Harman Kardon A-224 (1958–1959)
Little is documented about the Harman Kardon A-224 beyond its appearances in period audio magazines. There it was marketed as the Stereo Tri-Plex Amplifier or simply "The Trio." It was a stereo integrated amplifier that Harman Kardon pitched as three instruments in one chassis - a complete stereo preamplifier plus two separate 12-watt power amplifiers, for a combined 24 watts of stereo output. High Fidelity (June 1958, p.25) ran a full-page ad calling it "really NEW" and the most flexible stereo amplifier on the market, with "most advanced styling and operating features." The same ad listed the price at $99.95.
The A-224 seems to have been a brief model. The earliest surviving promotion dates to mid-1958, and by early 1959 HiFI/Stereo (January 1959, p.47) was still running essentially the same ad copy. That suggests a short production run rather than a long-selling staple. Almost no technical specifications survive in the accessible record beyond the claim of three functional sections in one compact unit. Frequency response, distortion figures, preamp gain and dimensions are all missing. The only physical detail the ads hint at is that the unit was compact enough to be called "handsome" and "one compact unit," but no weight or measurements are given.
Given the scarcity of documentation, the A-224 remains a thinly recorded entry in Harman Kardon's late-1950s catalog. Its advertising promised flexibility and advanced features, and the inner details have largely dropped out of the archive.
Known Specifications (from period advertising)
- Type: Stereo integrated amplifier ("Stereo Tri-Plex Amplifier")
- Configuration: Preamplifier + two separate 12-watt power amplifiers (24 watts combined)
- Original price: $99.95
- Years advertised: 1958–1959
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