Harman Kardon Citation 22

Harman Kardon Citation 22 (often written as Citation Twenty-Two) is a legendary
and extremely powerful stereo power amplifier from the late 1980s. It belonged to Harman Kardon's absolute top-tier lineup (the Citation series) and was built to drive the most demanding and difficult-to-drive speakers on the market – making it highly relevant if you own the Infinity Kappa models discussed earlier!

Years of Production

• Period: Manufactured between approximately 1987 and 1991.
  

Technical Specifications

The Citation 22 is built like a tank with a very serious power supply. A unique technical detail is a switch on the back that allows you to select between high or low voltage depending on whether your speakers are 8 or 4 ohms. This ensures it delivers the exact same massive power regardless of the load.

• Power Output (Stereo): 2 x 200 watts RMS into both 8 $\Omega$ and 4 $\Omega$ (20Hz - 20kHz, 0.08% THD).

• Power Output (Bridged Mono Mode): 1 x 400 watts RMS into 8 $\Omega$.

• High-Current Capability (HCC): Capable of delivering instantaneous current peaks of up to $\pm$120 Amperes, which is exceptionally high.

• Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (though it features an internal open-loop bandwidth that extends far beyond this).

• Damping Factor: 100 to 120 (providing iron-fisted control over the bass).

• Negative Feedback: Only 12 dB. Thanks to Matti Otala's design principles, negative feedback was minimized to eliminate transient intermodulation distortion (TIM).

• Dimensions: 443 x 155 x 398 mm.

• Weight: Around 20.5 kg (a substantial piece of machinery).

Sound Character

The sound of the Citation 22 reflects Harman Kardon's classic hi-fi philosophy:

• Raw Dynamics and Foundation: Thanks to its immense current capacity, it has a brutal "grip" on the bass. It rarely clips and delivers a deep, physical, and incredibly dynamic low-end punch.

• Warm Yet Revealing: This is not a sterile or clinical power amplifier. The sound leans toward a slightly warmer and fuller character, but without sacrificing details or spaciousness in the midrange and treble.

• Open Soundstage: Thanks to the low-induction design and low negative feedback, it paints a large and three-dimensional soundstage where instruments are given plenty of room to breathe.

Known Strengths

• Can Drive Anything: If you have speakers that dip down toward 1–2 ohms (like the Infinity Kappa series or old electrostatic speakers), this is one of the few vintage amplifiers that won't back down or go into protection mode.

• The "High Current" Philosophy: Its focus on current capacity (Amperes) rather than just theoretical wattage makes it feel significantly more powerful than modern Class-D amplifiers with similar specifications.

• Clear LED Display: The front panel features a sleek row of green LED lights displaying power output in real-time (this can be turned off via a button if you find the light distracting).