Harman Kardon OMNI BAR Plus Bluetooth Soundbar
Introduction
We’ve created a system that harnesses the power and versatility of your home wireless network to create a better and easier audio experience without compromising on audio quality. We hope you enjoy your new
Harman Kardon Wireless HD Music System product, and that you’ll consider extending our solution
throughout your home.
Safety Instructions
Verify Line Voltage Before Use
The Omni 10+ and Omni 20+ have been designed for use with 100-240 volt, 50/60 Hz AC. Connection to a line voltage other than that for which your product is intended can create a safety and fire hazard and may damage the unit. If you have any questions about the voltage requirements for your specific model, or about the line voltage in your area, contact your selling dealer before plugging the unit into a wall outlet.
Do Not Use Extension Cords
To avoid safety hazards, use only the power cord supplied with your unit. We do not recommend that extension cords be used with this product. As with all electrical devices, do not run power cords under rugs or carpets, or place heavy objects on them. Damaged power cords should be replaced immediately by an authorized service center with a cord that meets factory specifications.
Handle the AC Power Cord Gently
When disconnecting the power cord from an AC outlet, always pull the plug; never pull the cord. If you do not intend to use your speaker for any considerable length of time, disconnect the plug from the AC outlet.
Do Not Open the Cabinet
There are no user-serviceable components inside this product. Opening the cabinet may present a shock hazard, and any modification to the product will void your warranty. If water accidentally falls inside the unit, disconnect it from the AC power source immediately and consult an authorized service center.
What’s in the Box
Omni Adapt
Buttons
- WPS button
- Reset
- USB port (software update only)
- AUX input (analog audio in)
- IR transmitter
- Power input DC
- Pairing
- HDMI TV
- Optical (digital optical audio in)
Remote
- Power
- HDMI TV, Aux in, Optical
- Bluetooth®
- Link
- Play/pause
- Volume control +/-
- Mute
- Subwoofer volume control +/-
- Stereo, Virtual
- Battery Lock
Subwoofer 
Adapt
Connectors
Omni Bar
Subwoofer 
Link Button
Pressing the Link button adds this speaker to a different speaker group. Grouped speakers all play the same music. For example, if you are listening to music in the Bedroom, you can walk to the Kitchen and press the Link button on the speaker in the Kitchen.
Source Button
Pressing the Source button cycles the currently active music source in this room between AUX-in, Optical, and HDMI TV for the Omni Bar+ or AUX-in, Optical, and Bluetooth for the Omni Adapt+. If you are currently streaming audio over Wi-Fi, it will switch away from Wi-Fi to one of these other sources.
Bluetooth Button
Press the Bluetooth Button to enter Bluetooth pairing mode on the Omni Bar. This button will also switch the currently active source to Bluetooth. Note that on the Omni Adapt+, you must press the Source button for 3 seconds to enter Bluetooth pairing mode instead.
Play/Pause Button
The Play/Pause button pauses or resumes music playback on Bluetooth or any of the Wi-Fi sources, including Spotify Connect and Chromecast built-in. AUX-in audio must be paused from the external audio source.
Volume +/- Buttons
Press the Volume + button to increase volume, or press the Volume – button to decrease volume. Pressing both at the same time will mute the speaker.
Surround Button
The Surround button on the Omni Bar+ will turn on Virtual Surround. If Virtual Surround is already on, it will instead turn it off. When Virtual Surround is on, this button will light up amber. When turned off, it will light up white.
Power Button
This button will put the Omni Bar+ into Standby mode. If it’s already in Standby mode, then the Omni Bar+ will turn on instead. Note that both the Omni Bar+ and Omni Adapt+ will automatically enter Standby mode after 10 minutes of inactivity.
HDMI TV, AUX-in, and Optical Buttons
Pressing these buttons will switch the Omni Bar+ to the corresponding input source.
Mute Button
Press this button to mute the Omni Bar+. Pressing again will unmute and return to the previous volume level.
Subwoofer Volume Control
Press the Bass + Button to adjust the level of the Omni Bar+ subwoofer up, or press the Bass – Button to decrease the level of the subwoofer.
