5.1 Clarity. Clean, Muscular 2 Channel Sound. Logic 7 Mode

Onscreen Display, Logic7

First of all, it's a shame these review sites can't be moderated to keep out the idiot reviews by people who obviously don't own the equipment that is in review. Sure, if you've purchased a bad piece of eqpmnt. you have every right to post a review. But don't post a negative review just bc you chose a competing model. These sites are here to help people make informed decisions on how to spend their hard earned dollars. Skewed info and averages DON'T HELP.
This is a quiet, clean sounding receiver. I knew about the volume control clicking in the center channel b4 I bought it. If you stand next to the CChannel while you raise the volume, you can hear some clicking. OH THE HORROR! This unit is extremely clean and clear sounding in 5.1. The separation on DDigital 5.1 DVD's is outstanding. I have not sampled a DTS disc yet. I don't find the OSD very useful, as I can see all level changes & modes on the front display. The remote is better than the Denon's and is easy to use once you run it through its paces a few times.
I have mixed feelings on the Logic7 DSP. I'm using it about 20-30% of the time with music. It really shines on some material. Other times, the soundstage sounds muddy. Boosting the CChannel helps somewhat. Most of the time, however, I listen to music in the 2 channel stereo (no DSP) mode. The clean, airy, smooth, and muscular 2 channel performance is the MAIN reason why I chose this unit over the fine units from Denon and Onkyo. I paid $600 to an authorized dealer online. Very pleased with this HK unit so far.
Well, I guess I need to go over to the competing model review sites and bash them...Oh, wait a minute..I just remembered..I HAVE a life!!! ...nevermind.....

Similar Products Used:

Denon 2800, Onkyo 676

Very clean amp section, Logic7 sounds superb, tons of usefull features at a low(ish) price

remote is tricky at first

This receiver will be a winner. It produces music that rivals separates and is fantastic in home theater. Logic7 is a very nice feature that puts 5 channel modes to shame.
I wonder how idiots can be allowed to post one star reviews about an obviously fine receiver. Do these fools really think that people are stupid enough to lend credence to their feeble attempts to blatently undermine the rating system? I think not. These clowns are afraid that their recent "pet" receiver (you know the one but we HK owners have to much respect to bash other fine products unnecesarily)will take second place.
Listen for yourselves people and you will become believers too. HK rules again.

As receivers go it ranks a solid 4. It's not a Denon5700 or Marantz SR18. Those are the true 5 star units. But at 1/3 the price of those $2500 receivers the little HK ain't half bad. Gotta give it 5 stars for its catagory. Well done HK.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer, Sony, Denon and HK receivers

Nice packaging. Nice feature set. Great marketing.

Clicking in volume. Remote that is hands down the
worst I have ever seen. Unit can't handle a dynamic
punch of power.

I purchased the AVR-500 on feature set as well as
price. I had been interested in the AVR-65 last year
but based on all the bad reviews and talking to some
people in stereo stores I decided to wait.

I setup the unit and demo'd it with DVD, music CDs, and
VHS Pro-Logic movies.

The CDs sounded ok. It didn't blow me away but
the sound was pleasant.

The pro-logic was on a par with an Onkyo processor I
had hooked to a Carver amp that this was replacing.

The DVD Dolby Digital sounded great. The separation
was accurate. The problem is that I was using full
range speakers and not using a powered sub. I used
the Matrix as the demo DVD. There is a scene in the
beginning when a truck is driving towards a phone booth
and the rumble caused the AVR-500 to shutdown. I thought
this was a fluke so I tried it again. The same exact
spot on the movie the system shutdown. This happened
many times and the volume was at -20db. I may have
tolerated this if the system was cranked up but this
was unacceptable.

The click in the volume was one of those little querks
I was willing to overlook but couple that with the
overload and the absolute worst remote I have ever
had the displeasure of using and this unit fouund its
way back to the store from where it originally came.
The folks at HK need to think about hiring a usability
engineer or two. If they do that and manage to fix
the flaws this will be a great unit.

It was a shame as the unit had promised much but delivered
little. Maybe the next rev will be better.

I replaced the unit with a Marantz 8000 and am very
happy. One notch up in the price category but I am
convinced that the SR-7000 that directly competes with
this unit is as great as its big brother. The amplifiers
in this unit are amazing. The separation is fantastic.
The remote is to good to be true. Sorry HK. You should
checkout the competition.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 795, Marantz SR-8000

I haven't seen any yet!

Not enough DSP sound fields

I actually regretted that I returned the Yamaha for this one
the Yamaha is cheaper and sounds much better. This receiver only sounds a little bit better than the JVC RX-888. I don't know what the fuss is about HK.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha HTR-5051 & JVC RX-888

Overall sound quality, full bandwith power, 6-Channel inputs, pre-outs for all channels, cost, multi-room, so on and so forth.

Only two I've found so far is the cheap remote and hard to use on screen menu.

First off, lets just settle this issue of the clicking sound. If this is your big concern, then get a life. It only clicks when you're adjusting the volume, so set it and forget it. You people are freaking weird if that's your big complaint. Try static bursts from the Onkyo's center channel or try having your Onkyo in the shop cause it never did work right. The HK is a great product, and at only $675.00 an INCREDIBLE value.

