I have listened to the HK AVR20 MK11 in audio stores. It sounds great. In fact a high end audio store here that specializes in HK products uses the AVR20 MK11 as their demo model for Home Theatre systems. That was before Dolby Digital of course. I purchased the big brother to the AVR20 MKII, the AVR25 MKII. I have B&W DM302 speakers and a Sony CDP-XE300 cd player. Just recently bought the Pioneer CT-W616DR cassette deck (with digital processing) to complement my system. To tell you the truth my volume knob never goes past the 9:00 position.Somehow I think I would have been just as happy with the lower powered AVR20 MKII. I paid $800 Canadian for the AVR25. The AVR20 was selling for about $600 Canadian last year. HK has discontinued the AVR25 MKII. I don't know about the AVR20 MKII but I suspect they might have done the same with it as well. I got interested in audio last year when I was searching for components to build a decent but affordable stereo system without compromising quality. I read all the audio magazines out there. I did a lot of research. As far as AV receivers are concerned the HK's (specifically the AVR20-25) came out on top in comparison tests in the stereo music category in practically all the reviews I had read. After listening to it I agree. You can hear the quality. Reproduces music faithfully. I spent about $1,700 Canadian for an AV receiver, cd player, tape deck, stereo cabinet and speaker stands. Not bad considering I had thought to get great sound I had to spend a lot more than that. I have friends who own $2,000 to $5,000 speakers. I'm more than happy with my system. The Sony CDP-XE300 cd player ($200 Cdn.) sounds great (class beating sound says What HiFi magazine). I don't think I'll really get better sound if I paid more (maybe slightly noticeable and better mechanics). The B&W DM302 speakers ($300 Cdn.) are rated highly (product of the year?) by Stereophile magazine. And you know how good a speaker has to be for THOSE guys to approve it so gushingly. It's rated in the same class as speakers costing $2,000. Since I just purchased the Pioneer CT-W616DR double-cassette deck ($300 Cdn.) the jury is still out. The sound is detailed and lively. The closest to what a cd would sound like. Bass on the Sony WA7ESA cassette deck has more prescence. In otherwords you feel it instead of just hearing it (on my speakers at least)on the Sony. I like vocals better on the Sony. More forceful(?) like on LP's. I suspect their Elite series would satisfy me more. So, what I'm trying to say is: I'm glad I bought the AVR25 MKII but would probably be just as satisfied if I had gotten the AVR20 MKII.

I bought the unit brand new at Fry's electronics for $250. I also bought an HK Fl 8300 5-disc cd player for another $250. My main speakers are Infinty SM 115s, and the surround speakers are Pinnacle AC 3000s. I think the system performs really well. My only complaints would be the FM tuner, and low power for the surround speakers. Overall It sounds very musical, and with efficient speakers it will get very loud.

I bought my AVR20 MKII waaay back when. I heard it A/B'd with an Onkyo 535 on the same speaks (that probably dates it). It made that Onkyo sound like fingernails on a blackboard. That was in college, when I was running my roomie's JBL J-series speaks with it...at the time, I thought it sounded pretty damn good. My, how things have changed. After I graduated, got myself new NHTs all around and they now make my H/K sound like crap. The surround channels are waaay underpowered by today's standards. Now have four surrounds running in parallel (don't care if I burn the amp up...hasn't yet, though) just to get everything to balance with the test tones. I just can't agree that the H/K is at all musical, either. Midrange is very muddy (esp. on vocal passages) and I'm confident that it's not my NHTs. Have heard the NHTs on other electronics and they sound beautiful. ISO a new digital receiver with real amps!!However, the H/K has been very faithful to me...hasn't ever given me a problem and is very easy to use (IMO). Value, reliability, and ergonomics give it three stars.

I shopped around for almost a year before deciding on the HK AVR20mkII. I chose it over comprable receivers from Yamaha, Onkyo, etc. I've been nothing but pleased with the HK. I use it for general listening, but mainly for Home Theater applications. Currently, I have it coupled with a pair of Boston CR8's, Boston VRS Pro surrounds, Boston CR2 center channel, and a Miller and Kriesel V75II 12" powered sub. To say the least, my neighbors are really beginning to hate "movie night" at my house !!! In the future, I hope to move up to a Dolby Digital Receiver, and it will be a Harman Kardon.

I appreciate all kinds of music. I bought the avr20 based only on reputationof manufacturer, and got it through the mail from a clearance house for
refurbs (D----k) Paid a ridiculously low price. I listen to John Coltrane,
Led Zeppelin, Peter Frampton, Mozart etc...and have yet to experience a bad
sound from this unit. I love the power. I play it through Paradigm entry level speakers and it sounds great.

This is the first receiver buy of mine and I am extremely pleased with it.My other consideration was the Denon 360. The style, easy of operation, added
features made me choose the AVR 20 II.
The sound reproduction is excellent, coupled with B&W 601's, makes it a
very good home theater. I am real happy with this. My first movie was Twister
and I nearly called the cops to my Apartment. The Dolby Prologic decoding is crisp and sharp.
With all these and the good price makes it an excellent buy. I would recommend it to anybody.

Six Month Search for A/V Pro-Logic Under $400
I have been trying to upgrade my av system on a limited budget as our family is expecting. As we live on a ranch 30 miles from anywhere we take our tv/music seriously. I think I probably drove the return clerks crazy, at least I know they drove me crazy with the waiting entailed in order to exchange all of the units which I returned. I found that the salesmen became less intelligent to the point that they asked to see my notes and specs. The Kenwood 7080 was a close second, but the remote was too complicated for my wife. The harmon/kardon avr 20II at $370 filled my bill. I love this unit, my wife loves this unit, my dog even loves this unit!! FM reception and separation are excellent! Every tuner I've used out here I have had to use an FM booster which of course also boosts the interference. However, not this one, the pro logic has extremely clean sound and definition. The remote is very complete except to change from FM to AM. A good buy for the money. Crank it up and you can listen to it all day and if that isn't load enough pre amp all channels the outputs are there!! I base my rating on the average man's bang for the buck and a beer budget.

We just purchased a HK AVR-20II system w/ cd player, i have never heard better sound and would recomend it to anyone and everyone.

I've just been looking through these reviews, and I noticed Elmer Fudd's. It's not anything bad, but all amplifiers are designed to work the hardest and best around the 10:30 position. It's kind of like a car. Pushing it too hard can damage your amp, speaker, and power supply. I'd advice against pushing your amp to the 12:00 position, it may not be that big of a difference to you, but to the amp its the whole world.

I have a AVR 15 Dolby SS system (purchased in 96'). Previously I have owned products of much lesser stature than the avr 15, but this reciever is the best I have ever heard. Clearly this machine is pure elegance, to look at and to listen to.Where can I get some info and reviews on this fine piece of equipment.