Fully configurable 7.1 pre-outs and 5.1 main-ins allow for additional amps DTS ES discrete logic 7 6/8 channel direct inputs high current power beautiful looks

no dolby EX

This is the best AV Receiver, period. It is fully configurable. It has 5 channels of amplification but 7.1 processing. This enbles you to add additional amplifers to complete your 7.1 system. As with most AV Receivers, the avr 520 is awesome in home theatre, but only above average in music. If you truly want high quality stereo music, you can't get it from most receivers. But the AVR 520 lets you add your own amps to power which ever speakers you want. You can chose to add a small amp to power the surround backs or add a high end amp to power the fronts. Most other receivers with 7.1 processing, come with 7 channels of amplification, and if you wanted to add additional amps for your fronts, you essentially waste 2 channels of power. With the AVR 520 you don't have to pay for any extra channels that you won't be using. I added Denon monoblock amps (POA 4400) to AVR 520 to power AAD C series speakers and the sound is phenomenal. From music to movies, the sound quality is nothing short of spectacular. The AVR 520 has 6 channel input for DVD Audio and even 8 channel input for future formats. The AVR 520 has one short fall. No Dolby EX. However, it does has DTS ES and this decodes Dolby EX just fine. Although it officially can't decode Dolby EX, with DTS ES, you're really not losing anything. Overall, this receiver does everything I want a AV receiver to do and more. You'll be hard pressed to find a receiver with these functions.

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Kenwood 505 Pioneer VSX 810 Denon 1803 Harman Kardon 525

Sound clarity Very tight LFE bass Looks! I love the way this thing looks! Did I mention that there are TONS OF MODES!

Remote Remote Remote Gets kind of hot

I purchased the AVR520 to replace a broken 4 year old JVC RX884BK and let me tell you...it was a blessing in disguise! After researching for hours I had actually decided on the AVR320, but when I found this gem for a mere $50 more I couldn't resist. I admit that when I first hooked it up I was a bit disappointed. Out of the box this thing sounds just OK. I never had to do much tweaking on my old JVC. After spending a few hours hooking it up I went through the basic setup. It was pretty straight forward, although I could not get the EZset to work very well. Movies sounded quite a bit clearer with this unit, but the music was lacking. I use a JBL satellite speaker system with sub and it felt like something was missing. I went to bed feeling like I had not gotten as good a deal as I had thought. After a good nights sleep I decided to REALLY spend some time with this thing, and I am glad that I did. What I had not realized is that the settings must be adjusted not only for each source, but each mode as well! Should have read the manual a bit more carefully. This baby sounds GREAT!!! I do have 2 minor issues. 1...this thing runs very hot. If you have it crammed into a tight space you may want to rethink it. 2...the remote really sucks. They allow you to record macros but they are pretty much only good for powering up your system. I asked their support team about being able to set a simple macro up that would turn the AVR on, turn the DVD on, turn the TV on, then set the AVR's source to DVD. They said that is was not meant for that. Whenever you push a source key it places control to that source. Other remotes have a source button or something that you push first. That would have been a bit more handy.

Similar Products Used:

JVC, Sony

8 channel direct input 7.1 processing Has everything short of SDDS for surround Adjustable crossover for the LFE(sub out) Oodles of digital inputs,3 selectable outputs Component video switching OSD works with S-video

need external amp to power extra two speakers in 7.1 need in trilodial power center to be THX certified.

This all started when I was using my old Onkyo 646 and couldnt get the friggin thing to use OSD with S-Video. I mean it was great with 90x2 and 80x5 but with no DTS I finally gave up and headed out for the replacement. What I came to get was this awesome piece of machinery. My 520 is the bomb, well at least after the first one I bought failed in PL2. Well, the clarity and soundstaging are outstanding with my Polk RT800's and sub. Although I will say that the imaging out of the front speakers are not as impressive as what I am used to hearing out of Onkyos or Denons. The immense amount of sound features to choose from allow this reciever to hit anyones "sweet spot" when I comes to prefrence. Choosing between DTS and DTS Neo 6, to Dolby Digital and ProLogic 2. HK also intergrates their own Logic 7 processor for a differnt flair. 7.1 in the unit makes it an excellent buy. Last but not least, the remote. I know this should be a very small detail for the average enthusist or audiophile but if you have a girlfriend like me that cant tell what from what. Its gonna save you a lot of time and agrivation and oh yea, not to mention less stress on your equipment from their fumbling, bumbling antics. The 520's remote can be programed to just about anything you want(except control mini disc)but the kicker is the macro modes that let you control the volume, channel, power, and vcr controls all at the same time without havint to change the input selector on the remote. For people that are new to the game of big recievers this a great feature that could save you a lot of confussing control issues. On the other hand though, if your not to savy in this area of programming remotes it could take you awhile to really understand how to get it programmed. All I did though was read the book, it did a satisfactory job explaining. So in closing, if your looking for a reciever with astounding power, "clarity", dynamic mid range, and tons of absorbing surround modes, this is your hook up, holla if ya hear me!!!

