Clean Lines, Remote

reliability, Build

Sound quality continues to be a problem. I have disconnected my rear surround speakers, because I can no longer live with the crackling, distorted crap sound that comes from them in any mode exept stereo. One hour the surround sounds fine, the next it is completely garage.

Let me dtail the problems:
1) Crappy sound in surrounds, crackling, hissing
2) Interference, hissing in Center channel
3) Noise in right rear channel when adjusting volume.
4) video drop-offs from all sources, because of faulty s-video switching in AVR 500.

HK is a really truly an embarassment!

If anyone would like to audition this total pile of garbage, please feel free to call or stop by any time.

Richard Kalajian
6865 S. 68th
Suite 206
Franklin, WI 53132
(414) 525-0331

Similar Products Used:

HK AVR 65

Power, Reliability, DTS, Video

None so far

After 5 months no complaints. Digital input is crystal clear from DVD or CD player. The only thing I need is more movies! hehehe.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Denon

HK name

Product itself

For JM of Las Vegas: First, the VAR300 IS THE SAME UNIT AS THE AVR500. The only difference is power output. I compared the HK to the Pioneer I had because of the input I received from just about everyone that I talked to about HK. I was told that HK was SO MUCH BETTER than Pioneer, SOny, virtually ANYBODY that even their low end units were better in quality and sound than these other makers high end units. Well, I've since learned some things about most HK users and definitely something about HK quality. HK is a VERY GOOD MARKETING company. Thier products are NOT as great as they make them out to be. I bought the AVR300 with the intention of replacing my Pioneer VSX-D2S as a temporary receiver until I could by an 8 channel receiver at a later time. The comparison I made in my earlier review was of the DD decoding of the HK to the DDdecoding of a SONY EP9ES decoder - not the Pioneer VSX-D2S. My speakers are Eosone. The entire set costs about $4000. The towers are about $1250 a piece, the center is about $300, rears are about $300, and I have a stand alone sub (ina addition to the built in subs in the towers) that sells for about $700. The qulaity fo these speakers are as good as you can get. They rival the quality of sets costing in the 5 figure range - made by Eosone, which manufacture speakers for entertainers such as Phil Collins, etc.

The conclusion that I, and several others came to (on this and other HK stuff) was that if a person who had not heard many good systems, or who was not use to high end quality, bought this receiver, they would be impressed with it. The comparison of it to another receiver that is 5 YEARS OLD was in fact no comparison. And, the 5 year old receiver was made by the so-called inferrior company.

Hk stuff, at this level, is as many people on this site put it, good "for the money". They are not the be all and end all of the receiver world as many claim they are. They are low to medium market receivers, and deliver that kind of performance.

As JM my say, what do you expect from an overpriced $500 receiver with a crappy remote?

I would probably agree with that and have learned a valuable lesson from all of this.

Similar Products Used:

AVR65

Features, performance and price

Couldn't find one yet.

This is for Rodney...

Rodney, just because you used to drive Ferrari doesn't mean you have the right or are fair to say Toyota Camry is a junk car. In fact, you didn't get into the right one(AVR500). The way you are crying is just like you tested driving the Toyota Corona and then blamed on Camry ! Don't use this kind of attitude to confuse other readers. Use some common sense, please. Like Jeff M. said "compare apples to apples".

I am still very happy with my HK AVR500 for its performance and price. With 70w X 5, it is powerful enough to shake my house. Especially the Logic 7 M DSP mode for music and DTS for movie. The remote control is not that bad after you get used to it.

Clean, warm sound

Clicking volume control

The AVR500 has the clean, warm sound that you've come to expect from H/K. The DTS mode with Saving Private Ryan was just incredible. It sounded like there was a war going on in my room! I use the receiver for both music and movies, and I'm very happy to say that the music comes through warm, clean and musical. I've paired the unit with Infinity Overture 1s. Bass is tight and midrange is sweet.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Sony ES

high current, 45 amperes, logic 7

clicking sound on center sp when turning vol knob

well i went to CC to audition this unit. i'm really looking for the onkyo 777 until i heard this one. side by side HK 500 blew away onkyo in terms of bass but they do have a clicking sound when rotating the volume knob.i think its normal for any HK to do that.anyway i'm looking forward at the HK 7000 w/c has 75 amperes ( not yet available) compared to 45 amperes from HK 500. also auditioned pioneer 29tx and yam dsp a1

