Need I explain again?

I bought this receiver to compare it to an NAD 761, since both are in the same price range. By far, the NAD blew the HK away. Not even a chance. While HK was busy devising a million different DSP modes, they forgot about natural sound quality. There are far too many bells and whistles, and the fake modes don't allow for an enjoyable listening experience. The remote is horrendous, far too complicated, and terrible shape. The thing overheats like a toaster, and mine ended up being returned on warranty. Money back, no looking back. For the money, buy a NAD or a Denon, much better.

SOunds great when it works.

Bad customer support :(

I have mixed emotions on this product. First of all, I would like to say that the clarity of sound at all levels is terrific. I am impressed with the overall features available. The downside is the unit that I received seems faulty. It shuts itself down spontaniously and can only be fixed by resetting the processor on the unit. I have had to do this 3 times to date. Also, the center channel does not always fire and this can only be fixed by restarting the unit. I spoke with HK tech support and they told me to take it to their repair facility. It has been there for 2 weeks now and I will get it back tommorrow with the problem not being solved, but instead being told, that it has a long warranty, so not to worry. I did not pay this much for a unit so that it can aggrevate me. i tried sending it back in to Sound Professionals where I got it, but they would only replace it if I had the original box. I was not told to keep this at purchase, but these were their rules. So now, here I am going through HK's tech channels and the problem is not being fixed. The repair shop only listened to it and did not see the problem and therefor did not fix the problem. I am not happy with this at all. Advise? Buy from a reputable dealer and not some internet hack company as I did.

Phenominal reciever

The power rating

I ust recieved and connected this bad boy up. I have been looking for a reciever since January, when I came across the avr520. This unit has phenominal sound in stereo and in all the home theater modes. I have it paired up with bic's 62 series speakers for the front 3 and the 52's for surround sound, also in the line is the bic 1210 sub to finnish up the system. This took the place of my dennon avr87. The sleek styling put the dennon to shame. I could never get the sound quality from my dennon thaat I am getting from this hk. I looked at the dennon 3802 the marantz 7200 and the hk520. it was a difficult choice until I played all 3 side by side. Hands down to me this was the best choice.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz Dennon Bic

Everything.

The 520 doesn''t convert video. I wanted to hook up my DVD with component video cable to the 520, but it wouldn''t convert the signal to composite for my old tv. Doesn''t have 7.1 sound built in. I also wish the 520 could power another set of speakers in another room.

I love this receiever. This is my first high-end a/v receiver. I love the wide array of processing modes to choose from. You can have DD, DPL2, DTS, DTS Neo:6. It also allows you to hook up another amp have 7.1 sound. There are also many inputs that you''ll never run out of room. I have a DVD, PS2, VCR and computer hooked up to it and it isn''t full. I like the 4th video input on the front, perfect for video cameras. You can also switch the 4th input, from out to in. The remote works great. I have my VCR and TV setup on the remote, it eliminates the need for all your remotes. The remote can also set your SPL, which can make a good audio source sound better.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha

Warm clean sound. Plays music and Movies fantasticly

none. Other than the internet company that I bought from. I would not recommend letsgodigital (dealznet) and its other company alias''s. Unit was not new. It was sold as new but had obviusly been opened before. Watch out for dishonest dealers.

Easy hook up. Great sound. They manage my JBL s412 speaker with subwoofers. The sound is warmer than my Onkyo.

The sound is second to none in price class and better than most. It would be an understatement to say that the power specs are conservative.

Remote can be a problem. Keep the 520 well ventilated it will get hot.

This is a handsome unit with lights that are informative and not strictly for show. Some effort required for initial setup. Although listed at 75 WPC for HT and 85 for normal stereo, sounds like 200. This box could drive speakers very well down to 4 ohm level. You will hear slight hiss during some soft passages of music and video, but you have to work very hard to hear it. As for sound, the AVR-520 has just an excellent presentation. I am using in-wall paradigm AMS 250 and CC270 center with PDR 10 Sub. Granted paradigm''s are efficient, but this amp just rocks. Am currently using only digital sources i.e. Sony PlayStationII, Marantz 6200 single play DVD and digital coax from cable box. They all sound great with the stereo mode through the Marantz DVD having very good separation, and clear open sound. The five-channel mode is good for filling your room with clean sound. Multi Room is there if you need it. I would recommend AVR 520 to anyone needing a new receiver. If you do not like the amps, you can use your own. Have to get used to configuring your "ports" for sound and picture from desired sources. Actually kind of fun once you get the hang of it.

Similar Products Used:

NAD (older model) stereo reviever and Yamaha mentioned above.

Remote. I am taking it back because I will be damned if I am going to pay this much money for a receiver and have a remot that works only when IT wants to work. My GAWD! If they can''t make a remote that works how can they be trusted to make a good quality receiver. Also the center channel just seems to fade from low to high.

Sounds as expected

This Cystal Clear. Good Base for movies.

No THX.