Stereo and Virtual Buttons
Press the Stereo button to turn off Virtual Surround on the Omni Bar+. Press the Virtual Button to turn Virtual Surround on.
Battery Door Unlock Button
This button on the Omni Bar+ remote control is used to remove the battery door on the back of the remote control. When you wish to replace the Omni Bar+ remote control battery, press and hold this button down while sliding the battery cover off. The remote control uses a standard CR2025 3V battery.
WPS Button
This button is used to connect the speaker to your home Wi-Fi network. Press it to enter WPS PBC mode. Press it for 5 seconds to enter WPS PIN mode. See the WPS section on page 20 for more information.
Reset Button
Press the Reset button for 5 seconds to perform a factory reset. This will erase all user settings, disconnect from the Wi-Fi network, and the speaker will enter Wi-Fi setup mode, allowing you to connect it to a different Wi-Fi network.
Power Connector
Use the supplied power supply or power cord to connect the speaker to AC power.
Audio In Connector
Connect an analog audio source via a 3.5mm or 1/8” stereo AUX cable to this connector to enjoy audio from an analog audio device.
Optical In Connector
Use an optical audio cable to connect your Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+ to your TV or external audio source. This connector supports 2.0 channel PCM up to 96KHz, 24-bit, or Dolby Digital signals. Note: If you use an optical connection to your TV, change your TV audio settings to support “external speakers” and disable the built-in TV speakers.
HDMI TV Connector
If your TV supports HDMI ARC, you can hear the TV audio through your Omni Bar+ using a single HDMI cable connected to the HDMI TV input connector. This connector supports 2.0 channel PCM up to 96KHz, 24-bit, or Dolby Digital signals.
IR Transmitter Connector
If your Omni Bar+ blocks the IR remote control for your TV, you can connect the included IR transmitter to this connector. Place the other end of the IR transmitter close to your TV, and you will again be able to use your TV remote control.
Pairing Button
Your Omni Bar+ comes from the factory already paired with the wireless subwoofer. If you ever need to reconfigure or replace your Omni Bar+ or wireless subwoofer, you can connect them again by pressing this button on both the Omni Bar+ and the wireless subwoofer. The LEDs will begin flashing quickly, and after 30 seconds, the connection will be complete.
Optical Out Connector
Connect the Omni Adapt+ to a receiver or amplifier using an optical cable for the highest quality digital audio connection.
Audio Out Connector
Connect speakers or an amplifier here via a 3.5mm stereo cable if your external device doesn’t support optical audio.
Subwoofer Out Connector
Connect an active subwoofer to the Omni Adapt+ using an RCA audio cable.
Crossover Adjustment
Use this to adjust the crossover frequency of the Omni Bar+ subwoofer. If the bass seems too loud or boomy, you can adjust this toward the Min setting. If you want more bass, you can adjust toward the Max setting.
Setup
In this section, you will set up your Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+, connecting it to Wi-Fi and connecting each source device you plan to use. Before you begin, download the Harman Kardon Controller app for iOS or Android. This app is available on both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. You will use this app to set up and configure the speaker. If you prefer to learn via video, Harman Kardon has created a helpful setup video. Just scan the QR code below to be taken to the video on the web.
Connecting Your Speaker to Wi-Fi
The first time you open the Harman Kardon Controller app, you will be greeted by a tutorial walking you through the basic operations, followed by the Set Up New Speaker button. Pressing this button will begin the setup process, which the Controller app will guide you through. It will also be described in this manual.
- Before continuing, choose a room to set up. Decide if you will be setting up the Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+ alone, or if you will be setting up a wireless 5.1 surround system.
- The next step of the speaker setup process is to select where this speaker will be used. Select one of the predefined rooms, like the Living Room or the Bedroom.
- After selecting a room name, you will be able to customize the room with a specific color. There are twelve different colors to choose from.
- Select the speaker type now: Omni Bar+ or Adapt+. The next step is to select how many Omni+ speakers you wish to use in this room. If you wish to use the Omni Bar+ alone, select Soundbar setup 2.1, or select Stereo if you wish to use your Omni Adapt+ alone.
