Harman Kardon Bds 570 Firmware Update — Full HD
The Diagnosis Let’s be honest: before this update, my Harman Kardon BDS 570 was less of a Blu-ray player and more of a very expensive, glowing paperweight.
It had contracted a disease common to aging smart devices: "Button Lag Dementia." You’d press "Open Tray," walk to the kitchen to make a sandwich, come back, and the tray would just be pondering the concept of opening. The Netflix app was a slideshow of despair, buffering more often than it played. It was a tragic end for a machine that, aesthetically, still looked like a piece of modern art—sleek, black, and mysterious.
The Procedure Updating the firmware on the BDS 570 isn't for the faint of heart. In an age of "update while you sleep," Harman Kardon went old school. This requires the "USB Ritual." You have to hunt down the file on a browser that feels like it hasn't been updated since 2015, unzip it, and transfer it to a drive.
I plugged it in, bracing myself for the worst. The front display flickered. It beeped. It sat in silence. For ten agonizing minutes, I watched the progress bar crawl with the speed of a glacier. I genuinely feared I had bricked the unit.
The Resurrection Then, it rebooted.
I expected minor tweaks. Maybe a slight stability improvement. What I got was a hardware exorcism.
The difference was immediate and visceral. The menu navigation snapped into focus. The cursor moved with a fluidity I hadn't seen since 2014. The tray opened with a decisive click the moment I pressed the button, as if the machine was apologizing for its previous lethargy.
The Verdict Is it a brand-new player? No. It’s still running an operating system that feels delightfully retro in a 4K HDR world. But the firmware update stripped away the cobwebs. It silenced the fan whine in the software logic and made the unit feel responsive, solid, and premium again.
Pros:
Cons:
Final Thought: If you have a BDS 570 collecting dust because it’s "slow," do yourself a favor: perform the ritual. It doesn't just update the software; it reminds the hardware that it was once a high-end audiophile centerpiece. 4/5 Stars (would be 5 if the update didn't require a scavenger hunt to find).
Updating the Harman Kardon BDS 570 firmware is a process aimed at improving performance, fixing software bugs, and occasionally adding functionality to this 5.1-channel Blu-ray disc system. The Update Process
You can update your system using two primary methods as detailed in the official BDS Software Update Instructions Online Update (Recommended):
The most direct way is via the unit's built-in online update tool. Since it connects directly to Harman's servers, it typically accesses the latest software versions before they are even posted on the public website. USB Manual Update: Download the latest firmware file from the Harman Kardon Support Extract the downloaded files and load them onto a standard FAT32-formatted USB stick
Insert the USB stick into the front-panel USB port of the BDS 570 and follow the on-screen prompts to begin the flash process. Harman Audio Common Issues & Troubleshooting harman kardon bds 570 firmware update
Updating these legacy units can sometimes be finicky. Users often report the following: Stuck or Failed Updates: If the update fails, Harman Kardon Support recommends performing a factory reset
, removing power for at least 10 seconds, and then attempting the update again with a fresh download of the file. Region Code Limitations: Firmware updates generally do
unlock region restrictions. The BDS 570 remains region-locked for DVD and Blu-ray playback unless hardware-modified. Format Constraints:
Even with updates, the BDS 570 typically lacks support for modern lossless formats like FLAC or NTFS-formatted drives, which are common limitations for this generation of "Lifestyle" systems. JustAnswer Precautions Avoid Unauthorized Firmware:
Using unofficial or "hacked" firmware can void your warranty or permanently damage (brick) the device. Maintenance:
Ensure the unit is connected to a stable power source during the update. A power loss during the internal flash memory write can cause system failure. JustAnswer Are you currently facing a specific error code or is the system stuck on a splash screen during your update attempt?
To update the firmware on your Harman Kardon BDS 570 use either a wireless network connection USB flash drive Method 1: Wireless Update (Recommended)
If your unit is connected to the internet, you can update it directly through the on-screen menu: Connect to Network
: Ensure your BDS 570 is connected to your Wi-Fi or via an Ethernet cable. To set up Wi-Fi, go to the menu, select , and follow the prompts to enter your password. Navigate to Update : Press the button on your remote. Check for Updates : Navigate to Software Update Product Software ). If a new version is detected, select to begin the process. : Do not turn off the power until the update is complete. Method 2: USB Update If the unit cannot connect to the network, use a USB stick: Prepare USB FAT32-formatted USB drive. Download Firmware : Visit the official Harman Kardon Support Page and search for "BDS 570" to find the latest firmware file. Transfer File : Copy the firmware file to the root directory (not inside a folder) of your USB drive.
