Sound quality, value (assuming you pay what I paid)

more digital inputs, optical digital input issue (see above)

For what I paid, I think this player is great. I have had no problems to date, and it is a refurbished unit. The sound quality is reasonable. It's adequate for my family room (12x18). I am surprise people do not like the universal remote. I think it's easy to use and has almost all of the features I want. My only gripe with the remote is the lack of support of Nakamichi products. At any rate, the remote is far nicer than the older HK remotes, and nicer than my Sony universal. A few more digital inputs would be nice. As for negatives on the receiver, when the sound comes through the optical digital input, it takes nearly a second to switch the amp on. This results in a gap in sound. This is annoying when watching DVDs, and the digital feed cuts for a moment. You lose audio for a second or so. Other than this minor issue, I like the receiver a lot. I would buy it again.

Similar Products Used:

NAD, HK (AVR40), Philips, Onkyo

6ch input, good bang for the buck

DACs, no phono input

I''ve been using this product for a few years now and am overall pleased with it''s performance, with the exception of the noise gate built into the DAC''s. The half second of audio missed on audio discs and dvds is annoying. I had better overall punch out of an older Sony ES unit but it was lacking in DD or DTS. I now have a Pioneer Elite DV38A dvd player and use its internal processors into the 65s 6ch input. Much better quality and no noise gate. I haven''t had any problems with noise but find that FM reception isn''t that great even with cable input and I miss the option of having a phono input. Overall good SQ with my Paradigm Monitor 7''s, CC350 and PS1200.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STRG69ES

HK name, ease of use, flexibility

scared me that it is made in China, front panel just average

Well, I was a doubter given the varied reviews this unit has received. First of all, a short commercial for ONE CALL. Great group of people who will spend time before and after the sale. They know their stuff and I committed to posting a positive note since it is so difficult to find sales people who actually know the business. Great job!

Now on to my observations: What a great receiver! I have to admit that I was nervous in buying the AVR65 v.s a comparable Yamaha. But the unit was on sale for around $500 and having had a previous model, AVR 20, I thought I would take a chance. It was a good choice to date. I have teamed up the unit with a set of Polk Audio RT800's, Veladyne sub, and a Toshiba 3109 DVD player, Signet surround and Infinfity center and what sound.

No hiss,no pop, no crackle, just rich, full, warm music/sound. I doubt this has much to do with it but the serial # is >18,000 and while I have looked for problems I have had none. The remote is excellent, not terribly intuitive but if you spend time with the remote it becomes easier to use.

The variety of surround sounds (Hall1, 2, Theatre etc.)is plentiful, 4-5, and the options for adjusting speaker db, size, etc..is excellent.

I don't know why there is so much disparity in the reviews of this unit but I have a good one (for now). The units are now on sale at a national chain for $777 and ONE CALL beats them by $250.00 plus you get support.

Cables and speaker wire in connection with electrical current could be causing the hmming, popping etc.. Get the highest quality speaker wire and interconnecting cables that your budget will allow. I stayed with mostly Monster Cable and everything is clear and clean.

My current configuration; AVR65, Polk Audio RT800's, Signet rears, Veladyne sub generates studio quality music. What a pleasure it is to kick back and hear a room full of the sound that I've wanted for several years. Obviously I'm a suporter of the AVR, it's worth the small gamble at this price level.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, AVR 20

None

Everything

I just heard something today from HK that I thought would be valuable information for someone that is condidering to buy this product. HK has discontinued this reciever!! Why do I know this because my receiver has been in the shop for over one month now. I had done my reasearch buy reading every post on this and other boards. I felt the problems must have been ironed out by now so I made the plung and bought the reciever from On Call for $590.00. At the same time I had bought a set of OHM SAT-1 surround sound speakers.

When both items arrived I was in the process of figuring out where the speakers sounded the best in my living room. I had the unit for 1 1/2 weeks and suddenly there was no output from the rear surround speakers, also the rear speakers sound crappy in Pro-Logic just before they went out.

I found and authorized dealer and sadly brought the reciever to them. The service center said it would take 7-10 days to fix. After a week I called them back they said they found the problem and was waiting for a part.

Well to make a long story short after four weeks, and many calls to HK as well as e-amils to them asking for help, HK finally decided the unit could not be fixed and must be replaced.

I obtained the RA number from the service center as I was planning on calling today to demand that a new unit be sent to me NOW.

The HK customer service center said they are back ordered on the AVR65, did not expect to have any in until 2/23/00. Then he spilled the beans. The customer service rep. said the AVR65 had been discontinued and replaced with the AVR500. Which I am told I will recieve when these come in on 2/23/00 as well.