After this, you will connect the speaker to your home network. The process for this differs between Android and iOS. Omni Bar+ and Omni Adapt+ use a new iOS feature named Wireless Accessory Configuration, which is the easiest way to set up Wi-Fi for iOS users. Each speaker you have plugged into AC power will appear on this screen. If your iPhone or iPad has never connected to this Wi-Fi network before, you will need to enter the Wi-Fi password at this time. Most users will not need to enter this password. The speaker will automatically reboot and connect to the Wi-Fi network.
Android
You will now see each speaker you have connected to AC power on the screen. Select any one of the speakers to see a list of available Wi-Fi networks. Choose the Wi-Fi network you wish to connect your Omni+ speakers to, then enter the Wi-Fi password. Every Omni+ speaker will reboot and connect to this Wi-Fi network.
WPS
WPS is a simple way to connect your system to your home Wi-Fi network. To confirm whether your router supports WPS, look for the WPS logo or the letters WPS on your router. The Omni Bar+ and Omni Adapt+ support both WPS-PBC and WPS-PIN modes
WPS-PBC
To connect your speaker via WPS-PBC mode:
- Press the WPS button on your Wi-Fi router or access point.
- Within one minute, press the WPS button on your Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+.
- The Link button on the top of the speaker will begin to quickly flash for up to
one minute. When the LED stops flashing and turns solid white, your speaker is connected.
WPS-PIN
To connect your speaker via WPS-PIN mode:
- Use a web browser to navigate to your Wi-Fi router or access point’s setup page.
- Press the WPS button on the bottom of your Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+ for 5 seconds.
- Enter 87654325 into the WPS-PIN section of your router or access point’s setup page. The Link button on the top of the speaker will begin to quickly flash for up to one minute. When the LED stops flashing and turns solid white, your speaker is connected.
Surround Setup
Angle each speaker so it directly faces the listener. Place the speakers at the same height, preferably at about the same height as the listener’s ears. After placing the speakers and connecting them to Wi-Fi (see Connecting Your Speaker to Wi-Fi on page 18), the Controller app will guide you through assigning the channels. At the bottom of the screen, you will see every available speaker on the network. 
You may also upgrade any existing Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+ room to a wireless 5.1 system. Go to Settings > Room management and select the room you wish to add additional speakers to. Select Set up multichannel, and you will be guided through the same setup process as above, with the ability to assign any other speaker already on the network to this room.
Source Setup
The final step to set up your Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+ is to configure the external sources. For each source, HDMI TV, Optical, or AUX-in, you will select how you plan to use this source.
If you select “Watching movies and TV shows,” then this input will have very little delay and good lip sync with the TV for video applications. But you won’t be able to restream this input source to other Omni speakers in your house. You can change these settings later by going to Settings > Manage Rooms. Find the room you wish to change, select it, and then select Source setup. You will be taken through this step again and have the chance to reconfigure the inputs.
Bluetooth Connection
The Omni Bar+ and Omni Adapt+ are equipped with Bluetooth, which allows audio streaming from any app on your phone or tablet. To pair your phone or tablet, make sure the speaker is fully powered on, then press the Bluetooth button on the top of the Omni Bar+ or remote control or the Source button on the top of the Omni Adapt+ for 3 seconds.
Once paired, all the audio from your phone or tablet will be wirelessly streamed to your speaker and all the other speakers in the same group. Stereo audio will automatically be sent to the front left, front right, surround left, and surround right speakers in a wireless 5.1 system, and you can send the audio around the house by grouping rooms in the Controller app or by pressing the Link button.
You only need to pair once with each speaker you wish to stream to via Bluetooth. After the initial pairing is done, you only need to select the speaker in your phone or tablet’s Bluetooth settings menu to reconnect.
External Sources
The Omni Bar+ and Omni Adapt+ have several ways to connect to your TV or external audio sources.
The preferred way to connect the Omni Bar+ to your TV is through HDMI ARC, which uses only a
single cable and transmits high-quality digital audio.
You may also connect external analog devices through the AUX-in or Analog In connectors on the Omni Bar+ and Omni Adapt+ by connecting a 3.5mm stereo auxiliary cable to the connector, and connecting the other end of the cable to your analog audio device.
