I picked my AVR65 after listing to many of the other bands such as Yamaha, Onkyo, and Sony. I decided on the HK unit because it offered the most number of features at very good sound for a good price (I have a few dts CDs and so wanted dts capability also).
My first impressions are this: It's a good system for audio. It's easy to use and figure out (maybe that's why the manual is badly written). I just love the remote. I have 7 remotes and this one replaces all of them at gives all the features that are deive specific such as menus etc. No other remote did this. The FM stereo broadcast was excellent - there was a definite improvement over the other receivers (better be - paid $200 more for this one). It has only about 5 modes but they are the important ones. The sony has about 30 modes but who uses them???

Now for some of the problems. As soon I turned on the unit, I noticed something that made me think "What the ....". What I saw was that my receiver was interfereing with my TV signal. HK tech support told me that either the EM radiation from the unit was so high that it was interfereing with the "TV tube" or the unit was defective and that it might have to be replaced (it's going to cost me $30 for shipping :( ). They also suggested that it could be a ground loop problem with the CATV system, but then the problem also happens with a VCR. Non of the other receivers did this. I also heared the "hiss" sound on my at high volume levels. I am in the process of studying this further. Has anyone else noticed these problems with these units?

-Dinesh

First, I purchased a HK AVR45. I connected all the speakers to it, and started testing the surround sound for the 5 speakers. The LF speaker started humming louder and louder, eventually the system shut down itself to protect. After that, whenever I turn on the system, it shuts down itself in about 10 - 20 seconds. So I took it back to the store, but they ran out of the AVR 45, and recommended the AVR 65 instead (extra $120). I took that unit home, connected, and started to play. No humming problems any more, and the system sounded great for both music and movies. However, the next day when I tried to turn it on again, the system had no output to the center speaker. I checked all the wires, and even switched speakers, there was no output from the center speaker. I suspected that some circuit was shut down to protect the system, but I couldn't find from the document how I can reset the system to turn the center channel on again. I returned the unit and didn't want to get another replacement, and decided that's too many problems to bear with the brand. I switched to a Denon 2700, it didn't sound as great as the HK AVR 65, but it doesn't have problems. If you are lucky, the HK system works for you, it produces great sound. If you are not so lucky like me, then you have to make a decision between spending a lot of time to figure out and fix the problems or getting a more reliable system with less performance.

I have compared this receiver with the Denon 2700, and I have to that it has a much warmer sound than the Denon. In addition, it blows the Denon away in decoding Dolby Digital.
Unfortunately, I do hear a hiss at volumes over -20db. It is very noticable in surround modes. I love the receiver enough to work with HK customer support to try and resolve the issue. SO far they have been very responsive.

If they can't figure out what is going on I'll have to exchange it for something (no idea what else in it's price range)

The good news I bought the receiver locally, and the dealer is also being very responsive in help me.

Overall i give it 4 stars, would have 5 but the hiss is a problem.

I got this receiver about 2 weeks ago. The unit sounds a bit better than the Nakamichi AV-500 that it replaced. The stereo sound is very comparable but the Dolby pro-logic decoding is superb. Dolby Digital decoding is also excellent. The remote is cool, once you figure out how the menu system works, (I never read manuals) But I have a few problems/questions: First, does anyone else have to set their center and rear channels up to +6 to noticeable hear the speakers during movies? I have Eosone RSF1000 for fronts and the JBL Movies 2 for center/rear. I also had this problem with my NakAV-500. Do you think I need a new Center and rears? I purchased the Eosone RSC300 center speaker.. same sound so I returned it. Second, I'm pretty sure I have a defective unit. when using the tape monitor loop (I have an EQ) while listening to any other analog source, the sound will just cut off after a minute or 2. After some RCA cable switching and testing ( pluging minidisc deck direct to AVR65 and placing it in record mode to get the feed from the AVR65)... I've found that the Tape out of my AVR65 is defective not my EQ or wires. Well, I called Uncle's Stereo and they had me do more "testing". I'm going to call them back on Monday and request a new unit. If they give any problems, I'll definitely post it.
4 stars, because I know there are better receivers out there...
5 stars, if price is a factor

I have auditioned my newly purchased HK AVR-65 and have the following to offer:
My previous system was a Harman Kardon AVR20 II powering JBL MR310 towers, MR25 surrounds,MR center and a JBL powered sub. Supplemental to the system is a HK FL8300 CD and a Sony DSS. I was so impressed with this receiver and the richness of the delivered sound that when it came to upgrading, I headed straight back to HK for the ACR-65. Unfortunately, I am contemplating returing my AVR-65 for the following reasons, and going back to the AVR20 II until I can find the same excellenece in tone and integrity with AC-3 capability.