: Insert the USB drive into the front port of the BDS 570. Follow the on-screen prompts under Settings > System > Software Update to initiate the manual install. Harman Kardon Troubleshooting & Tips Failed Update
: If the update fails, try re-downloading the file, performing a Factory Reset , and removing power for 10 seconds before trying again. Check Current Version : To see your current firmware, go to Home > Settings > System > Information Factory Reset : If you need to reset the device to defaults, go to Home > Settings > System > Restore Defaults and confirm with Harman Kardon or troubleshoot a specific error code after the update? Harman Kardon Software Update Guide | PDF - Scribd
To update the firmware on your Harman Kardon BDS 570 , you can use a USB flash drive or a wireless network connection. Preparation Tips
Record Settings: The update will erase your system memory, including speaker distances and radio presets. Write these down before starting.
Time Requirement: The process typically takes less than 20 minutes and must be completed in one continuous session. Option 1: Update via USB (Recommended) Check Current Version: Press the Home button on your remote. Go to Settings (gear icon) > System > Information. Prepare USB Stick: The Diagnosis Let’s be honest: before this update,
Download the latest firmware from the official Harman Kardon Software Downloads page.
Unzip the file and move the UPG folder to the root of a standard USB memory stick. Install Update: Plug the USB stick into the Navigate to Settings > System > System Upgrade.
Select USB. When the unit finds the software, press OK to begin loading.
Once complete, the unit will switch to Standby. Remove the USB stick. Option 2: Wireless/Network Update
Connect to Network: Go to Settings > Network > Wireless and connect to your Wi-Fi. Start Upgrade: Navigate to Settings > System > System Upgrade.
Select Internet. (Note: If this option is greyed out, you must use the USB method). Post-Update Reset
After any update, it is critical to restore the unit to factory defaults to ensure stability: Go to Settings > System > Restore Defaults and confirm.
Switch the unit to Standby, then turn off the main power switch on the rear panel for at least 10 seconds before turning it back on.
If you encounter issues where the unit does not work after an update, Harman Kardon recommends repeating the process with a freshly re-downloaded file.
Are you experiencing a specific error message or issue that prompted the need for an update? Software Downloads - Harman Kardon
Updating the firmware on your Harman Kardon BDS 570 helps resolve playback issues, improves system stability, and ensures compatibility with newer media formats. Because this is a legacy Blu-ray home theater system, updates are typically performed manually via Step 1: Verify Your Current Version
Before downloading anything, check if you actually need an update.
Turn on your BDS 570 and ensure there is no disc in the tray. Using the remote, go to System Information Note the current firmware version (e.g., v2.xx.xx). Step 2: Download the Firmware Visit the official Harman Kardon Support Page Search for in the search bar. Look for the Software & Manuals
section. If a newer version than yours is available, download the Important: Final Thought: If you have a BDS 570
Ensure you download the correct regional version (e.g., EU vs. US) to avoid bricking the unit. Step 3: Prepare the USB Drive Use a USB flash drive (standard USB 2.0/3.0) formatted to Unzip the downloaded file on your computer. Copy the unzipped firmware files directly to the root directory of the USB drive. Do not put them in a folder. Step 4: Execute the Update Insert the USB drive into the front panel USB port of the BDS 570. Navigate to Software Update as the update source.
The system will detect the file. Confirm that you want to start the update.
Do not turn off the power or touch any buttons during this process. The system may restart automatically several times. Step 5: Confirmation
Once the update is complete, the system will return to the home screen or standby mode. Go back to System Information to verify that the version number has updated.
If the system doesn't recognize the USB, try a different drive (smaller capacities like 2GB or 4GB often work best for legacy hardware) and double-check that it is formatted to troubleshooting a specific error code, or are you looking for the latest version number currently available?
The Harman Kardon BDS 570 is a 5.1-channel Blu-ray home theater system released in the early 2010s. Firmware updates for this device are critical for maintaining Blu-ray disc playback compatibility, improving system stability, and resolving HDMI handshake issues. However, as of the current date, Harman Kardon (now part of Samsung’s audio division after the acquisition from Harman International Industries) has officially discontinued support for this model. Finding official firmware is challenging, and users must rely on archived sources or third-party repositories with caution.
Official Method (If Available):
Alternative Method (If Official Links are Dead):
This method relies on the BDS 570 communicating with Harman Kardon servers.
From AVS Forum and Reddit archives (2013–2020):
A firmware update is not without risk. Interrupting the process can brick your BDS 570, turning it into an expensive paperweight. Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
This is the most reliable method for older hardware, as it bypasses potential server connection issues on the device itself.
The Harman Kardon BDS 570 does not support over-the-air (OTA) updates via Ethernet. The Ethernet port is for streaming audio only, not firmware. You must use a USB drive.
