Looking into a Polk Setup

rooftop59

Defient wrote: »

Ok, so I've been looking at the AVR 254. How strongly do you guys feel about them? I don't know anyone who owns one, but reviews seem to be hit or miss. Sounds like people are having some firmware issues.

Also, how is the Onkyo 707 ? This may be an option as well, however Best Buys price is stupid expensive on this unit. ($799)

Other than that, I'm pretty much all set. Ordered my speakers last night.

So what speakers did you get? I actually used a yamaha rx-v1500 with rti6s and I did find it too be very pleasant sounding, albeit very detailed and not as defined in the bass as my hk reciever. So if you yamaha I would do the 1800 or 1900, not one of the entry level ones.

Peace,
Paul

mystik610

Defient wrote: »

Ok, so I've been looking at the AVR 254. How strongly do you guys feel about them? I don't know anyone who owns one, but reviews seem to be hit or miss. Sounds like people are having some firmware issues.

Also, how is the Onkyo 707 ? This may be an option as well, however Best Buys price is stupid expensive on this unit. ($799)

Other than that, I'm pretty much all set. Ordered my speakers last night.

Best Buy always tends to be on the high side. The trick is to shop your local retailers and find a lower price.....and get BB to price-match. I have a Fry's locally, so I've often had BB price-match fry's, so that I could finance it through them.

I haven't heard the 254, but my brother is a big harman kardon guy and has the predecessor to the 254. HK makes really nice receivers and amps....they're beefy as hell. Pick up a Harman Kardon receiver and compare it in weight to an Onkyo, Denon, etc etc and you can feel the difference. HK gear is heavy..which is a good thing. HK also underrates their gear...when they quote 100 watts per channel, that's 100 watts RMS with all channels driven. Most others quote peak watts per channel with two channels driven. HK gear is typically much more powerful.

I've always been an Onkyo guy, and am using an Onkyo 706 as my pre-amp. Onkyo's have a very neutral, colorless sound to them..whereas HK's are very warm and rich. My RTi8's sounded a bit bright running on the 706's amp, which isn't always a bad thing when it comes to HT. One thing I noticed when I added the HK amp was that although the brightness was tamed a bit and the mid-range opened up more, the tweeters aren't as detailed. At the end of the day, I prefer the sound of the HK though.

Feature-wise the Onkyo wins, however. The audyssey multi-Q auto-calibration system really will bring out the best in your speakers, and is much better than the auto-calibration system on the HK

wayne3burk

I am not an advocate of any particular Home Theatre Receiver as I have limited experience in comparing them (either in someones home or in the "Listening Room" at the store".

but if you are looking for the AVR 254 you can get this on off of Ebay -- $330 including shipping

no affilliation

http://cgi.ebay.com/Harman-kardon-AVR-254-7-1-channel-350-Watt-Receiver-/140401925911?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Receivers_Tuners&hash=item20b09b5f17#ht_500wt_1182