HDCD decoding in a five-disc carousel is a combination almost nobody built. This one was tested across a full week of use with every function confirmed working.

Harman Kardon called the FL 8380 a specialist, and that was fair. Most five-disc carousels of this era treated the DAC section as an afterthought and sold on convenience alone. This one runs HDCD decoding through a Burr-Brown digital processor, which is unusual in a changer at any price and the reason the model still gets hunted down.

What This Unit Does

• HDCD decoding gets the extra resolution off HDCD-encoded discs, and the same processing is applied to ordinary CDs, so the benefit covers your whole collection rather than a handful of titles.
• A coaxial digital output lets you skip the internal converters entirely and feed an outboard DAC or a modern receiver. That keeps this unit useful in a current system, not just a period-correct one.
• The headphone jack has its own level control, so you can listen without powering up an amplifier.
• Dual 18-bit conversion with 8x oversampling on the analog outputs, plus 32-track programming, random and repeat by track or disc or all discs, and intro scan.
• Loads one disc while the other four stay in place, and shows which slots are occupied at power-up before playback starts.
• Plays CD-R and CD-RW alongside pressed discs.

Condition

Good, 7 out of 10. The top panel has many scratches. Everything else presents as a clean used component.

Testing and Service

Tested over a full week rather than a single power-up. All functions confirmed working: carousel indexing across all five positions, tray operation, disc tracking and playback, both analog channels, coaxial digital output, headphone jack and level control, front panel display, and remote operation. No internal service work is being represented on this unit beyond that testing.

What's Included

• Harman/Kardon FL 8380 five-disc CD changer
• Analog audio cable
• Original remote available as a paid option at checkout

Not included: remote at the base price, power cable, digital cable, manual, original box.

Specifications

Manufacturer specifications for the FL 8380.

• 5-disc carousel changer; plays one, changes four
• CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and HDCD playback
• HDCD decoding, Burr-Brown digital processor
• Dual 18-bit D/A conversion, 8x oversampling
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0 / -1 dB
• THD: under 0.02 percent at 1 kHz
• Dynamic range: over 97 dB
• Channel separation: 80 dB
• Outputs: stereo RCA, coaxial digital, headphone with level control
• Transport: Sony KSS-213C
• Dimensions: 5-1/8 x 17-5/16 x 15-1/4 in (129 x 440 x 386 mm)
• Weight: 16.7 lb (7.6 kg)
• Produced approximately 2000 to 2003

Note: the factory brochure rates A-weighted signal to noise above 97 dB; some enthusiast databases list 100 dB. We go with the factory figure.

Warranty and Shipping

Backed by our 30-day hassle-free warranty from the date of delivery or in-store purchase. Any defect in that window other than accidental damage gets repaired or replaced at no cost, parts and labor, shipping included both directions. Test the unit when it arrives. Extended coverage is available separately if you want more than 30 days.

Ships double-boxed. Per Harman Kardon's instructions this changer should never be transported with discs loaded, so it ships empty and should be unloaded before any future move.