Great amp section,ease of operation

sub level somewhat low in logic seven

After months of reading,listening & researching the current crop of AVRs I settled on and purchased the AVR-7000.My front mains are an ineffecient set of ADS 1230's.I have been using Adcom,Hafler and Amber seperates for the past few years so I was very sceptical about the ability of receivers.I was afraid that dropping from 200+ watts per channel(GFA-555 or DH-500) to around 100 watts per channel would really degredate the impact and subtleties that my ADS 1230's could produce.With most of the current receivers, dynamics seemed compressed and smoothed out.When I finally got to listen to the AVR-7000 I was pleasently surprised. I am able to drive my ADS speakers to very high levels with the sound quality still intact.I really didn't think that a receiver would drive a set of 87 spl 1 watt/1 meter speakers this well.One of the reasons I went with the H/K was the pre-out main in on all channels because it allows a lot of integration with external amps.I had fully expected to try out the H/K's output and then permanently hook up my Adcom on the front mains.On dsp issues,Logic 7C is an improvement on Pro Logic but I don't find it to come as close to Dolby Digital as other reviewers have.Logic 7M does a good job of enveloping you in the music.The surrounds get a substantial amount of information however not as much as others 5-channel stereo.Hall 1 probably is closer to that.DD performance is excellent (as it is with all of this class receivers).I have found a big difference in dynamics on all of these receivers when comparing DD to Pro Logic and other dsp modes.I guess that I was hoping for too much when wanting a dsp(Logic 7)to match the dynamics of Dolby Digital.The remote does a good job of handling my Adcom cd player,Dish Network 4700 and 60" Mitsubishi but you have to remember what button does what.It sure would be nice if everyone would learn from Marantz(RC 2000II).All in all I am pleased with my purchase($1050 plus shipping from Happy Medium, who is an authorized dealer)and would recommend this piece to others.The only ones I considered equal were the Marantz 8000 and the Sony 777ES but I really wanted the Logic 7 for satellite viewing as only a few channels are in Dolby Digital.I believe that this piece is H/K's attempt to get back on top of the receiver market and is their redemption for past fiascos like the 65 and 85.

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lots of seperates,Marantz 8000,Integra DTR-7,Denon 3300

sound

reliability

I loved this piece for 6 months, until today the right rear
surround stop working.
I also was blind by it's sound, but good reliable equipment
is as important.

Multiple digital sources, programmable remote,

POOR QUALITY----Delay times not adjustable in DTS, Logic 7C, Logic 7M, Theater, Hall 1, and Hall 2 modes. Uses four AAA batteries in the remote control. Why the company elected to use AAA instead of AA is not understandable. Using AAA batteries mean shorter battery life (especially because the remote keys have a light-up feature) which requires replacements more frequently. The dimensions of the receiver is also something new buyers must consider in that it has far more depth and width than many others on the market. The owner manual reads like 'War And Peace'.
Did I say POOR QUALITY????

Although I have known of the HK brand for many years, I have never owned a Harmon Kardon product and regrettably did not research this one prior to purchase.

Reliability and uninterupted performance is very, very important to me.

I am writing this review because I am returning the receiver for the second time for warranty repairs.
The first time was for the mysterious random (still unexplained) volume increases and loss of power. The receiver would unexpectedly turn itself off. (I assume this was a malfunction of the auto-timer function)

Now, I am suffering a severe degradation of signal in the right front channel at the speaker connection. Increasing the volume to between the range of -2 to +2 while that speaker channel is isolated will restore the signal to its proper setting, except I risk blowing the speaker with every restoral, which is required each time I turn the unit on.
I have just unplugged all my components(Phillips Digital CD recorder, CD player [Harmon Kardon FL 8550***also a piece of crap that has been to the shop for the non-stop twirling of the CD table], Mitsubishi DVD, Denon digital tape player, Analog tape player/recorder, Sony digital TV...you get the picture...] so I can again haul this minor marvel of a receiver back to the shop AGAIN!.

I invested over $1600 dollars for this garbage???

I have had nearly ten years and many hundreds of hours of listening pleasure from my Denon AVC 3020, without so much as a peep. I'm not accustomed to owning such a poor quality piece of equipment.

Does it have superior sound and great features?
Maybe it does, I am not altogether sure because I have been woefully distracted with all of the afforementioned shortcomings, besides, how important would that be to you if you were in my shoes?

My advice --- Distance yourself from this product...do it now BEFORE the warranty expires!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVC 3020 --- Extremely reliable quality built piece of hardware

Power, sound reproduction at all ranges, styling

Size (depth to be specific)

Love the receiver. My neighbors may not like it as much. I have to buy/build a new cabinet for it due to it's depth.

Love the switch capabilities and multi-room functions. Enjoy the remote although I keep the manual open to the page in the manual to use as a key still.

I am having an issue using the AVR7000 with my DVD5. When looking at bright backgrounds (such as the sky in a movie) the sky will slightly grey except next to objects (a tree or an actor's head) which cast a sort of clear shadow to the right of the object a couple of inches long. A sort of hue only to the right of objects. I do not get this if I connect the DVD5 directly to the TV via S-Video. I have the S-Video and composite from the AVR7000 to the TV so I can get the OSD. Anyone else have these issues?

weak user manual, come with bad batteries for remote control, major defect in volumn control

I have a 20 years old Marantz, and bought an AVR 7000 as a replacement to go with my Infinity OVTR1, and RS1 speakers.
Being a music lover but not a audophile, I do enjoy the sound quality of the AVR 7000, and have no complaint regarding its sound quality. However, I do feel like
the manual is not quite user friendly.

