Some of the best Processing in any receiver. Great in 2 channel stereo etc... Nice Amp reserves when you need it, very flexible.

Remote, but what else is new.

Well I down scaled my system because I have a nice two channel High End system for music. Boy I was presently surprised!!! This is by far the best sounding receiver I have ever heard in 2 channel, and the processing is better than some pre/pros I have owned. I think HK finally hit a home run as far as there Home Theater receivers go, hopefully they won't screw it up. Most of the new receivers are using Lexicon type of processing and it shows. Too bad the review below got a lemon, sounds like more a Circut City problem than the unit. Over all this things is very good to excellent a sure welcome to my system, works great with an Xbox and PS2 hooked up to a 92" screen. Keep up the good work HK

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Anthem AVM-20 well isn't similar but good. Onkyo/Rotel/Denon/NAD

Lots of flexibility in sound format and lots of options for set up.

Remote is not as nice as the Onkyo's. there is no DD-EX.

I tested the Onkyo 595 and was so impressed with the rejuvination of my Bose AM-10's that I got excited and decided to step up to the next level. I considered the Onkyo 700 and the HK 520. I decided on the HK - not really sure why. I've been very impressed with the HK. I feel the music reproduction is much more realistic than the 595 and the lows are much tighter. That's saying alot cause the 595 was great.

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Onkyo 595 and old kenwood prologic.

eays to setup with tv monitor

no tv monitor hooked up, u r screwed.. the thing is a HUGE piece of shiiit...

this sucks HARD.... took 1.5 hours to try to get sound.. i bot it brand new from circuit city... right out of the box the face was scrathed up.. multiple gashes on it... ugly looking.. then, no sound for 1.5 hours.. i stopped trying to troubleshoot and read the entire manual... cover to cover.. the last paragraph, on the last page, says...."if u are having problems with the unit, the microprocessor may be bad. to reset, hit these two buttons"... which i did... and THEN is started working.. who wants to come home and not play with their new toy... i am SOOOOOO disappointed... after playing with the onscreen programming, its easy to use.. however, if u do not have a tv hooked to the reciever, u can absolutely forget about seting this thing up.... nothing can be done from the reciever itself.. not on mine anyway... the crap just did not work... i checked the box.. it was not retaped.. and the packaging was not torn either.. someone returned this unit because it was not working, and someone else wanted to resell it.... OR it just came out of china a POS... scratched and not working, right out of the box...

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denon avr2802 worked like a charm...

Amplification, Logic 7, ease of setup and Quality of sound in both music and HT

As I've said before, the 56 page manual is like playing "Where's Waldo". It's all there, but finding it can be a hassle. Once you know where to look and what it means, the rest is easy

I was going to buy the Onkyo 600,then the Outlaw 1050, then the Denon 2802, then the Marantz 7200, then the.... Anyway, I finally found this HK 520 at Costco online for a great price. I had actually wanted this receiver all along, but it was just too expensive when I was looking. I bought it to replace my Denon AVR 2500 which was outdated the day I bought it (no Dolby Digital). The Denon was great. That makes this receiver incredible. The technological advances are amazing but the power and quality of the amps is the real selling point. They allow me to really enjoy music again. The difference in even the subwoofer is remarkable. But, you say, Costco is not an authorized dealer. True, but they have an unbelievable (but true) guarantee: if at any time you are unsatisfied with this product, return it (for a full refund). Doubt it? I had a lawn edger for 4 years. It was so bad that I used it less than 3 times. Took it back to Costco last month and got a full refund. It didn't even have the guarantee listed above. But, you can't get one from Costco anymore. You can get one from J&R world for a little more and they are an authorized dealer. DO IT. HK does an excellent job with this (and other) equipment. It does everything well, and most things better than others in the sub-$1000 group.

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Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Marantz (second best, and not even close), and Outlaw (no DPLII so no contender)

Amplifiers, Logic 7 (preferred to ProLogic II for most stuff), remote, quality.

Reading the manual is like playing "where's Waldo".