I am sorry to be so wordy, but I have had the worst experience with this reciever from a technical and service standpoint I need to get the word out. This message board seems to be the way to do it.

I'm not sure given all the problems I've had in such a short time that I even want the AVR500.

Audio/Video capabilities

Quality Issues

Harmon Kardon has trouble with this receiver. The first one I received had no power to the speakers. The second one sounds great. If you shop around this receiver is a real bargain. The audio/video capabilities are amazing for the price. I purchased mine from Onecall.com. The remote is very complicated, but it will operate my satelite, DVD, VCR, CD, and TV. It has to be complicated to be so powerful. It is amazing how much it has improved my sound system.

You do run a risk by purchasing this system, but I believe if you get a good one you will be very pleased. I AM!!

I was very unhappy with the HK customer service. The day I received my receiver I was on vacation. I called HK and entered their automated system. I decided to turn the speaker phone on and wait. After about 45 minutes I was disconnected. I called onecall.com and they determined the receiver was bad and replaced it promptly. Onecall.com A++, HK F-. My main problem with the systems is everyone discounts how long it takes to hook up a true surround sound system to determine it is defective. Everyone thinks the users time is free, but the manufacturers is expensive. Try your FM/CD first. If it works you are in for a treat.

Take your chances and this thing sounds great.

The quality issues reduce the overall rating. You can buy this thing for

Similar Products Used:

None

Great sound and switching

gets hot, initial buzz from the front and center speakers

When I first got this from http://www.harmanoutlet.com/ I had the buzz in the front speakers and the center channel. I took it to a service center, they swapped out the fuses and did a new ground. Now that I have it back, I am absolutely thrilled how good everything sounds. No matter at what volume, none of that hiss. Just pure sound. I think this is better than the avr500 that hk is selling nowadays.

Similar Products Used:

sony stereo

Great sound in stereo & in home cinema

problematic volume control

I had an HR a long time ago and i missed the sound that only HR can produce so i bought this receiver that gives me the best stereo sound (for home cinema receivers).
I have it for almost a year, connected to a tanoy front & a bmw rear & sub.
I did not any of the problems the other talk about, its realy a lot of bul.
The only thing i would prefer to be better is the volume, but most of the receivers nowdays suffer from this problem (i paid attention to this problem only 3 months after i bought it, im usually using the best ever hr that controls half of my house.
The remote controler is one of the best i ever had, all in one, easy to use and to program.
i heard that now, the new moto is to buy some yamaha crap that "produce" 100-150w hahaha, try to listen on 30w and you will get a distortion that you will never get on any worthsomething receiver.

Similar Products Used:

denon(stereo[great]),onkyo(stereo[thebest]),nad(prologic[so so])

NONE

Everything

I own a HK-avr25mkii, which I wanted to upgrade (dts,ac-3)so I went out to one of the local stores and decided to stick to HK because my avr25mkii sounded good for the money. Anyway I took home the avr65 hooked everything up made a few test runs on this receiver and was blown away how bad a receiver that costs that much could sound so bad, compared to the avr25mkii it was an out right joke! Granted I don't know if this was just a bad unit or if it was that this receiver really does suck over all. I'm not knocking HK for all the products but I will say this, the AVR65 really is a piece of junk, save your and stay away from this model for sure.

Similar Products Used:

NONE

Clarity... when the unit isn't hissing at you.

cheap construction.

I blew the front left channel with two months of normal use. After six months the front three channels started hissing. Now the unit is back at the repair shop again. the only thing it does now is ***Protect*** my reciever is fried once again.

I would recommend everyone stay clear of this one. The sound quality is great when it's running 100% but I've never seen a receiver with this many problems. My cheap Sherwood reciever has held up the last 8 years with no problems what so ever. This piece of crap has broken down three times in under a year.

Great sound with movies, digital and DTS

Doesn't sound good with music

The HK AVR65 does a great job in decoding movies, but for music it's terrible. My personal opinion is it sounds restrictive and bright.

I purchased the AVR65 because I wanted the 5.1 aspect of decoding for movies which my aging HK AVR40 lacked. However, once I listened to music on the AVR65, I immediately knew I was missing something. I even returned the AVR65 unit thinking something was wrong with the unit and got a replacement. But no change. The AVR65 just cannot reproduce music well.

So I've decided to hold onto my beloved AVR40. This way I can use the AVR65 for movies, and the AVR40 for the fantastic music that it can produce. When it comes to music, you cannot beat that AVR40 (They are rather inexpensive now too if you look around).

So if you don't have anything to compare the AVR65 to, you won't know what you're missing...