Dolby Digital surround sound and stereo audio will automatically be sent to the correct channels in your wireless 5.1 surround sound system. When playing AUX-in audio, the Link button LED will turn green. When playing from the HDMI TV source, the source button LED will turn white. And when playing from Optical, the LED will turn amber. On the Omni Adapt+, the LED will also turn green when playing from the optical input. When playing AUX-in audio, the Link button LED will turn green.
Controlling Your Device
Speakers, Rooms, and Groups
A primary feature of the Harman Kardon Wireless HD Music System is the ability to send audio around the house to any number of different rooms. The organization is structured through rooms and groups.
A room contains one or more speakers that always play audio together. It has a specific name, like Living Room or Bedroom, a specific color, and a specific icon. Rooms show up in the Harman Kardon Controller app as destinations to stream music to, and you can edit them, including the number of speakers, by going to Settings > Room management in the Controller app.
They can be considered as permanent groups of speakers that always play the same audio content. Rooms with more than one speaker have a single Master speaker, which is the speaker you use for physical button controls and to connect external sources.
A group contains two or more rooms that play the same audio content. Their names are formed from the rooms inside them. For example, if you add the Kitchen to the Lounge to play the same music in both rooms, it would be named Lounge +1. Adding the Living Room would change the name to Lounge +2, and so on. Groups are created through the physical Link button on the top of each speaker, or by pressing the Link Rooms button on the music player page in the app.
Volume and Muting
Controlling the volume on your speaker is simple. Press the Volume + button on the top of the speaker to increase the volume, or press the Volume – button to decrease the volume. Press both volume buttons together to mute the speaker. If the speaker is muted, any volume change will automatically unmute it.
You may also control the volume from within the Controller app. When you are streaming music from the Controller app to the speakers, you can use the hardware volume buttons on your phone or tablet to adjust the speaker volume. There is also a volume bar on the music player page in the Controller app, which can be used to adjust the volume for all speakers in the current group at once. Pressing the icon to the right of the volume bar will open a more detailed volume control for the control of individual rooms inside the group.
Switching Sources
Even if you don’t have a Spotify Premium account, you can use Chromecast built-in to stream Spotify to your speakers. The Harman Kardon Controller app has direct integration with a number of different music services, as well as allowing you to play music from the music stored on your phone or tablet. Bluetooth and AUX-in allow you to play music from any app or any analog audio device you already use.
Any time you begin playing audio from any of these sources, the speaker will automatically switch\\ to that source and stop playing any audio content it was playing before. But if you desire more finetuned control over the active source, press the Source button to cycle through each one.
Remote Control
The Omni Bar+ also comes with a remote control for easy operation. Please see Buttons and Connectors on page 9 for details on the remote control functions. Please also note that the Omni Adapt+ does not work with a remote control or receive commands from the TV. When using the Omni Adapt+ with your TV, please use the Controller app or top panel buttons for control.
Playing Music
Harman Kardon Controller App
The Controller app is the easiest way to start wirelessly playing music to your speakers. Immediately after speaker setup, you will be taken to the local music player screen. You can see all the music on your phone or tablet, sorted by Playlists, Songs, Artists, Albums, or Genres.
- Play now: Stop playback of the current track (if any) and immediately play this track.
- The other tracks in the current album or playlist will also be added to play after this one.
- Play next: Finish playing the current track (if any) and then switch to this track.
- The other tracks in the current album or playlist will also be added after this.
- Replace the queue: Remove all tracks in the playback queue and play this track.
- The other tracks in the current album or playlist will be added to play after this one.
- Add song to queue: Add this track and all other tracks in the current album or playlist to the end of the playback queue.
Click the icon on the top left of the screen to open the sidebar for more options. Here you can see different music services which are integrated into the Controller app, or enter the Settings menu. Selecting any of these music services will bring you to a login screen. Log in with your music service account name and password, and the music content in the app will change to that music service’s content.
If there are music services you rarely or never use, you can edit the list as it appears in the sidebar by going to Settings > Music Service Management. You can remove services from the list, reorder them, or add previously removed services.
Spotify Connect
Using This Device With Spotify Connect
Spotify lets you listen to millions of songs – the artists you love, the latest hits, and discoveries just for you. If you are a Spotify Premium user, you can control this device using your Spotify app.
