Harman Kardon AVR 300 A/V Receivers

Harman Kardon AVR 300 A/V Receivers 

DESCRIPTION

Stereo Mode: 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms Surround Mode: 50 watts per channel into 8 ohms Dolby Digital and DTS processing

USER REVIEWS

Showing 41-50 of 87  
[Dec 29, 2000]
Ove Tegnér
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Very clean and powerful sound, both as a 2 ch. hifi stereo and as homemovie-theater. Clean sober design. Many connections as all channels pre out and multi out. Sturdy speakerconnectors.

Weakness:

Clicking sound in the rear speakers when volume is changed. -64 dB is the lowest volume to go, which is not low enough with my speakers (next step lower and it's quiet). Not possible to change between hall and theater effects from remote. The cower lid is weak.

I havent used this unit for more then a week and have only tested the DD 5.1 with two DVD movies, a Rolling Stones concert (Bridges to Babylon) and Matrix. I can only say that I'm surprised how good it sounds. I have never heard a better sound, even at the movie. A Disney videomovie as The Lionking is now worth to see all over again a few times, even though it's "just" Dolby Prologic. (my children and I has watched it several times before the H/K purchase)
As an ordinary hifi receiver it fullfills my needs more then well. If you have good speakers which I thought I had before, you will fully realize their potential with this receiver. I did. The output effectspec is a bit low on paper but the figures seems to be honest which most the competitors arent. If you have any neighbours at all you will certainly not need more power !
I know I havent much to compare with but this unit feels like the right choise. The few weaknesses I have described above I can live with.

Similar Products Used:

At my friends home, listening to a Pioneer prologic receiver. (don't remember the model)

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Dec 30, 2000]
jeff brooks
Casual Listener

Strength:

Great sound with the unique amilifier circuitry. My buddy has the Marantz SR 7000 and I must say, this sounds just as good, and I'm using it with crappy Bose 401direct/reflecting fronts, bose VCS center, and cheap bose surrounds. I'm sure when I upgrade my speakers it'll sound even better.

Weakness:

HOWEVER!!! I notice some other people had the same problem with the volume control getting a mind of its own, and spontaneously increasing or decreasing after adjustment. Mine has this prob;em as well, and its a real PAIN IN THE ASS!! Otherwise, it's a great reciever and would be a 5/5 if it weren't for the volume problem....

overall if I had it to do over again I'd have bought a different reciever because of the volume problem

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Jan 16, 2001]
Jorgen Engdahl
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

The looks and the sound.
Everything si great with this little thing.

Weakness:

Clicking noice when adjusting volume, (i dont mind)

Well, I´m kinda new to this bizz but i´m getting into it FAST!!
I first got me the AVR 200 but I returned it after I read some post about DTS and stuff so there I was in the store again, looking at the brand new models from harman/Kardon (the 210-510 series etc..) and I was thinking, should i go for the new 510 or just for the old avr300rds?.
Well..since this is my first try with DD/DTS and DVD´s I decided to calm down and go for the AVR300rds.
I´ve had it only for 1 month now but it sounds like nothing i´ve ever heard before, some people told me that the remote was a pain in the xxx but after just 30 min it was totally configurated with my tv-vcr and dvd =)
I´ve listened to some music and plenty of dvd´s and I can just say i´m almost totally satisfyed with my first step into the "reallity".
I dont know, maybe I´ve should have gone with the new 510 model or even the 7000 but that will be the next step in 1-2 years. I first have to get me a widescreen telly and some new fronspeakers =).
I really recommend this reciever for this kinda money but if you got the cash, go for something more heavy like the 510 or even the 7000 =).

Similar Products Used:

nothing before.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 16, 2001]
Todd K.
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

price, well put together, hooked up easy.

Weakness:

I havn't found any yet, I'll let you know if I do, but for $170 bones, I dont care.

I dont have the greatest speakers made ( paradigms ) but after I hooked this pig up I could tell a difference. It sounds good and I havn't had any problems with it. If you feel more comfortable paying $800 buck at your local retail store then go ahead.

Similar Products Used:

yamaha, sony,

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Feb 27, 2000]
Dennis Tellez, Jr.
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Lots of S-Video inputs (and they are generically labeled)
Exceptionally clear sound with no background noise

Weakness:

Remote; "clicking noise" when making selections on the receiver.

First of all, this receiver is so HEAVY that I almost could not lift it up even though this is only a 50W per channel receiver (in surround) which should tell you something about the quality and capacity of the components inside. Other supposedly 100W recievers in the same price range I could easily lift up. This is a 35 amp receiver (most othe receivers in its class have much less capacity)and you can really hear it! Often I will have to turn down the volume during loud and "boomy" parts (without distortion!) of a movie even though seconds before the action there was dialogue that was at a "normal" volume level. I would argue that if you can lift up a receiver without much trouble it is not a very good receiver!

BTW, I bought this reciever at ecost for about $450 or about $125.00 more than my parents paid for their Sony DE835 at Costco.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DE835

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 26, 2001]
Steve
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Sound is great--at least DD and stereo

Weakness:

DTS!!!!