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo787 Yamaha HTR-5590 Denon AVR-6590

Musicality, good power (I do not push the receiver too high but at similar levels you cannot compare the sound of HK with Sony for instance, that is strained and somehow too bright, if you will push anyway - during parties - the sound is correct and clean) good bass (I am able now to hear bass guitar harmonies on my subwoofer, despite I have some more work to do with the acoustic of my room), connections and flexibility.

The shape of the remote, being very thin/narrow at the bottom you have to struggle to control your DVD/VCR so that you have to use two hands like those people seeing for the very first time a remote. The plastic front panel but I am not really interested in design (due to this reason the local Onkyo sales persons are saying the HK is made by boyscouts).

Nice receiver, I am quite pleased with it and I can recommend this as a very musical unit that was my priority when bought the avr 5500 (the non US alternative of avr 520). First of all this is very competent in two channel, probably only the dedicated stereo amplifiers, engineered very carefully and using superior components would do a better job (and considerably more amounts of premium to pay for). I also have the stereo HK 670 that was bought one year ago because at that time I used a Sony STR - DB 840 (QS serie) which works acceptable well in HT but is not very good in stereo and for whatever reason after some listening sessions I found the avr 5500 sounding better than his small stereo brother. They are different in construction but the sound of the receiver is more enjoyable (in the same room/acoustic and with the same speakers). This does not mean that the HK 670 has a bad sound or characteristics but personally I like more the receiver. You will find the same musicality with the HT (both DD or DTS) also the details and energy necessary for kind of movies are there. Can easily handle my old 4 ohm Jamo front tower speakers and give them a very warm sound. Everything else (connections, other formats and the chance to expand to 7.1) is outstanding and above all is Logic 7 option that outshines the DPLII and (not always) the DTS Neo. I have read something about weak bass response in Logic 7. Well my experience is somehow different as I can hear the bass very clearly w/o subwoofer; when I connect the sub - a Jamo sw 2010 (the internal amplifier at 11 o'clock) and inside the avr at -4db/60 HZ cut off, I have enough if not too much bass (could be something related to the acoustic of my room which is not very desirable for listening also to some materials having the bass too emphasised by the recording engineers). I also tried (listening sessions) the Onkyo TX DS 787 and 797 but they are not very disciplinate in the low end (connected as well to my B&W DM 602 S2 used as rears, the onkyo is 'spreading' the bass uncontroled; that was very clearly when one of my friends (musician) put some test discs with several instruments playing different notes in different octaves). The music on my ears at least is more convincing and enveloping with HK than with Onkyo. The same with Marantz. Never tried Denon, I heard only positive things but you cannot find Denon in this country. The big achievement with this unit is musicality (both stereo and multichannel) which I am using more than the DD/DTS, where anyway the unit is working extremely well.

Rich sound. Powerful beyond rated output. Plenty of input output options.

Remote is not great (are they ever?) Some reported problems with Logic 7 decoding. No video upconversions capability (probably need a Denon, if this is your desire).