If you are a Spotify Premium user, you can control this device using your Spotify app.
- Step 1. Connect your device to the same wifi network as your phone, tablet, or PC running the Spotify app.
- Step 2. Open the Spotify app, and play any song.
- Step 3. Tap the song image in the bottom left of the screen.
- Step 4. Tap the Connect icon.
- Step 5. Pick your [device] from the list.
For information on how to set up and use Spotify Connect, please visit www.spotify.com/connect.
Licenses
The Spotify Software is subject to third-party licenses found here: www.spotify.com/connect/third-party-licenses.
Chromecast built-in
Chromecast built-in works very similarly to Spotify Connect, except it is supported by a large and growing number of music apps and services. If the music app you are using supports Chromecast built-in, you will see the Cast button in that app.
- Step 1. Connect your device to the same Wi-Fi network as the device with the app with Chromecast built in.
- Step 2. Open the app and begin to play a song.
- Step 3. Tap the Cast icon.
- Step 4. Select your Omni speaker.
Upgrading
Harman Kardon will periodically release firmware and Controller app upgrades for your Harman Kardon.
Wireless HD Music System to add additional features and improve performance. In most cases, these upgrades will be automatic.
Speaker firmware updates are scheduled for the middle of the night, when most users are asleep, and will normally be automatically delayed if you are currently using the speaker. Your speaker will automatically download these firmware upgrades and install them without requiring user input.
App updates will appear on the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. You can update the Harman Kardon Controller app as you would any other app on your tablet or phone. If you don’t have automatic app updates turned on, please check the App Store or Google Play Store from time to time to see if there are any updates available.
Settings
Inside the Harman Kardon Controller app, you can find the Settings menu at the bottom of the side bar on the left-hand side of the screen. There is additional information and options for optimizing your system.
Music services
In here, you can optimize the layout of the built-in music services. Drag your most commonly used music services to the top, or remove unused services entirely. Any changes made here will be reflected in the music services menu on the main screen of the app, for quick and easy access to the services you use.
Set up a new speaker
Select this option if you have purchased a new Omni speaker and wish to add it to your home, or if you need to reset any of your existing Omni speakers. You will be taken to the initial room setup process again.
Manage rooms
Here you can find advanced options for customizing each room in your system. You can edit the room name and change the room icon or associated color. If your room contains a single Omni speaker, you can add additional speakers to make a wireless 5.1 system, change the source setup configuration, or adjust the level of the wireless surround speakers.
Tutorial
Select this option to view all the in-app tutorials again for visual guidance on how to use eachpart off the Harman Kardon Controller app.
Product info
In this menu, you will see the current version of the Harman Kardon Controller app that you have installed, as well as the firmware versions of each speaker on the network. You may need this information for contacting customer service for additional help. You will also find information about each one of our software partners and the terms of service.
Advanced control
Sometimes activity in other apps on your phone can affect the volume level of your Omni Bar+ or Omni Adapt+. If you notice this problem, enter the Advanced control menu and turn on the “Disable hardware volume” option. You will no longer be able to use the physical volume buttons on your phone to adjust the speaker volume, but it will solve this issue should you encounter it.
