Harmon Kardon Reciever

noimposse · February 2006

So I've been struck with the desire to upgrade a little bit. I'm currently running a Kenwood reciever(cant remember model #, but its 5.1, 500watt, bought for 200 new about 2 years ago) and have been looking at the Harmon Kardon for a few days.

I was looking into the avr140 today(Im not wealthy, I just want something decent). When I went to look around at prices, I noticed the avr135 on amazon, and it seems to have the exact same specs as the 140. Better yet, its on sale for about $265 instead of the "$500" list price. Is there really anything different between the two? Is it worth buying? Would it be alright with the Rti4's I plan on getting sometime in the future?

Thanks

StopherJJ1980 · February 2006

Yes it would be great and much better than the Kenwood.

Honestly the 135 is really just the same as the 140 performance-wise. I doubt youd miss anything the 140 has to offer.

bobman1235 · February 2006

It'll be like night and day man, go for it.

*Seby*-Polk- · February 2006

StopherJJ1980 wrote:

Yes it would be great and much better than the Kenwood.

Honestly the 135 is really just the same as the 140 performance-wise. I doubt youd miss anything the 140 has to offer.

Do you recommend me the RX-V1400 to upgrade an RX-V657??? or pay extra bucks and got the new RX-V1600 (looks great!!!) ???

kingsqueak · February 2006

I replaced a cheap Kenwood with an AVR-435, they are $549 at www.jr.com new. I would recommend saving up and getting that model.

Reasons

Best of the surround modes and has the full EZSet/EQ auto EQ.
Does basic component switching
65W rated per channel blows the Kenwood 100W rating of my old receiver away.
Bunch of optical/coaxial inputs, really big plus.

The other option I'd say is the 240 I think, has all the same electronics and inputs but lower power, that way you can add amps later and use it as a pre if you want.

On ebay you can buy a refurb 435 for under $500 generally (which is what I did) or if you are very patient, maybe even the 635. Don't cheap out on the receiver, just wait until you can get the next level up.

Ricardo · February 2006

Refurbs at Harman Audio

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?sp=S&cat=REC&market=HOM

Warranty and great Customer Service

ND13 · February 2006

HTrookie wrote:

Refurbs at Harman Audio

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?sp=S&cat=REC&market=HOM

Warranty and great Customer Service

That 330 for under $300 looks like the ticket.

Zoom E · February 2006

What is the story with refurbs? Are these units that experienced problems and had to be repaired? What is the general lifespan of a refurb as opposed to a brand new model?

drew spelts · February 2006

I got my AVR 635 for seriously $635. Dont know what the odds are of that but it was a friend who got me his employee discount at CC.

BullShifter · February 2006

I just won a AVR 335Z on ebay from Harman way cheaper than they have on their website. I've been watching them for a week now and finally got a bid in for the right amount. They are usally listed as 1 Day auctions. Ebay is the place the get the refurbs.

Ricardo · February 2006

Zoom E wrote:

What is the story with refurbs? Are these units that experienced problems and had to be repaired? What is the general lifespan of a refurb as opposed to a brand new model?

Refurbs either experienced problems and had to be sentback for repair; it might also include returns, or "B" stock, which is a new unit with some cosmetic flaws (Someone scratched the side of the unit while packing it, etc).

I don't think you can talk about a difference in lifespan. In fact, some people prefer refurbs, because of the "extra" QA they go through after being repaired.

Me? If I can get a refurb with original warranty, I go for it.

noimposse · February 2006

I've been thinking about it, and I'm probably going to go with either the 240 or 340 if my wallet can handle it. I'm not really looking for all that much power, but the extra options would be nice.

And do the refurbs come with original warranty's? If so then I'm all for it.

And to be honest, Amazon has the lowest priced HK product I have seen on the net, including the refurb shop. And they are stating new retail, with free shipping. Avr240 for 350 shipped.

BullShifter · February 2006

Yes they do. www.harmanaudio.com or www.ebay.com Look for Harman Direct I got mine for almost $100 less than they sell on their website.

Direct ebay link - http://electronics.search.ebay.com/_Receivers_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ94903QQsassZharmanaudio

On the left hand side you can select "completed items" this will show you only items that sold or not sold with a price. Good idea to see the difference between the 2 sites but same seller.

Ebay $340 shipped for a AVR 335

drew spelts · February 2006

See no more than a dollar per model number. Thats the way to do it.

BullShifter · February 2006

Instead of starting a new thread, is there a break in period for HK receivers?

Maestro · February 2006

No break in is necessary. Just try out the various FX and processor functions and make sure they are working properly for the duration of your warranty - i.e., Dolby night mode; Sleep function; Logic, DTS, etc.

Other than that, you are ready to rock! Enjoy!!