This was the forth HK product I bought over a year's period. The first was a stereo receiver (3370) and matching CD recorder. They came as refurbished units but looked brand new and performed flawlessly. I next went with the low end receiver of the x20 AVR series, the AVR 120. This was used in a bedroom setup. I was astounded at what 45 watts sounded like compared to the Sony and Aiwa products I had in the past that were rated at 100 watts. This inexpensive unit also performed admirably in comparison to a Yamaha RX-V620 and Onkyo TX-DS595 units that I had been using in a home theater room. This fueled the urge to get the top end of the X20 series, the 520. I have been using it for about six months and am totally in love with it. As compared to the Yamaha and Onkyo, this unit seems to be more "enveloping". I put this in quotes because it is hard to objectively describe the sound. It certainly relates to a bit more bass response, a bit better separation, and perhaps other technical factors beyond my expertise. Musically, the HK sound is deeper and richer than the Yamaha and Onkyo. This is not a critcism of those units. They are great performers in the Home Theater environment, and I would recommend them to anyone considering a unit for that purpose only, especially since they are usually cheaper. However, if you are planning a mixed use (music/HT) application, I suggest that you go and demo some of these units with your favorite CD. I think you might be pleased with the HK sound. I am aware of some quality control issues that have haunted HK in the past. There is a current problem with this unit and the series on the use of Logic 7 decoding and low levels of bass (LFE) output in that mode. That is of no particular concern to me. I also think that the problems affecting earlier HK models, such as the AVR45, have been overcome and the posts in the various forums about HK do not reflect an inordinate amount of failure issues (there will always be some). Having said all this, I prefer the HK to any brand I have previously owned for a variety of reasons. I event think they look classy, but that is a matter of personal preference. I have not owned a Denon, and I know they have a die hard following that is almost fanatical. So, I assume that is a good alternative to the HK, but I still read that HK outperforms Denon in musical ability. I hope so. At any rate, I am pleased and would highly recommend this unit.

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Yamaha, Onkyo. Have owned low end Sony, Aiwa and JVC in the past, but would not say they are "similar" in any way.

POWERFUL. 75 X 5 blew away my JVC (100X5). I found the setup to be uncomplicated, but the manual was of no help. Flexible with speaker setup for diferent listening modes. Subwoofer crossover frequency is adjustable. Great value for under $500 especially if you don't need 7 channels. Has component video switching for HDTV.

I think the manual was translated word for word from another language, and therefore it did not make much sense. THe diagrams are terrible.

I was looking to replace my old JVC7000 which did have DTS. I compared H/K, Denon, Onkyo, and Yamaha before I decided. I can not be happier with my decision. This site was a big help with my selection process. Some H/K reviews indicate glitchs that appear to happen randomly. I have not experienced any of the glitches mentioned in pervious reviews. I use this receiver with B&W CC6S2 center, 620 fronts, AR208HO surround and 12" Dalquist powered sub. The surround speakers will be upgraded soon, but my old JVC did not do justice to my B&Ws. My speakers really woke up with this receiver. The H/K provide crystal clear and precise sound reproductions. This receiver is also great with 2 channel music setup. I chose the 520 as oppose to 525 is b/c my room is small and a 7 speaker set up would not be able to create the desired soundfield in such a small space. Sound field reproduction for movies are a huge improvement over the old receiver.

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JVC 7000 Tested: Denon 2802 Onkyo 600 Yamaha 1200

Clean, accurate power. Lots of inputs.

I also noticed that it's slow to recognize a PCM signal. It misses the first second of a track. Also, some don't like it's 'busy' display. I agree somewhat, but performance outshines.

This is a review for the AVR525. Six months of research brought me to chosing HK over Denon, NAD, Marantz, and others. This site helped a lot. At first, I purchased the AVR520 in July '02. Out of the box it produced a soft hum in the speakers, guessing around 200 hertz, that was audible during quiet moments in movies and music. Spent a lot of time troubleshooting: Only connecting speakers, different power sources, line conditioners, etc. Mike Embers at AcousticSoundDesign was very helpful with suggestions. The hum remained. Everything else about the receiver was absolutely what I wanted. I waited a few months to call about returning it, fearing a lengthy process. AcousticSoundDesign was wonderful - sent the receiver back to them and in just over a week, a brand new replacement unit arrived at my door. Can't stress enough how their customer service shines. I opted to pay an extra $70, upgrading to the AVR525. Onward... This receiver is awesome for music and movies. 2 channel stereo mode is a must. Setup was fun once you get used to the manual. Endless inputs in the back. I use portable MD's and a camcorder quite often, so those front switchable AV jacks are VERY handy. Plenty of surround modes to chose from. The 'virtual' surrounds are surprisingly good. The 525 offers clean power up to a 7.1 speaker setup! For the money, this receiver is perfect for me.

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Klipsch RF3s, RS3s, RC3, & RSW12 Also from acousticsounddesign.

Build quality Sound, Sound, Sound Power Clarity Best H/T I've heard Lots of features

Busy light scheme on front should be able to be dimmed.