Troubleshooting
Specifications
Omni Soundbar
- Frequency response: 160Hz~20kHz (-6dB)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: >85dB
- Dimensions (W x D x H): W1150 x H103 x D53 mm
- Net Weight: Omni Bar+: 3.0 kg
- Power supply: DC24V, 4A
- Bluetooth version: 4.1
- Bluetooth transmitter frequency range: 2402 – 2480MHz
- Bluetooth transmitter power: <4dBm
- Bluetooth transmitter modulation: GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK
- 2.4G Wi-Fi transmitter power: <20dBm (EIRP)
- 2.4G Wi-Fi modulation: OFDM, DSSS, DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK, 16QAM, 64QAM
2.4G Wi-Fi network compatibility: IEEE 802.11b/g/n - 5G Wi-Fi transmitter power: <18.5dBm
- 5G Wi-Fi modulation: OFDM, DSSS, DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK,16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM
- 5G Wi-Fi network compatibility: IEEE 802.11ac
- 5G Wi-Fi transmitter frequency range: 5.15 – 5.35GHz, 5.470 – 5.725GHz, 5.725 – 5.825GHz
- Power consumption in sleep mode: <3 Watts
- 2.4GHz wireless frequency range: 2402 – 2478MHz
- 2.4GHz wireless transmitter power: <20 dBm
- 2.4GHz wireless modulation: π/4 DQPSK
Wireless Subwoofer
- Frequency response: 45Hz~200Hz (-6dB)
- Crossover frequency: 80Hz~150Hz
- Signal-to-noise ratio: >80dB
- Dimensions: W480 x H400 x D103 mm
- Net Weight: 7.0 kg
- Power supply: 100-240V~50/60Hz
- Power consumption in sleep mode: <0.5 Watts
- 2.4GHz wireless frequency range: 2402 – 2478MHz
- 2.4GHz wireless receiver Sensitivity: -88dBm
- 2.4GHz wireless modulation: π/4 DQPSK
- 2.4GHz wireless transmitter power: <20 dBm
- Gross Weight: 15.93 kg
Omni Adapt
- Model Name: HK OMNI ADAPT+
- Output voltage: ≥1Vrms
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20KHz/20Hz~40KHz
- Signal-to-noise ratio at open (A-Weighted): 85dB(A-Weighted)
- Input connections: Bluetooth, Aux-in, Wi-Fi, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port
- Output Connections: AUX, Optical, Subwoofer
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 143mm x 100mm x 35mm
- Weight: 285g
- Power supply: 5VDC, 2.3A
- Bluetooth transmitter frequency range: 2402 – 2480MHz
- Bluetooth transmitter power: 0-9dBm
- Bluetooth transmitter modulation: GFSK, π /4 DQPSK, 8DPSK
- 2.4G Wi-Fi transmitter power: <20dBm (EIRP)
- 2.4G Wi-Fi modulation: OFDM, DSSS, DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK, 16QAM, 64QAM
- 2.4G Wi-Fi network compatibility: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
- 5G Wi-Fi transmitter power: <18.5dBm
- 5G Wi-Fi modulation: OFDM, DSSS, DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK,16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM
- 5G Wi-Fi network compatibility: IEEE 802.11ac
- Network standby power<3W
Open Source Declaration
This product contains open source software licensed under the GPL. For a list of open source software and other relevant information, please download the Harman Kardon Controller app available on the App Store or Google Play.
To get the source code and the relevant build instructions
- Website: http://www.harmankardon.com/opensource.html.
- Ph: (877) 871-6755
FAQs
Q: What makes the OMNI BAR Plus soundbar special?
The OMNI BAR Plus is a wireless Bluetooth soundbar that combines strong performance with a stylish design. It supports multi-room audio, provides wireless streaming from many devices, and produces high-definition music with deep bass.
Q: Can I connect multiple OMNI speakers for multi-room audio?
Indeed. You may play synchronised music around your house by grouping several OMNI speakers or soundbars using the Harman Kardon Controller app.
Q: Can I use voice assistants with the OMNI BAR Plus?
Indeed. The soundbar allows voice control through services like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa when it is connected to a compatible device. For setup instructions, see the app.
Q: What audio formats are supported?
Dolby Digital, PCM, MP3, AAC, and other popular formats are supported with the OMNI BAR Plus. HDMI or Wi-Fi streaming is the best way to get high-definition audio.
Q: Can I use the soundbar outdoors?
No, the OMNI BAR Plus is exclusively intended for indoor use. Steer clear of water, direct sunshine, and extremely high or low temperatures.
Q: Can I connect the soundbar to a subwoofer or additional speakers?
Indeed. For a complete home theatre experience, the OMNI BAR Plus may be integrated with compatible OMNI speakers and enables wireless subwoofer connections.
Q: Where can I get replacement parts or technical support?
Authorised stores or the Harman Kardon website offer replacement cables, adapters, and accessories. When requesting assistance, always have your model number and purchase information on hand.
Q: Can I connect multiple devices at the same time?
Although you can pair more than one Bluetooth device, only one can play music simultaneously. Choosing the soundbar from the Bluetooth menu on the new device is all it takes to switch devices.