Similar Products Used:

onkyo 777, pioneer 29tx, yamaha dsp a1

GOBS OF POWER, VERY CLEAN SEPARATION

NO OSD THROUGH S VIDEO

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK, I HAVE USED TONNES OF SIMILIAR PRODUCTS AND HK IS BY FAR THE EASIEST TO USE, AND ALSO THE BEST PERFORMER FOR IT'S DOLLAR. I WOULD HAVE LIKED THE 7000 BUT I COULDN'T JUSTIFY THE $2700 TAG

THE ONLY THING THAT HK SHOULD ADD NEXT YEAR IS A/B SPEAKERS INSTEAD OF THAT DUMB ASS MULTIROOM THING, AND THEY SHOULD GET THE OSD TO WORK THROUGH S-VIDEO.

OTHER THAN THAT I FEEL SORRY FOR PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THE 65, 75, OR 85. DTS IS AWESOME!!!!!

I DON'T MEAN TO BE A CRITIC BUT YOU GUYS (AUDIO REVIEW) HAVE THIS RECIEVER RATED AT 65 X 5, IT'S NOT IT'S 70 X 5, AND 80 X 2. YOU SHOULD GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT.


JUST IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING I HAVE:
INFINITY RS-5'S IN THE FRONT AND THE BACK,
INFINITY CC-3,
POLK AUDIO PSW 140,
TOSHIBA 3109 (DVD/HDCD)
TOSHIBA 61X81

YOU GUYS SHOULDN'T LET ANYONE SLAM THIS RECIEVER IT IS BY FAR THE BEST VALUE FOR IT'S PRICE POINT!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

PIONEER, KENWOOD, SONY, JVC, MARANTZ, YAMAHA

Sounded great.

It blew up after just 3 days.

I was just going about my daily routine of listening to a few tunes after work today when the volume on my receiver went to full blast on it's own!! Needless to say, my speakers starting popping like crazy. Luckily I had the remote in my hand and was able to quickly turn it off. I had it at a low volume (Like -34db) compared to what the Circuit City guy demo'ed it at. (Like -10db)

I didn't smell any burning or anything like that so after about 5 minutes of letting it sit I decided to turn it all the way down and then up just one notch. Even though it should have been close to muted, it was playing at close to half volume...speakers were still popping like crazy. I packed it up and headed to CC. I decided not to try my luck again even though I used to swear by Harman/Kardon. I picked up the Onkyo TX-DS676 for the same price. It sounds just as good, but I really wish the H/K worked out.

I'm not going to give it a bunch of ones for the ratings. I probably just got a hold of a bad unit...and besides, while it was working, it had sound to die for. Too bad the receiver died first. I hope no one else has this problem.

P.S. My speakers were not blown by the receiver.

Similar Products Used:

Harman/Kardon AVR40, Onkyo TX-DS676

Very 'flexible'. Lot's of in/outs. Clear and powerful sound

having to manually turn On Screen Display (OSD) off

I'm not sure why it seems many people have problems and/or are unhappy with this unit. I guess I just may be lucky because I've not experienced any of the problems others are mentioning and it's worked flawlessly for me for over a year now. Maybe HK is having some manufacturing QA probs so it might be worthwhile to test the unit in home as a condition of sale.

For the record, as an 'audiophile' that can't afford the really high end stuff, this is the best A/V receiver I've ever owned. Highly recommended (I'd definately buy it again).

Similar Products Used:

Oynko, Denon, Carver

Great power and crisp sound

remote, no learning capabilities, clicks with volume increase

Hi all,


First I would like to thanks James Derry. I call back HK and told them about the clicking sound problem. No hesitation, they pronpt me to send back the receiver and replace it with AVR510.

To all the folks who bought this unit, and having problem with the clicking sound, have HK replace it with AVR 510.

Thanks

Similar Products Used:

avr78,85, 510