Initial I have problems with the AVR 7000 in not responding to the remote control. The problems are gone after I replace with new EverReady batteries. I think the batteries supplied by HK is a little too small in dimension. As a result, it is not tightly fit into the battery slot, and does not contact well to the connectors. The new EverReady batteries fit tighter in the remote, and I have no more problem since then.

I now do have a major defect with the AVR 7000. Today, the AVR 7000 increases the volumn, non stop, by itself. When this happens, it does not respond to the volumn control knob and the remote. It almost blows my speakers, and my ears away. It is analogous to the sudden acceleration problem the AUDI 5000 (a car) had a few year back. The only thing I can do is change the input source to something not connected, and then turn down the volumn. Sometimes, I can reproduce this problem by turning the volumn clockwise, and counter clockwise fast. At other times, it just increases the volumn by itself without me touching anything.

I'll take it to the HK repair station next week. If this can't be fixed, I'll have to get a refund, and stay with my Marantz. It is too dangerous to have this sudden increase in volumn, and have kids in the house.

It's too bad to have such a defect for an otherwise execellent receiver.

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Marantz (20 years old)

sound quality,

weak bass when you swithed to pro logic mode, runs hot, quality problem

I really love this receiver at first, but lately it started to falling apart. Every time I switch a surround mode, I can hear nasty thumps coming from speakers. Very disappointed especially this receiver cost me $1100 . This is going to be my last purchase from HK.

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Harman Kardon AVR 500, Onkyo 919

It looks nice and the remote is nice and the manual is OK and it is clear at low volumes and has HDCD

24 bit DACS or whatever it is, isntead of the better dual 32 bit stuff....and it makes a loud WRRRRR sound.

Well, I was very disapointed. I have been using my superior Aiwa shelf system for a year now. I bought some Bose speakers and hooked it up to my HK. It didn't sound as good at all.

The bass was flat, the treble was low. I put in my matrix CD and it cracked and poppled. Like the cereal, Rice Crispies. It makes this loud "WRRRRRRRRR" sound when it has to play sountracks of movies it doesn't like. Sometimes it immeditaly changes functions on its own. I was listening to a DVD player and it went to the CD player. Words flashed on the LCD panel that said, "Feed Me".

Its not totally bad tho. I like the Vmax surround sound. And the HDCD is good. If you really want the best system, go with an Aiwa shelf system. It beats any receiver or components you can get. Aiwa rules!!! I still listen to my aiwa the most.

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Aiwa Shelf System

Two years warranty (you'll need it)

Ghastly unreliable backbreaking piece of garbage.

I have not bought the unit but I have some experience with it as I am currently employed in what is probably Holland's biggest hifi store. I am sad to say that the AVR 7000 is but the latest in a growing list of HK products originating from China that are poorly constructed and have a very high rate of malfunctions compared to other manufactures. Several units including one used by us for demos are in need of repair.

By all means buy a decent Sony, Marantz or Yamaha. The AVR 7000 in its current state hasn't got a lot going for it.
HK get your act together!

logoc 7, build quality

Sound Quality when listening to music

I was very interested in the 7000 with its many featuers so I decided to check it out.
Its not a common reciever to find here in Australia so I found only 2 retailers here in Perth who stocked it.
The first retailer personally didnt like the amp and much and I feared that he may not give me an honest direct comparison. The listening test I did with CD wasnt impressive. The sound was seemed pure but very flat. I thought perhaps the slaesperson had perhaps not given me a direct comparison by setting it up badly for my test so I decided to check out the unit in the other reatilers showroom.
Again the same flat unimpressive sound.
Now I am not one for forward sound or colouration of sound but I just find the HK 7000 is not what I like when it comes to music. It lacked depth and liveliness in my opinion.
3 Stars for features
1 star for sound (the most important consideration)

The unit is loaded with featuers which drove me to it. Plus HKs enviable reputation when it comes to sound. However this unit loses it big time (imho) when it come to music. Home theatre was not as bad but if your like me and listen to alot of music check out the Denon AVR2801 or any model above that in the Denon range if you can afford it.
The Denon 2801 is cheaper as it has less features but is a much better sounding product (for me that is)

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Denon av 2801

Power output is great.

Not enough bass. Never know when it will kick in. One day, I was listing to a CD and the bass kicked in and I had to run and turn the bass level back to Zero. The bass is so bad; when I first go the unit, I sent my 15" Klipsch back for a checkup. No problem found. It was functing properly. The HK was produced in August 2000. The music seem flat most of the time. Again, I never know when it is going to crystal clear. I had the AVR 65. That is a good unit. I was going to return my AVR 7000 within one week after I got. Someone told me to turn the level high on my subwoofer to get better bass. What a mistake that was. Never had to do that with my AVR 65. I must say, the DTS sounds great. Lots of bass there. But I listen to music most of the time. I am to box this unit up and send it back for some of the upgrades. Before you buy this unit, listen to some of the earlier units. I wish I had returned it when I received the RMA number. Over all, it is not a clear unit. The must likes crystal clear sound that I got with my AVR 65. Why did I sell that unit.

Wait unit something better comes out. I like HK products, this on is not it.

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AVR 65