Harman Kardon AVR 500 A/V Receivers
Harman Kardon AVR 500 A/V Receivers
[Sep 23, 2000]
bob kiad
Audiophile
Strength:
Great sound.
Weakness:
Cant use external EQ through tape moniter. This product has cystal clear sound. No problems yet. I have had it for over a year. Dont listen to every bullcrap story you hear. Because every product on this site has one.I think most of the people complaining are people who own sony or JVC products because they are to poor to afford a harman. If you want crappy worthless features that you will never use buy a sony or a JVC. If you want sound quality buy harmon. Similar Products Used: Onkyo,sony,technics. |
[Aug 25, 2000]
Federico
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Sounds great
Weakness:
Extremely unreliable I really like the sound of this receiver. However, in the last month, I have not been able to use it. Yesterday I had to take it back to CC for the second time this month. The first time the receiver failed it stop sending signals to the front speakers in Logic 7C. There were also problems with the receiver shutting down by itself and the occasional clicking on the right speaker when a digital input was used. |
[Jul 09, 2000]
jasn
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Sound, flexibility in setup, looks
Weakness:
Volume control design I'm posting an updeate, as I have had the volume control repaired under warranty due to the problem with it raising (twice) and lowering without warning. (I had the work done at Public Sound, BTW, in Providence, and was very impressed with the shop). I must say that the change-out of the gain control has improved this unit even more. I was not entirely happy with the Logic 7 Music mode, as it tended to sound flat and favored the center speaker. Fiddling with the levels didn't help much. However, with the update, I'm hearing a much improved soundstage, with better ballance across the front speakers. Similar Products Used: AVR-65 |
[Jun 28, 2000]
John
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Everything....Power..,Very clear sound..OSD for easier set up, Lighted Remote.
Weakness:
none..And I mean nothing!!!! I exchanged the HK AVR 300 for the HK AVR 500, and found no problems with this unit. The soundstage is great.. very very clear very balanced.. I listen to a wide range of music, and it all sounds very very good. I, like most of us who have the HK 500 Similar Products Used: Yammi,...HK AVR 300.... |
[Jun 20, 2000]
Jeff Nesch
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great Sound in digital and DTS, Logic Seven works great on any type tv show, movie, and video game. Good sound on music cd's, and puts solid bass. Great product for an Audio enthusiast.
Weakness:
minor clicking noise in right speaker when adjusting volume at low levels. I got my AVR 500 on 2/09/2000 and I haven't had any problems with it. I returned my AVR 45 to Circuit City after I blew a Channel in 7 months, and due to their service taking over two months to attempt to fix it, I got the AVR 500. Circuit City's service center told me that it would take them 7 to 10 days to repair it, but after 2 months they still had not finished it. So the store manager said he would give me full value for what I paid. This is when I got the HK AVR 500, and circuit city's slow service turned out to be the best thing that could happen to me. The HK AVR 500 is the best receiver that I have ever owned. The DTS output was unbeleivable on the movie Saving Private Ryan. Even in regular digital mode on a DVD the sound is great in action movies, and in any movie. Logic seven sounds so awesome for games on Dreamcast and playstation. I played NBA 2000 on dreamcast in Logic 7, and it sounded like I was sitting in an NBA arena. I would recommmend this product to anyone. I haven't heard of anyone having major problems like that one guy said that he had two bad ones. Similar Products Used: HK AVR 20, HK AVR 45, Pioneer, Kenwood |
[May 30, 2000]
Anthony Sweeney
Casual Listener
Strength:
Excellent general purpose unit.
Weakness:
None so far except that the manual is a little too short. I am not an audiophile( so I probably do not understand enough to realise the faults with the AVR 500) but for me it is an excellent piece of equipment. I use it for both music and movies. I have it hooked up to 5+1 solid German speakers, a Loewe digital TV, a Sony 300 CD changer,a Sony DVD player and Nokia Sat. system; and its super. To date have found no faults or annoyances. Anyone who finds the faint clicking to be annoying should get a life. If you are looking for a great all-round machine that delivers superb sound and will expand well with new technology then go for the AVR 500 and ignore the reviews from people who seem to want to listen to sound in a sealed room on the moon. |
[May 30, 2000]
JEROME GRATE
Casual Listener
Strength:
Logic 7, Sound Seperation and Clarity, Build Construction, Good array of connections. Clear controls and a multitude functions.
Weakness:
Clicking Sound, with volume, slight buzz when changing digital inputs. Remote requires a little practice. This is one strong and capable receiver. The sound reproduciton is fabulous for movies and music. The seperation in multichannel applications are superior to some and equal to other mid to high end receivers. The controls are easy to use and the available settings on the receiver for enhanced sound is top notch. The best function I found on the receiver is it's Logic 7 (C=cinema M=music). This took the rear channel signal and made it into stereo. Once you sample Logic 7C you'll never watch VHS or any Prologic source the same way again. This unit has clear rich sound and outstanding performance for a receiver under $1,000. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone. Similar Products Used: Kenwood VR-209, accomparable Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha and Marantz receivers. |
[May 04, 2000]
Joe Smith
Audiophile
Strength:
DD, DTS, Remote, Price
Weakness:
Nothing so far I don't understand why other people had problems with this greate machine, Similar Products Used: Denon AVR-1800 |
[Apr 17, 2000]
haste
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
good enough power,good looks,easy to use,i like the remote
Weakness:
some reliability problems with the volume...though H/K will fix this for you with no problems This is really a great receiver with a great power supply Similar Products Used: all |
[Mar 29, 2000]
Mike
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great Sound, Good Bass, Logic 7C.
Weakness:
None I just replaced my AVR 75 with this and I love it. I have not experienced any of the problems that have been noted in other reviews. I use it for DVD, sports events, music, and just about everything else. The optical input with DVDs sounds awesome. Logic 7C with sporting events makes you feel like you are there, best surround DSP i have heard. The beginning of the MATRIX is so clear and sharp it sounds like it could break glass. The sound is good all the way up to 0dB. I am afraid to turn it louder...don't want to blow the speakers. But it definantly doesn't distort up to this point. I can't complain about the remote all I really use it for is to adjust volume and change the source. Onscreen menus were easy to use in initial setup, and even the display on the reciever is easy to use when adjusting speaker levels and the such. I like the backlit feature of the remote. I did hear the slight buzzing in the center channel but you can't hear it at all when you go from -64dB (no sound) to -63dB. Also haven't had any problems with DTS. Similar Products Used: AVR 75, JVC 778 |