Well, I'm back folks. The long experiment with the AVR300 appears to be over. The DTS failed again despite the modifications made by the repair shop. Ultimately it ended-up that HK will be replacing my unit with the new 310. I will post a review of the new one when it gets here and I've had a chance to put it through its paces. Don't expect an easy road to replacement from HK, though. Mine has been in the shop off and on a total of 6-8 weeks (3 trips in all). Even though HK acknowledges that this is a defect with some 300 units, they are reluctant to acknowledge that the "fix" doesn't work. Perhaps it does with the right repair people and mine weren't it...I don't know, but I've gotta do some serious star-shooting off of my previous reviews.

Similar Products Used:

HK AVR15 & AVR30

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
3
[Jan 23, 2001]
Carl Mes
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Clean crisp sound, multitude of inputs

Weakness:

Click when adjusting volume, build quality

I was very impressed when listining to this unit prior to purchase. Sound is very clean and well defined, even at high volume. I also wanted a quiet unit (no external fans etc) so the AVR 300 was exactly what I was looking for.

However, sadly my first unit had to be returned. FM reception was shocking. I also started getting static clicks and pops after using any of the surround modes for more than 30 minutes. Switching the amp off and on would make them go away, but 5 minutes later, they'd be back.

My second unit works great. The only possible problem I have involves power up. Because we have a lot of lightning in my area, I always unplug all appliances from the wall when I am not using them. When I plug my HK back in, I have to wait 5 seconds before switching on, otherwise I get a *protect* display, and the unit refuses to power up.

Other than this, I really enjoy the sound that my HK produces. (Hopefully my neighbors agree with that ... )

Similar Products Used:

None, first time AVR buyer

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[May 13, 2001]
Craig Dowdy
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

On screen display. Nice clean classy look.

Weakness:

Lacks power. No A/B speaker outs. Poor build quality.

Well, first let me say that I have always loved the warm sound quality that Harman/Kardon stereos produce. I can't deny that this stereo did have a nice clear sound, for about 1 hour.
I purchased this stereo online at Harman Audio Outlet. I began hooking up this receiver in my living room on a Friday afternoon shortly before guests were arriving to watch a few DVD's. I connected my Infinity mains, a Boston Acoustic center, and Klipsch surrounds. The sound was clean and warm, though lacking in power. It was necessary to adjust the volume to at least 75% to obtain any usable sound level. I immediately noticed while seting up, that the tuner "down" button was completely inoperative. Obviously I was dissappointed by this, but I figured I'd just send it back and get another after the weekend. Well halfway through the Independance Day DVD, the receiver shut itself off and flashed *PROTECT* on the display. I thought I might be overdriving it a bit, but I really wasn't playing the unit that loudly. After a 30minute cooldown, and a recheck of my speaker wiring, I powered it back up and we continued watching ID4, this time at a lower volume level, and the bass cut in half. 30 minutes later it shut off again, but this time did not display and message at all. I waited a bit and powered it up, at which point I saw bright blue flash inside the unit and smelled the smoke shortly after. I got approxamately 1 hour of use out of this receiver. Therefore I can not recommend it to anyone, at any price. I have since replaced it with a Yamaha HTR-5250 which I believe is far superior in every way, save the on screen programming. The Yamaha is far more powerful and has many more features than the Harman. Don't waste your hard earned cash on Harman receivers, especially when there are high quality Yamaha and Denon alternatives out there for the same money. Maybe someday Harman will pull production of these units out of China and return it to a more quality control oriented country. Until then, they have seen the last buck they'll see from me.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
3
[Dec 16, 2001]
J Simpson
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Attractive, sleek case. Very good clarity and power

Weakness:

Terrible remote control.

Overall - well worth the money. Awesome sound quality. Although sometimes a little too clear - sound sometimes lacks warmth and sounds cold and detached

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Sep 24, 2001]
John Banczak
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Very good sound, lots of inputs, easy to setup.

Weakness:

Constant fear factor of:
1)the thing not working due to all the bad reviews
2)writing a review and being jinxed into the thing not working

Okay - so I went for the uBid special, and so far after 4 months, it seems to be working just fine. Great sound for just about every application. I'm using a Pioneer Elite DVD for both DVD and CD, connected through the optical port, as well as through the analog. I believe the HKs processor sounds better, but awfully close. Works well in both stereo and surround modes, and certainly has enough inputs and outputs on back to keep you busy.

I have had little quirks with the system - like right now the Svideo out doesn't seem to be working, or the subwoofer 6 channel direct out - but I usually find that I tweaked something in setup that screws this up as opposed to something really being wrong...

Great value - I'm knocking on wood and crossing fingers that it continues to perform.

Similar Products Used:

Old HD 645 receiver

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 41-50 of 87  

(C) Copyright 1996-2018. All Rights Reserved.

audioreview.com and the ConsumerReview Network are business units of Invenda Corporation

Other Web Sites in the ConsumerReview Network:

mtbr.com | roadbikereview.com | carreview.com | photographyreview.com | audioreview.com