This is the best receiver I have ever owned. It has awesome power capabilities, looks great and functions flawlessy in all formats whether it be 5.1, DTS or stereo. The best 5.1 I have ever heard. I actually think people are knocking on my door or the phone is ringing when movies are played. Excellent two channel stereo and logic 7 for TV movies.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Marantz, Nakamichi, Denon

Power, great Dolby Digital, DPL2 and Logic 7 sound. Pre-out/main-in on all 5 channels.

Although it produces excellent ambience on two channel music, there is a glitch with Logic 7 processer in surround channels on a handful of my recordings. One example is the opening of my recording of Also Spracht Zarathustra. The surround channel sound flutters in and out on some of the brass and pipe organ sustained notes. Some sustained brass and pipe organ on other CDs suffer to a greater or lesser extent as well. Hopefully it is a flaw in the chip on my machine that needs fixing and not a general design flaw. I haven't had it checked out yet. I've just been otherwise enjoying the receiver too much to take if for service. There is a delayed response on PCD d/a converter on startup of some CDs. It's like the receiver detects the PCM signal too late. This is not a big problem since I use the DAC in the CD player.

I got this receiver because I was so pleased with the excellent performance I got from my last one - the prologic HK AVR25II. I also very much wanted the pre-out/main-in connections. This allowed me to connect dual 30 band equalizers to take care of some serious low bass standing wave problems in my listening room and, to a lesser extent, smooth out harsh highs on some of my less than excellent recordings and occasional hiss on the radio. It also allowed me to tell the receiver I was running the left and right channels at full range, when in fact I am using monitors and a subwoffer, employing the sub's external controller to blend the mains with the sub. This allows me to adjust the crossover between mains and sub to my taste. As a bonus, I found the Logic 7 processer (with the exception of a small glitch - see weeknesses section) to be totally disarming in its production of ambience for music - mostly classical. With this setup, I have ample power to drive my system (lower sensitivity NHT SB1s, SB2s, SC1, SubTwoI) very loud without stress. Movies, from the Matrix to Lord of the Rings are absolutely outstanding - much more compelling than I get in movie theaters. One of my favorites, pipe organ, makes me feel like I'm immersed in the cathedral or concert hall. But it isn't just the loud performance. Quiet passages are also wonderful. There is almost no ambient noise from the receiver during those quiet passages unless I turn it all the way up. The FM tuner is more than adequate for my favorite classical station which is a fairly strong signal. Ample connections are also welcome.

Similar Products Used:

HK AVR25II

Tweakability of setup for every input, speaker, surround compression, and source just the way you want it. Did I mention the sound? Probably should..the 70 watts per channel...yikes. it doesn't sound like much on paper...but it's more than enough to piss of the neighbors if they weren't so busy marveling at the impeccable sound clarity at high volumes.

Remote is old-school where an lcd display would be nice, although it's programmable enough to make it useful. The yellow lights used to label the surround modes on the left and the source on the right are bright, undimmable, and annoying. but I'm picky.

This is another review for the newer 525 model which isn't up on this site yet. Absolutely beautiful. I've learned to trust HK sound, and they fail to let me down. There are a multitude of sound options on this reciever for anyone's tastes, and it's failsafe on most of them. DTS and Dolby Digital are auto selected when you feed a digital (optical or coax) stream into the reciever. The Logic 7 is nice for your average stereo sound or tv (although it "creates" a surround image out of two channels, so with some tv programs, it'll bounce back and forth needlessly between the speakers and you'll quickly turn surround off). The 6 or 8 channel analog input from an outside dvd-audio or hdcd decoder makes for phenomenal sound. It also has the internal hdcd decoder in case you don't have that capability. The remaining surround options seem overkill and somewhat redundant, but will certainly satisfy anyone's surround needs. All of the digital audio inputs are programmable and can be assigned to any of the source inputs. The digital and composite jacks on the front of the unit are easily reversed, meaning you can easily record ONTO a minidisk etc, switch the output to input, and play it right back over the speakers. quite handy. Overall the amount of setup options are quite impressive, and make listening, viewing, and switching between devices a breeze. The remote is fairly useful, although I wish they'd go the route of marantz so it wasn't so damn big. However learning functions for any button on the pad and 4 macros per device makes it pretty handy for controlling the guantlet of electronics in your system.

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other hk's...looked at marantz and onkyo comparisons. if you're not convinced, download the 60 page manual from hk's website. if you're not impressed by the options (hard to believe), move on..but you