energetic, thrilling sound that brings on-screen action to life.

We queued up the 4K UHD “Dune: Part Two” scene where Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) tames the giant sandworm. The soundbar created an expansive soundscape far beyond any TV’s tiny speakers, filling the entire test room magnificently.

Playing with the MultiBeam surround effect, the soundstage expanded and wrapped around us. However, this softened the detail a bit, making the sound less precise and more diffuse. By comparison, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) balances scale and clarity more deftly.

Switching off the virtual surround narrows the scene but sharpens focus and detail. For movies, we liked keeping the surround on—cinematic immersion outweighed subtle detail loss.

Next up was “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” in Dolby Atmos. The Enchant 900 nailed spatial accuracy. As small boats drifted from the main ship, their positioning was clear even after leaving the frame.

In the first ship attack, with rending wood and booming cannons, dialogue stayed surprisingly crisp and emotionally engaging.

However, bass performance showed a weak spot during the bass-heavy soundtrack of “Blade Runner 2049”’s opening. The futuristic spinner’s soundtrack demands a tight, punchy bass that hits deep in the chest. While the Enchant 900 didn’t distort like cheaper soundbars, its lows sounded a bit muddy and loose—never delivering that visceral punch.

On the bright side, the dynamic range impressed. From near silence to thunderous sound walls, transitions were flawless.

High frequencies are another tough spot. In “Unbroken”, roaring airplane engines sounded harsh, and at high volumes, the treble could grate and overwhelm other sounds. You can turn down highs in the equalizer, but it throws off the overall tonal balance.

Comparisons with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) revealed that while Sonos can’t match Enchant’s scale due to its smaller size, it sounds more natural, detailed, and refined.

Even the slightly cheaper JBL Bar 300MK2 produces tighter, more controlled bass, lending weight to action scenes.

On the music front, the story’s similar. Enchant 900 maintains its signature large-scale sound but struggles with loose bass and sharp highs.

Playing a Qobuz playlist ranging from Aurora’s “Churchyard” to Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place,” the soundbar built atmosphere well. Yet Aurora’s delicate vocals sounded a touch harsher than intended due to the treble presentation.

The Verdict

Harman Kardon Enchant 900 bets on scale and drive over audiophile precision. It dishes out a robust, expansive sound that adds cinematic grandeur to movies and music.

The catch? It faces stiff competition in this price bracket, with rivals edging it out in detail and bass quality. Still, if you crave massive surround sound that fills your living space and can forgive a bit of roughness, it’s a compelling choice.

Ratings:

• Sound: 4/5
• Features: 4/5
• Build: 4/5

"The difference in soundstage volume post-calibration is colossal."
– Harman Kardon Enchant 900 reviewer

FAQ

• What formats does the Harman Kardon Enchant 900 support?
  It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio, delivering immersive 3D sound without native DTS:X.
• Can I use voice assistants with the Enchant 900?
  No, voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant are not supported on this model.
• Is the Enchant 900 easy to install?
  Yes, it includes wall-mount brackets and fits nicely under most TVs. The app’s auto-calibration also makes setup straightforward.
• Can the soundbar be expanded with additional speakers?
  Absolutely, you can wirelessly add the Enchant Subwoofer and Enchant Speakers for rear surround channels.
• How does the Enchant 900 compare to Sonos Beam Gen 2?
  Enchant 900 offers a larger soundstage and more power, but Sonos Beam delivers finer detail and a more natural sound.

Looking to bring home the cinematic vibe? Shop your favorite album cover poster to complement your setup at Architeg Prints — perfect for adding that music-loving flair to your space.