Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Nilsen on August 19, 2007, 12:05:16 PM
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Ive been looking at (online) the simple Harman Kardon avr132 (european model?) surround reciever and a pair of B&W DM601 S3 speakers. I will use this setup mainly for stereo music and not surround from the outset. The reason for not choosing a dediacted amplifier instead of a surround reciever is because it will eventually be a surround system in a small room.
Anyone have bad or good things to say about Harman Kardon recievers and/or B&W speakers? (mainly regarding stereo sound qulaity) Ive read some reviews but would like some more input. None of the places i can visit live has both B&W and H/K in the same store so i cant listen to them together.
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I haven't used a HK receiver, but its IMO a respected name in consumer-level (as opposed to high end geek stuff). I do own a pair of HK speakers which I like very well.
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ok thx. any good links to american websites that tests AV stuff?
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http://www.google.com
sheesh :)
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yeah yeah.. been there done that. most reviews or tests are sponsored or belongs to all the same websites (h/k, cnet etc) and they suck :) I was thinking about names of serious hifi/av mags or fansites that has websites you can find stuff at.
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I wouldn't know. When I buy audio equipment, I go somewhere that has a demo room and listen, then buy what I like the sound of.
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Normally i would too, but our local B&W shop does not have HK
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Listening to a receiver is less important than listening to speakers. Like I said, HK has a decent reputation. You're not talking about a huge investment, are you?
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Damn, dood, you must use a ghey Euro version of Google. Apparently the US version, like the US version of most things, is much more robust :)
It took me less then 2 minutes to find a few decent-looking comments about HK receivers:
http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-HK3480-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B0001FI49I
(see user comments, that's what Amazon is good for)
http://www.ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/205hk/
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_3/harman-kardon-avr-230-receiver-8-2004.html
http://products.howstuffworks.com/harman-kardon-avr-635-a-v-receiver-review.htm
Lemme know if you need some help finding the US version of Google ;)
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No, not a huge investment at all, but i always get my money worth. I dont waste money. :)
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Yeah, I pretty much squeeze my pennies until they're much larger in diameter than normal, too.
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I used an HK receiver for a long time, and it was an excellent product. I matched it to a set of KEF Correlli speakers. Nothing bad to say about it. Now it sits collecting dust, but served me well for years.
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Originally posted by Nilsen
yeah yeah.. been there done that. most reviews or tests are sponsored or belongs to all the same websites (h/k, cnet etc) and they suck :) I was thinking about names of serious hifi/av mags or fansites that has websites you can find stuff at.
I frequent Sound&visionmag.com Forums. I also frequent Audioholics.com forums.
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thx :)
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Hi Nilsen
I have an AVR635 with the HK speaker setup and the DVD47, the sound is absolutely fantastic , setup is very easy and the kit looks the muts nuts :)
However , i think that HK somtimes fall asleep at the quality desk , within 10days of purchase the AVR gave up the ghost ....!!!!!Most unhappy .
Took the thing back to the HK shop (drive fm Masirah to Dubia!!!) and they replaced it on the spot , including the remote as i'd dropped it and broke the lcd screen. The new AVR has been running trouble free for 8 months now so touch wood all is good ......
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I'm thinking about replacing my reciever in my living room. Should I go for Harman Kardon or Marantz?
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Originally posted by expat
Hi Nilsen
I have an AVR635 with the HK speaker setup and the DVD47, the sound is absolutely fantastic , setup is very easy and the kit looks the muts nuts :)
However , i think that HK somtimes fall asleep at the quality desk , within 10days of purchase the AVR gave up the ghost ....!!!!!Most unhappy .
Took the thing back to the HK shop (drive fm Masirah to Dubia!!!) and they replaced it on the spot , including the remote as i'd dropped it and broke the lcd screen. The new AVR has been running trouble free for 8 months now so touch wood all is good ......
What i have been hearing about the HK recievers is that they have excellent stereo sound quality and that unlike many other brands their advertised output power is actually what its supposed to be, and not inflated numbers. I have also heard that the ammount of products with quality issues are on the high side. Im not going to buy it online because i dont want the hassle of shipping it everywere if i get a bad product. Alot better to be able to talk to the guys i bought it from.
I cant help but be abit taken by the design on their stuff either.. it acually has a pretty high WAF
:)
I may skip on the B&W speakers and look at Infinity Beta 20's just to be able to get everything from the same shop.
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Stereo and surround sound is fantastic , i compared it against a bose system and a yamaha system ,the figures i think are quoted a little on the low side my system seems a lot louder than the figures HK tell you ....then again might just be me :)
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What you experience falls in line with that professional reviewers sais about the power HK delivers.
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Sorry, im dyslexic.
(http://wind.prohosting.com/arhiv/karmen.jpg)
I thought you said Karmen Ha...never mind, I'll get me coat.
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LOL :D