Harman/kardon Citation 23

Overview

The Harman Kardon Citation Twenty-Three is a digitally controlled AM/FM stereo tuner introduced in the late 1980s. As part of Harman Kardon’s prestigious Citation series, it was designed as more than a routine matching component. Its defining feature is Active Tracking, a system that automatically adjusts FM selectivity according to reception conditions rather than forcing the listener to choose a fixed wide or narrow bandwidth.

The tuner combines seek and manual tuning, station presets, signal-strength information, adjustable muting, and remote-control capability. Contemporary testing found it easy to use and consistently clean sounding, while its adaptive IF system was intended to preserve fidelity on strong stations and improve rejection when adjacent signals became a problem.

Why This Model Matters

By 1987, dedicated tuners were competing with increasingly capable receivers, so a Citation model needed a clear technical purpose. The Twenty-Three’s Active Tracking circuitry gave it one: automated selectivity that responded to real reception conditions. It reflects Harman Kardon’s long-standing emphasis on wide-bandwidth, low-distortion design while adding the convenience expected of a late-1980s component.

Highlights

• AM/FM stereo tuner from the late 1980s
• Active Tracking adaptive FM selectivity
• Seek, scan, and manual tuning modes
• Digital station presets
• Remote-control capability
• Low-profile Citation-series styling

Who It’s For

The Citation Twenty-Three is ideal for listeners who still use FM and want a sophisticated tuner without the visual bulk of 1970s designs. It also makes a natural partner for other Citation components and offers an interesting example of how high-end tuner engineering evolved in the digital-control era.