Harman Kardon HK720
A semi-automatic belt-drive turntable with an ITO tonearm and 25.5-degree headshell offset, documented by 1981.
Overview
The Harman Kardon HK720 is a stereo turntable made by Harman Kardon. It is semi-automatic and belt-driven, with 2 speeds. The ITO tonearm comes with pitch controls, an adjustable arm counterbalance, and anti-skate adjustment. The model was listed in Hi-Fi Stereo Review by May 1981, so it was on the consumer market by then. The original packaging included a tracking alignment gauge card. That card is now a sought-after accessory and is often missing from surviving units.
Specifications
| Product type | Stereo Turntable |
| Drive type | Belt Drive |
| Operation | Semi-Auto |
| Speeds | 2 Speed |
| Tonearm type | ITO tonearm |
| Headshell offset angle | 25.5 degrees |
| Adjustable arm counterbalance | Yes |
| Anti-skate | Adjustment available |
| Pitch controls | Yes |
Design
The HK720 uses a belt drive and a semi-automatic mechanism. The tonearm is an ITO design with a fixed headshell offset angle of 25.5 degrees, so it needs a Harman Kardon-specific headshell to line up properly. The user can adjust arm counterbalance, anti-skate and pitch. Some units have turned up missing the dust cover, and replacement belts are occasionally needed to keep them running reliably.
Market
Listings show the HK720 selling for A$180 in good working condition, even with the dust cover missing. Spare parts such as control assemblies and dust cover hinges are available separately. The original tracking alignment gauge card is frequently absent and now counts as a collectible accessory. One possible recurring issue involves the "SPEED cut CAP," which suggests a potential failure point in the speed control circuit.
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