I previewed those other products and besides the crap that Onkyo puts out, the others just couldn't match the sound quality of the HK. Sure they had more flashing lights and fancier remotes, but they just didn't have it for me. The claim all this power, but they just can't push my speakers as well as the HK. I'm pretty sure that HK had in mind for you to buy the $350.00 remote they sell by packaging the receiver with this cheap imitation, but I'm not paying that kind of money for a remote. So, my opinion, give the HK a shot, you won't be disappointed. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars for overall is, it doesn't have component video ins or outs. A modest trade off, but none the less, something I would have loved to see on a receiver.

Similar Products Used:

I previewed the Onkyo TX-DS777 and TX-DS676, Sony STR-DB930 and Kenwood 3090.

features, price, performance

remote does not seem to control other components as well as I had hoped

I have been waiting to buy a dolby digital receiver for over a year. I had been looking at the AVR 65 but the problems discussed in reviews, lack of digital inputs and no on screen display thru s-video caused me to wait. The wait was well worth it!! This receiver sounds and performs great.

I find it easy to use and has all the dsp modes I need. Who needs 25 dsp modes like some other receivers advertise. Logic 7 is as good as the other reviewers said. I chose it over the AVR300 based solely on logic 7.

Got mine from one call for $677, shipping included.

Similar Products Used:

none

Power, Clean, Bass, Looks,
No Hums and Hisses like the HKAVR65.

Control is bulky and hard to hold with one hand!

After listening to this receiver, I finally understood why everybody always talked about HK's supremacy when it came to reproducing music. I'm getting rid of my integrated amp because of this guy. The Logic 7 M, M stands for Music is unbelievable. After using and returning the HKAVR65, my faith in Harmon Kardon receivers have been renewed.

Thank God!

Similar Products Used:

HKAVR65, DENONAVR2800, SONY50ES

price vs. value is a "A+"

this one can get louder then alot of a/v reciviers out there

Good power

Clicks when volume increase, no learning capability

Hi Folks,


This is to response to all the folks who has similiar problem (Clicks when volume increase).

Many of you wonder, how can I have HK to replace it to AVR 510?

I bought from ubid and the day I received it, I found out it has the clicking sound. I called HK and they direct me to a local service center. Brought in and they tried to fix it over a month. The service center could not repair the unit after consulting with HK specialist. I took it home and call HK, they decided to have me sent in and being replaced with the AVR510.


2) Many wonder, if you can just call HK and have it replaced? Well, I am sure HK want you to bring it to the service center and fixed it. The problem can be resolve by replacing the voulume chips (said HK tech guy)


3)Many said that the AVR500 model do have the clicking problems.

4) It took me 1 months waiting from the service center and I am still waiting form HK to send me the new AVR510 (2 weeks and still counting).

5) As you can see it could be very much a hassle to get it replace. many calls to Hk and patients of waiting.

6) I do not what is the best way to have your AVR500 replaced but just call them and forward all these links to them. Rumor has that AVR500 has the clicking problem. Some choose to ignore it.

7) Yes the clicking is very obvious to me using the surround mode. I also found out that most Digital receiver does that too. However when I owned the AVR75, it was trouble free for at least 2 years.

8 I have been getting many mails, so I hope this message will answer most of your questions

Good luck all
gan

Similar Products Used:

avr 75, avr85 , avr510 , avf 65

great sound,lots of features,did i forget to mention how great this unit sound!

realibility,sound level rising up by itself,dts buzz.

First i would like to say that posting a review just after one month is needless to say that it's stupid cause most of the time problems appears after ~6 months.And trust me ,i know what i'm talking about.See by wourself,yould notice for every producs,problems always appears in the 3 month to one year class.

Here's my story,after returning my avr65 for the third time for picture interference dts buzzing,i got this brand new avr500.Boy i was happy!lot more feature than the avr65 and sound much better,at least in stereo.

All goes well until the day(after 5 months to be more precise),the volume slowly stating rasing by itself.After reading previous reviews about volume problem,i pray it would not appen to me but WRONG!!!I get it repaired and tree months later,again.But now it's much worst,the sound could go from -30(that is ok for my ears)to a raging -5(realy loud).And above all,the DTS buzzing problems of my avr65 comes back to haunt me again on my avr500.I even change my dvd player and my cables but without sucess.After ~30 minutes when watching any DTS movies a anoying buzzing is starting to grow.

Get it repaired for a second time.One month pass.The day i'v receive it,first thing i tried is again a dts movies,and guess what? A *&?%"'/"? buzz again.Man this receiver is realy starting to get on my nerv.

I'v return it for the third time but salesman whant to change it to an avr510 but he must have the damn aprouval from H/K that is obiviously don't give a (something brown that stinks) about it.So i still waitin for an answer

When the receiver was working,it sound realy great.Lots of bass,hights,punch.DTS was in your face home theater experience.Don't compare this unit with scrap like SONY,PIONEER or KENWOOD.

I would give it a 5 out of 5 but it's just too bad H/K is not what it was in old times.

Similar Products Used:

H/K avr20mk11,H/K avr65,onkyo