Am only getting started, but this is an upgrade in many ways from my Denon avr2500. The processor modes and channel numbers are obvious in the receivers description. What is not so obvious in the descriptions is the amplifier quality. The HK is immeasurably superior in strength, detail, and tone. Also, though some complain about the remote, it is much better than the Denon. I couldn't find a code that worked for my VCR. NO PROBLEM. The remote has (in effect) an autosearch mode which throws signals at the equipment until it finds one that works. You release the control, tell it ok and you have remote control. Don't have to go through all the individual button learning.Very happy so far with ease of use and sound quality.

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Denon AVR2500 - glad I found the HK for $600 and ordered it before the add disappeared (about 10 days)

Ease of connection, scads of inputs and outputs, even front panel inputs that can become outputs. Louder than my old 110 watt Carver and cleaner.

Haven't found one worth mentioning yet. (I think all non-aftermarket remotes suck, this one is above average.)

If you are a newcomer to HK, then this review is likely to sound like a salespitch. I have owned numerous (6+) HK products over the past 40 years, all of which worked without repair for as long as I owned them. If you like colored, artificial sound, look elsewhere. Nice to hear every sound and nuance as recorded on high quality CD's, but you're also going to hear the hiss, pops and other bad noises from less than high quality source material, as this receiver gives it to you in brutal honesty. Also don't be offended by the measly power rating, this is the strongest 75 watts I've heard. Order one today !

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First journey beyond ProLogic era, pretty cool stuff.

Sound quality is awesome,HDCD decoder is an excellent plus.DVD movies come alive the sound jumps right off the screen.This is a very sturdy well built receiver its power is definitely underrated.

Remote is not as good as the onkyo, but you get 2 remotes with this receiver.The receiver also gets warm to the touch, have to see how it holds up only time will tell.

I have been fortunate to have owned both an onkyo and the latest a harmon kardon AVR 520.I really loved the sonics of the onkyo receiver, but the difference to me is that the harmon karon sound is so life like being at a live performance.It is a very flexible audio receiver, i have mine mated with the harmon kardon FL8380 cd player and the sound is awesome.It also has a very good FM radio, the AM section is only average.

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onkyo,kenwood,pioneer and sony

Many selections for the best possible sound.

Remote buttons small

I had done a lot of research before buying this product. It was the overall favorite by many for the price. If you just want a good receiver to listen your new DVDs and not pay over a $1000 then this is the one for you.

Amplifier performance/Set-up/Build quality

No separate device control select on remote. No source rename function

The Harman Kardon avr-520 is an exceptional product. I was looking at the Denon avr-2802 and the Yamaha rx-v1200. After numerous hours of research and listening, I gave a slight edge to the HK. I felt its bass management was a bit more realistic. The amplifier was clean right up to clipping and its user functionality was the quickest and easiest to learn. Setup was a breeze. 2 minor complaints: The remote is very well lit, but there are no separate "device control" buttons. The input (source) select buttons also switch device control. The remote is capable however, of volume "punch through" and channel "punch through". A very nice feature. The other minor complaint: No source rename function. However, one very nice function: Power on volume level preset. Along with Dolby Digital and DTS..the AVR 520 can allow numerous matrix and sound field parameter environments. It's also quite heavy -35lbs- A testament to build quality. FM performance is fine as well, although AM performance is just average. The other 2 recevers are both very capable performers; But in the final analysis...it was Harman Kardon's seemless sounstage and neutrality that convinced me.

I am a quick learner, I enjoy competition. Self motivator with high aspirations. I also am one of the few people in Kansas who can read.

I drink alot, I am a compulsive gambler. I have an uncontrollable fettish for midget pornograpy which often leads me on these personal journeys which render me useless for weeks at a time. I smoke, and I can't read. Oh, and I also often lie about being able to read.

I llke swimming, dancing, and long walks along the beach. I am in to classical music, and I have two cats', Hermie and Rex. I am looking for someone who is in to quiet romantic evenings, long talks on the poarch-swing, and sauntry hot bubble baths. Must be athletic, and enjoy the outdoors.

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shoe laces, ping pong paddle, nylon roap, wingman extreme joy stick, 10W30 motor oil, a straight jacket, and a cock ring.