The new AVR5 is an Audiophiles best friend, and at a very affordable price. It replaces the older AVR40 (which is awesome too); H/K has made this model DTS/DSS compactable.Don't be put off by its 35 amp rating, its all you need with GOOD speakers. Got it at CC for an amazing $212.00.I have it hooked up to a pair of JBL HLS810 front speakers, polkaudio RT25 surround speakers and a custom made infinity(2) and Klisph(tweeter) center channel speaker. This combo ROCKS! Remote could be improved, but the great thing is that is it universal.
I highly recommend it.

I posted an earlier review giving this receiver 4 stars. I paid $299 at CC. Well, I found the same unit for $249 at JandR.com I don't have a printer, so I couldn't print out the page, so I saved it to disk, and brought my laptop to CC (just 3 blocks away). Well, CC refunded 110% of the difference PLUS TAX! Therefore, I now have to upgrade my rating to 5 stars. At $240, it's unbeatable if you want a high quality product without the bells and whistles. I'm runnning Optimus LX10s in front and LX5s in rear...a friend suggested I run both pairs of speakers through the front channels only, essentially giving "quadrophonic" sound. I can't believe the difference! (Of couse, DPL doesn't work too well this way) With 4 Linaeum tweeters going at once with equal power to 4 channels, I now have the best sounding living room on the block! The only weak spot is the tuner doesn't seem to be very sensitive...a powered FM antenna seems to have helped. Then again, NYC is notorious for bad FM reception. This receiver is strongly recommended.

I bought this dolby digital ready receiver from J&R three weeks ago. It is hooked up to a Technics AC-3/DTS decoder. The sound is clean and extremely effortless. I personally like its warm reproduction with accurate imaging.Each instument in the orchestra is vividly displayed as if you were sitting in front of the stage. I guess this advantage is greatly attributed from Ultra-Wide Band Width design (Freq. response: 8Hz-120KHz)from HK. Highly recommended for classical music appreciation.

Sound, features

None

I am not going to praise this great little receiver, i agree with all the praise that is here already.

All i want to add is that by chance i had to deal with 5 different H/K receivers recently, one of which was an AVR5. All of them were sold as "factory serviced" and all of them were in perfect working condition. So even with all this negative rep there is a good chance of getting a good H/K and the sound is just perfect.

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Sony, Denon, Technics, Onkyo

Build,sound quality, clarity.

Hmmmm... lack of DSS button/codes for remote

First off, let me say the only reason I even looked at this receiver was that I found a Technics Dolby Digital/DTS SH-AC500 decoder for a mere $147.07 at C.C. and could not pass it up.(gentleman special ordered it than canceled order). Anyway, I had used the Kenwood VR209 Dolby Digital receiver for about 14 months and liked it for the price but was looking to upgrade to a Harman Kardon as I feel the sound is superior. I was just pulling out the plastic for the AVR500 when I happened on the processor. C.C. had the AVR5 on sale for $237.50 and though I could have bought it for less on the net, I would have happily paid another hundred or so for the sound quality I experienced once I hooked it up! This thing is smoooooth, and while I do not profess to be an audio expert, I have been viewing/listening DD material for a while now and I can tell you the tonal quality and sound on music and movies easily exceeds my VR209. 35 watts per channel in surround mode? WHO CARES, this thing smokes my alleged 100 watts per channel Kenwood! Do yourself a favor, unless you are dying to drop big bucks on the latest of receivers/pre amps, check this baby out, you'll be happy you did. By-the-way, I am only giving it an overall of 4 because there is no DSS specific button/code on the @#$% remote!? I mean, are we talking about new and cutting edge technology here? Or inspiration to purchase another manufacturers remote? Sheesh.

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Kenwood VR209 DD receiver

Not only does this receiver produce lots of wonderful, warm, full bodied sound, but it is a thing of beauty to look at also. Excellent build quality. I found it for $299 at Circuit City yesterday. My first HK product. The Hall modes are useless, and it lacks a loudness button ( I like the added punch that it adds). Those are my only gripes about an otherwise excellent product. Even though it only puts out 45WPC x 2, and 35WPC x 5, it fills my living room, with is 15 x 20, with lots of clear, warm sound, and it does it effortlessly. The bass is also incredible...I have to keep it at 0 to avoid complaints from the downstairs neighbor. I don't think you can get a better combination of sound and build quality in an AV receiver for $300. Highly recommended if you're mainly concerned with 2 channel stereo and playing movies.

I recently purchased the AVR 5 at Fry's for under 300 bucks. Upon playing this receiver I have been very pleased with it's performance. The AVR 5 can be upgraded to DD, which is nice for future considerations. I have noticed no hiss or problems with surround features that I have read about with other HK products. This unit has been clean and undistorted working well in my fairly small living room. I would strongly recommend this product.

I've had my AVR 5 for a few weeks now, got it at CC but they wouldn't give me a discount like some of you guys from NY got. Oh well, at $300 it's still the best receiver for the money out there. I had the chance to compare the HK with simularly priced receivers from Sony, JVC, and Pioneer among other. The difference is astounding. While none of them sounded bad but when you can switch back and forth from receiver to receiver you really can hear the difference. The singer sounds like he/she is right in front of you with the HK, the highs were crisp and clean and the bass was not muddied at all. With all the features the HK comes with and also the clean front pannel to work with, I don't see why to buy anything else unless you really want to spend mega bucks. This one is a keeper.

Great specs... High Current capability. Good price... Compatible with AC-3

None

Quality product all around.

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Yamaha

Exelente modelo, sonido espectacular , actualizable a D.D.

Nada

Es la primera vez que compro un H.K. y es un equipo exelente , tiene caractersiticas nigualbles y la distorcion armonica es una de las mas bajas del mercado, es actualizable a AC3 y posee un exelente potencia.
Definitivamente la calidad no se improvisa y Harman Kardon lo comprueba con este EXCELENTE producto AVR5

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Denon