Below, "Luis" provides some input that I simply have to support. Loss of the loudness feature, missing dual front speaker option, negelected center channel mode options in Dolby Surround, and yes, the missing attention to detail represented by the un-lit non-rotating volume dial make one wonder if an upgrade was really made. By the way, it sounds no better than my AVR 20II (in analog Surround modes and stereo modes). Yet, being a HK it will have superior sound and amazing quality if you are upgrading from the lower end of the market.

On the hiss issue - "JR" correctly relates that all receivers have hiss. And to add there, peripherals connection does matter. I have an AC conditioner and have tried several hookups to peripherals head to head with my AVR20. In short, the AVR does have relatively excessive hiss and on my Video 2 channel it has a disturbing vibrating humm. This was especially noticable when connected to my DSS system (which is powered from my AC conditoner and grounded via an 8' copper shielded spike driven into the ground outside my home). The hiss is worse when in a surround mode as expected.

I found the on-screen menu somewhat clumsy. I've seen better ones on cheap Pioneers.

I am also not pleased with the large/small options on the speakers in Surround mode. It seems that there is too much crossover into the subwoofer and the distinct tight rumble from the thunderstorm is muddled with the other channels trying desperately to chime in when set to small, especially spoken word from the center channel. Spoken language is too busy to be fed into a sub. This option/upgrade is done however for Dolby AC-3 specs, which have channels with almost zero bleed. PS don't let the menu stop you from going large on the front channels and having the sub ON also - it defaults to off but it can be re-set. Also ALL channels in analog Surround have discernable bleed whether the manuals says so or not. I believe this option was also created for those who made the mistake of buying cube type speakers (with no capability of low freq response) and sub packages.

I honestly cannot comment on the digital performance as of yet. The other oddities of the system may prevent me, altough it is important to note that what has prevented me thus far is that the optical out on the SONY A2 DSS systems are not capable of carrying D5.1 signal - sorry to all those, like myself, who have to upgrade here too. FYI.. Sony just came out with the AD-4 which is the only DSS on the market with an optical out for DSS.

I will chime in again (my dish arrives Tuesday) $299 from Wholesale Connection.
My AVR 65 was purchesed from Uncle's Stereo for $699 plus shipping. Consumer Direct did quote a price of $669 just before x-mas but were out of stock. Will likely go back up when in stock!

Thanks to those who posted their thoughts and pricing info.

I really wish I could have bought the Sony 30es.
Since I have the Toshiba 2108 DVD - I didn't get the Sony or Yamaha since the Toshiba has a reported dropout problem with those receivers. Toshiba will supposedly fix it if you send it to Tenn but they might send you back a 'refurbished' one......so I get the HK

Made in China worried me a bit - and I'm Chinese !
HK cut a couple corners - The Speaker post seem like they'll twist right off !
The Yamaha 795 Surround post and remote aren't so hot either. After looking at the receivers at the store the Sony did seem to be built the best.

Can you believe my feet on the receiver are not level !!!! This is the first of many audio products I've ever had this problem !
Will this affect anything sound etc ????

The Pros: I haven't had the hum/hissing problem unless I turn the volume to the very max then the hiss comes on.

The sound is very good detailed,full, not bright and edgy.

The remote is excellent, my wife figured out how to use it in 1 minute !
Having a Universal remote made for your Receiver is better than a Universal remote that you buy to replace your Junky Sony remote.

I appreciate the help fellow reviewers have given.

Gregg, You sure you are Chinese, not Korean? I don't recall a Chinese last name like Jeong...

I had hiss/hum/interference problems with my AVR65. I just returned it and asked for a replacement.
The replacement is coming in next week. I hope that I can get a new version.
If not, I will just return it again and buy a Yamaha.
I can not believe that H/K makes such a big piece of junk.
The problem can be easily found and they should have found it in the QC process.
Wondering if they QC the products??
I will post my review as soon as I get the new one.

**** Attention AVR-65 Owners *****
As we all know HK has always represented high quality. As quoted by an HK
tech support employee " If I was the president of the company, I would have
never relesed this product with these problems". It is very obvious that
the AVR65 is not the High Quality HK product of the past. More important than
that though, it's the typical corporate " sell more quantity not quality".
The HK has a quick patch job tweak than fix, that is the replacement of the
low quality fuses for better ones. The other option....well you would like to
think that HK would stand behind the product and offer returns.....NOT!!!

**** Attention AVR-65 Owners *****
As we all know HK has always represented high quality. As quoted by an HK
tech support employee " If I was the president of the company, I would have
never relesed this product with these problems". It is very obvious that
the AVR65 is not the High Quality HK product of the past. More important than
that though, it's the typical corporate " sell more quantity not quality".
The HK has a quick patch job tweak than fix, that is the replacement of the
low quality fuses for better ones. The other option....well you would like to
think that HK would stand behind the product and offer returns.....NOT!!!