I have this unit connected to DVD 50. This is a great unit. Have not had any problem with this unit. The sound is crystal clear. It is great for Jazz; check out logic 7 for music. Movies look greats too. You should see my friend’s reaction when they are watching a movie. I have owned the AVR 65 and the 7000. This is by far the best unit ever. You can hear almost every note. I can sometime hear a guitarist finger moving across the strings. The audiometer in the remote allows me to balance the sound anywhere I sat in the room. Therefore I always have the best set in the house. If you are thinking about a new unit, this is the one to get.

Similar Products Used:

AVR 65 and 7000

Power. The looks, some think it''s too busy with all the lights, but I like it. Component switching. Logic 7. The sound.

For some reason, if I have Dolby Digital properly calibrated (using the S&V HT DVD), if I switch to DTS, the center speaker is much louder. Hmmmm....

I was researching receivers for a LONG while. It finally came down to the Onkyo TX-DS 797 and this receiver. The deciding factor was a side by side comparison. I listened to both receivers in stereo mode through some Polk bookshelves. The salesman threw on some James Brown (yeah baby!) and with the H/K it sounded like J.B. had his mike plugged directly into the receiver. The Onkyo made it sound like he was singing from the far end of a long hallway. The difference was amazing. I''m of the mind that if a receiver can reproduce good 2 channel music, it should do an adequate job on multi-channel stuff. Well let me tell you, the H/K is more than adequate on movies. Watched Face/Off in D.D. and it''s enough to make you cry, it''s so nice. The bullets whizzing by, the shells hitting the floor, the helo flying overhead, etc., all sounds beautiful. So by going with the H/K instead of the Onkyo, I''m losing: THX Select, 25 watts per channel, 6.1 amp. and 1 optical input . But I gained a much better receiver, IMHO. I like H/K''s Logic 7 decoding too. I prefer it over DPL2. Even if I''m just listening to the radio, the Logic 7 makes it sound like a concert. Works great on other 2 channel sources too. I don''t have a use for their other DSP modes, though. Now for the power rating issue. You may look at this receiver''s 75wpc and think it''s a little bit lacking. That''s not the case AT ALL. I have my 520 hooked up to some relatively inefficient JBL''s, and let me tell you, this sucker gets LOUD. The best part is that it gets loud but sounds the same. There''s no distortion. I''m sure the speakers (or my ears) would give out before the receiver broke a sweat. Bottom line is this is a good receiver. The only thing I can''t comment on is this unit''s reliability, since I''ve only had it a short time. We''ll see what happens with that. Otherwise, I couldn''t be happier. PS I paid $700 for this bad boy from J&R''s store (I live in NYC), but I saw it on their website for $650. So I''m going back to see if I can get some money back, since I just recently bought it. At $700, I''m happy with it, but I''d be happier at $650. ;

Beautiful warm sounding presentation for BOTH music and home theater; On screen Display: displays volume and setup; Unlimited set up potential; Logic 7; DPL-2; 40, 60, 80, 100 crossover choice; Direct Mode bipasses sound modifications; Ability to use an external equalizer without using a separate amp; Learning remote is very useable for other equipment; EZ-set feature can be handy out of box;

Remote locks up periodically, fixed only by removing a battery and then puting it back in...no big deal; DPL-2 is non-adjustable; Does not support DD-EX; Appearance is a little too "in your face", with all the lights...I would actually prefer a something a little more conservative.

One reason I bought the H/K because of its upgradablility. I wanted to make sure I could add a quality two channel amp to push the front two channels rather than stuff a bunch of sub-par amps into a small space as the Denon tries to do. But, this is just the "tip of the iceburg". I wanted a receiver that could present music as well as home theater, and trust me in the current market of A/V receivers this is very hard to find. Based on the expense of the receivers I thought I would have a relatively easy time of finding what I wanted, a warm sounding music friendly receiver at a moderate price. I was mistaken. A/V receiver manufactures are in there infancy as far as producing a digital receiver that is capable of reproducing music as well as it does home theater. 90% of the a/v receivers are geared toward HT instead of music. These receivers are equalized in the higher frequencies at the expense of the mid-range and lower end. Althought this equalization is fine for movies, the higher frequencies make for an almost painful music experience. Producing amplifiers and receivers that mimic the warmness of the old tube amp''s has been a dismal failure for most companies. I almost gave up my quest "until" I found the H/K 520. This receiver, although not the most powerful out there, does the best job of marrying HT with Music that I could find. It was the only receiver I could find that actually sounded best when the treble and bass were set to "flat". It reproduced a full-frequency of sound that I had not heard on the half dozen or so brands that I had demoed before. The sound is so clear and clean without being bright. At last I had found a receiver that sounded as warm for music as my awesome 20 year old tube Marantz, with the added benifit of zero distortion and an amazingly clean and clear sound. I recently added DVD-Audio to my system, and can only describe listening to the Eagles "hotel california" as some sort of mystical experience. DVD-A is truly incredible on this receiver. H/K does not deceive its customers by overstating the power of its amps like yamaha, denon, onkyo, etc... H/K rates its power with all channels driven in the entire range of frequencies, instead of using one channel at one frequency like most other companies do. The 520 also uses two separate power sources where most use just one.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Marantz, Kenwood