A lot of feateures for the price, full 2 year warranty

Too many negative posts.

I saw the latest line of HK products at Circuit City and was impressed so I decided to check out the web site. It was there that I came across the link to their discontinued and refurbished products,. They sell it new for $280.00 and refurbished for $160.00, both with 2 year factory warranties. After reading all the negative posts on this product, I decided it wasn't worth the risk . Hk also has quite a few of the current products for sale as refurbs on this page. Between all the refurbs for sale and all the negative posts , all purchases should be made with caution and fair warning has been given. Thanks to all those who posted, this is what makes this a great site. Any opinions on what a 1st time purchase for a small room in the $300. to $150.00 price rage would be welcome.

Similar Products Used:

none - first time purchase

Digital decoding

Tuner

I've read many of the reviews and wonder if we are all looking at the same product. I have used the AVR 45 only as a preamp/dolby AC-3 decoder. This could be the reason that I am fine with the product, except it needs more optical inputs. I am using an Adcom GFA 555 for amplification of the front speakers, an Altec 353A tube preamp/amp for the back speakers and the on-board amp for the center. Also utilizing a Paradigm 200watt 12" bandpass subwoofer. The front speakers are Paradigm Studio Monitors and the rear are Paradigm Titans for the rear, and a Paradigm Center with dual 5" and proprietary tweeter. Needless to say, when the T-Rex chomps down, you can feel it crunching bones. When I just use the AVR 45 by itself without the other amps, it is good, but not awe inspiring, but then again, the price is right for as good as it is. I would recommend this product to someone starting a system without any reservations, unless of course, they listen to the radio. Buy a Bose Wave if that is what you do with your audio. I will be hooking up the little Technics DV H550 to see what it does with the sytem, and am going to try a pair of Wharfedale Valdus 500's on the rear just for grins.

Similar Products Used:

Dual, Adcom, JVC

Has great sound quality.

Not enough power in the surrond channels.

My Harman/Kardon AVR45 is great. I purchased it at Circuit City for the amazing low price of $210. I bought it because of the low price and the low amount of harmonic distortion (O.O9%). The amount of power and sound quality it produces, is amazing. If you buy a fiber obtic cable and connect it to the jack of the reciever and into the jack of a fiber optic cd player, the sound quality improves tremendously. It also increases the bass response. The AVR45 is a very good, all purpose receiver

Similar Products Used:

pioneer and kenwood recievers

Looks great in cabinet

Overheating issue, makes annoying loud noise out of speakers after about 35 minutes of watching a movie.

I also will never buy a HK product again. To me they just look good. I chose HK over Denon because they were rated about the same but HK recievers look alot better.
I have had this receiver a little over 2 months. It is a UBID refurbished product. I believed I had a overheating issue so I called HK support to find out what the solutions were. After about 30-50 minutes of watching a DVD in 5.1 or surround sound the sound would cut out and make an annoying noise. Basically the HK support person tried to blame the problem on everything possible BUT the reciever itself. There is no way a HK reciever could have a problem in his mind!!! I have Saphire 89 Wharfedale speakers, he tried to blame it on them saying that they were not 8 ohms. I told him they were, then he said that they "fluctuate" and are not always rated at 8 ohms. WHATEVER. The speakers worked fine with my last Sony home theatre receiver. He then said that I had not given enough space in the cabinet for the unit. I have about 6 inches all around and 12 inches clearance on top. How much space do these things need!! He then told me to try it on top of the cabinet to see what it does. So if it worked then, I am supposed to buy a new cabinet or leave it on top of my entertainment center. Not really a solution. I then told him that I had heard that some people have opened up the reciever and installed fans themselves. He said this was a really good idea. I like it how this was an acceptable solution to him. I am not an electronics expert so I will not give it a try. He could not have someone fix the problem or send me another model like other reps have done in the past. Im sorry, but if having 12 inches of clearance above and behind a reciever does not give it enough room so it does not overheat, then maybe HK needs to recall this product or not sell it anymore or replace it. In this day and age you would think that they could build something a little bit stronger. "HK has not put a fan in a reciever for over 50 years, and they are not about to" was his response to me asking why they don't put a fan in the reciever in the first place. I had heard that problems are never really fixed with refurbished products. Little testing is done. I think I will just suck it up and pay retail this time around. The Denon 1802 seems like a solid unit with more power. That will be my next purchase.

Similar Products Used:

HK AVR-110

I very pleased with the performance of the AVR45. It produces a clean and rich sound. The new Crystal Circuit technology performs very well with Dolby Digital media. I'm using it with a RCA DIVX player and enjoying the incredible sound in action movies. It also sounds great with my rock collection. I had the AVR55 before and they improved on a good thing. Lots of features and easy operation.

I compared this receiver to the Yah 793, the Denon 2700, and the Kenwood 209. The only one that came close to the AVR 45 in sound quality and movement was the 793, but the 793 is more expensive and does not have a 6 channel input. The only complaint is having to set up the speakers for each input device, i.e. to set the speakers to small or large. When you set them to small it sends all of the low freq. sounds to the sub. It is a great unit especially if you are using it with surround sound. Don't be fooled by other receivers with higher watts per channel, you can crank this thing as lound as your ears can handle and you will NOT hear any hiss. You can not say the same of others.

I just bought the AVR 45 and I am very pleased with it. This is my first Dolby Digital receiver and I am facinated by the difference. In the past I have had several Pro Logic receivers and the difference its extreme. The HK AVR 45 has excellent sound quality. You can get it loud but it stays clear unlike several other brands in the same price range. I was also attracted to the way the different channels blens together to give a even sound unlike Onkyo and Yamaha. The AVR 45 is rated at 55 X 5 but don't be fooled because that is high current powere and you can crank it just as loud as one with 100 X 5, and when you do the sound is still clear.

I listened to the AVR45 at Circuit City and really liked it. I listened to it though Infinity's top of the line speakers. My main concern before I buy it is that it might have the same problmes that the AVR65s are having. In order not to tarnish the good record posted here, I offer a 5 star review based on what I heard at Circuit City.
Does this reciever HISS or HUM?

PLease let me know.

I have owned several HK products in recent times, the AVR45 did not live up to my expectations as compared to the other units I have sampled. The bass response was weak, "contour"?, or does this unit lack current?. After calling HKardon they imformed me that they have 3 different current ratings on record, of which 1 falls below specs as per manual. I returned this unit allthough I was impressed somewhat by the remote. My onkyo 727 blew it away, in my opinion, if your really looking for deep demanding soundtracks this unit is not sufficient, not to mention the price tag, circuit city aprox. $800.00

I just bought a AVR-45 with Infinity RS5 as front, RS2 as surround and CC2 as center. This combo is just great. I had actually bought the Onkyo-555. I did not like the Onkyo, as it does not have the front A/V and sounds lot duller (though louder) than HK. I would give this system as 5 star. This is a great combination and I love it.