i bought an hk 8550 a few weeks ago just to see if a high-end (to me anyway) CD changer would make a difference on my modest system. I fully expected to return it a few days later. I was gladly mistaken. The clarity of the sound, especially at the high and low ends of the spectrum is astounding. CD's produced from analog sources, especially vocal, jazz and classical sound especially warm and rich. I think this is due to the 20-bit brown burr DAC's. I was a little disappointed in the sound of the few HDCD's that I have, which sound overproduced. The principal drawbacks are that the changing mechanism is noisy, and the player has a low tolerance for scratched CD's. Buttons are few and hard to use, but the player looks better than any other ive seen on the market. The sound makes up for the few drawbacks. I plan to upgrade my whole system around this player

This is the first HK product I've owned and I was expecting a product that lived up to the excellent HK reputation. The sound quality was excellent and the HDCD capability was a bonus. The industrial design was pleasing to the eye, but the control layout was not user friendly. The real killer was the terrible build quality. It exibited the same problems posted in other reviews, that is not being able to read discs. It started slowly, one disc, and within a week progressed to the point where it would not play any of them. All of these discs played without a problem on my DVD player. Fortunately, I was able to return the unit and I selected an NAD 515 for replacement. What an improvement. Excellent sound, bullet proof reliability, and controls that are well designed and easy to use. HK should remove the FL 8550 from the market. There is no excuse for such a poorly manufactured products at a $400 price point.

This is an addendum to my earlier review. I was able to remove the jammed CD's from the drawer simply by removing the top cover. At this point, I continued to use my FL8550, and the player gradually degraded to the point where it wouldn't play any CD's in about one week's time. (It started with just two unplayable discs.) After calling HK, I was referred to a service center where the unit now resides. I was told it would be four weeks before they would even be able to look at the unit. I agree with previous comments that, in good faith, HK should take the FL8550 off the market. Granted, they may have solved the problem (as reported by a previous reviewer), but why take the chance? DON'T BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK.

Player is six months old. Much of the same problems as everybody else describes with CD readability. The player now only recognizes cds that are placed in the 2nd slot. Sound is great but that's about it. Monstrously frustrating. Also have an AVR10 which out of the box has a manufacturing defect in that it will not pull in a radio station to save it's life. Thought it was because I was surrounded by tons of concrete but then moved and still had the same problem. Didn't notice 'til warranty was done and now they want me to pay to have it fixed. Posted all this on their web site and still have not received a response. HK is CRAP!!!!!!!!! Save the hassle and buy something else.

I didn't buy this Cdplayer and frankly... it never crossed my mind even if they were giving them away.. Crappy build quality (ever looked inside a HK cdplayer?) and the guy was having trouble reading a cd that I had just bought in the store 5 min before. For this money, go get a rotel 951.. You will like the sound much better and even though it is a single disk. To this day, it has never done one thing wron ( 9 mo owner)..

I don't know why they took my previous review away, but I'll say it again.What everyone says about this player is right. I went to the store to listen to it and the demonstration unit wouldn't even read CD's at all. Said 'no disc' no matter what slot it was in. The salesman was embarressed. This is ridiculus. How can a company release a product that has this kind of problems.

I have owned a Harmon Kardon single disk player for seven years, I was absolutely satisfied with the sound quality and reliability of the unit. Based on my experience, I decided to purchase the 8550, since I was in the market for a changer. I am completely satified with the player.
I wouldn't have thought twice about some the nit-picking comments I've read on this board like; the nobs on the unit are to sparce (thats why you have a remote), the changing of disk is to noisey. Some things are no issue and these type of small minded appraisels do not represent this unit honestly. I would agree a disk reading problem is a issue, but I got my player 1 1/2 months ago and fortunately haven't experienced this problem.

Hands down this one fine playing unit, a little noisey, but who cares. I have it matched very expensive equipment and feel it is a worthy compliment to my other pieces. For those who continue to nock this unit, sorry you had a bad experience but it happens to all of us sooner or later regardless of the cost of the equipment.

First of all, make sure you got the new model, then you won't encounter any problems with discs that won't be recognized. The buttons are placed were you won't expect them but you get used to that. The HK is a rock, but the 8550 is build in China and doesn't have a metal front panel like the US models. You can hear the transformer and the connectors are not gold-edged. The HDCD capability is not as good as I expected I would be. But I bought it for the sound and that is what's getting five stars.

I bought mine from Ebay and I have not had any problems with it. It plays scratched CD's by the way. I have it hooked up to an HK AVR65 and it sounds fantastic. I recommend running a coaxial digital cable from the 8550 to your receiver(if it has digital outputs). The difference is amazing. The seperation is much better and is much louder.

I real enjoyed the sound quality of the 8550 until it failed to "see" disks last month. The unit was manufactured in Aug.98 so it was less than one year old. Harmon Kardon at first, did not want to help me when I could not produce the sales slip. After five phone calls to various personel, they agreed to replace it with a new unit. At this time, I did not know that so many people were having the same problems. This unit is a five star for sound quality and a one star for poor workmanship, quality control, and customer support.