Joey_V · February 2006

Had the HK330 about a year ago before I sold it to Silverghost on this board. That was a solid setup... loved it! You will too.

Mike Sedai · February 2006

I did the refurb thing at Harman Audio, the receiver came with servere distortion in the right front channel. I sent the receiver back over two weeks ago (almost three), and Harman is claiming they never got it back. They sent me the shipping labels, and took care of the UPS business, so I have no way to ever track the package, and they claim they don't either, even though they took care of the UPS labels/shipping etc.

So, I am starting to think I got ripped off, and will never see my $535 again. I packed the receiver in it's original box, exactly as specified, and affixed the labels as instructed, with the Return Authorization number written in giant bold type with a large black marker, just as instructed. The box took exactly five days to get from Harman Audio to my place of business, and now, at almost three weeks since I shipped it out, they supposedly haven't received it.

Why, oh why, didn't I buy this thing at an actual store....

I will give it another week, and if they haven't received it, I will begin action against the company.

Once again, I tried calling this company at the number on the site, and the voice mail box is STILL full. It has been this way for at least three weeks, probably longer. No one ever answers, no matter what the day or hour, and leaving a message is impossible. I sent an email to the address on the site, and was met with a response of "I would need more information about the order, we don't really have a way to track your return" response. Meanwhile, I had provided my name, the order number, the RA number, my phone number, my email address, my phone number at work, and a description of the receiver that included the model number, the exact problem, the date shipped, and a simple question that basically asked when my new unit was shipping out...

Not sure what else they would need....

Frustrated...

MS

aaharvel · February 2006

damn that's a first.

Mike Sedai · February 2006

Yeah, I am hoping it all works out, because I just want to shut up and listen to my new gear

, but this place has been a pretty bad experience for me so far. I just want some information, and these people are very hard to lock down and talk to.

A tracking number for my return would have been nice, and I thought they would have set one up, but since the initial email with the RA number and the label, I haven't gotten much out of them. Companies that never answer their phone make me nervous. They supposedly open back up for business today after some inventory lockdown, and I am hoping this is what has caused this hic up..

I am just sick of listening to this 199 dollar sony piece of trash I have running my system right now...

UPDATE: Of course, I just got something from them after I posted this, and they managed to dig up a tracking number for me. It appears the inventory shutdown has delayed all shipments for the last week+....

We shall see how this turns out...

it appears it sat at UPS for over a week (9th-17th), hence the delay...

drew spelts · February 2006

GOD...... I hate shipping companies....EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM..... NONE OF THEM CAN DO A PERFECT JOB... you just have to settle for second best service.

BullShifter · February 2006

:mad: Damn Harmanaudio has poor shipping. Paid for the item 2/15, ship on 2/24, expected 2/27. When I get paid for items sold on eBay they ship the next days not 9 days later.

kingsqueak · February 2006

It's not Harman with the shipping, at least not with my order from them.

They shipped right away but UPS in Phoenix where it started sat on the package for four days. It took six business days to get to NJ from there...I've rarely ever had UPS take more than three business days from anywhere in CONUS.

I have a guy I do business with over in CO, UPS takes forever from him, if he uses USPS it takes two days to get here. I suspect UPS has lousy southwest hubs.

noimposse · February 2006

So I don't want to start another new thread for a simple question so Ill just ask it here.

I've really been struck with the urge to buy audio equipment lately, but funds are limited. What I know I want is the HK Avr240 and a pair of Polk Rti4's, but Im not completely sure what I should get first. Tax returns are in and I want to spend it on something that I will notice a difference in the most. Im not sure, given the crap I have now, what would be the best purchase. The sony speakers I have are just awful, but reading up on recievers Ive realized how bad my kenwood seems to be.

I guess what Im asking for is what would I end up noticing more? New speakers or a new reciever? Im slightly leaning towards the speakers, I could be easily swayed. Thanks.

okiepolkie · February 2006

I might have missed it, but what speakers are you using now?

krabby5 · February 2006

noimposse wrote:

So I don't want to start another new thread for a simple question so Ill just ask it here.

I've really been struck with the urge to buy audio equipment lately, but funds are limited. What I know I want is the HK Avr240 and a pair of Polk Rti4's, but Im not completely sure what I should get first. Tax returns are in and I want to spend it on something that I will notice a difference in the most. Im not sure, given the crap I have now, what would be the best purchase. The sony speakers I have are just awful, but reading up on recievers Ive realized how bad my kenwood seems to be.

I guess what Im asking for is what would I end up noticing more? New speakers or a new reciever? Im slightly leaning towards the speakers, I could be easily swayed. Thanks.

What model Kenwood do you have? It should say on the front of the panel..I just upgraded from a Kenwood myself (Pioneer Elite) and the sound is much cleaner..which means you can turn the volume up higher without cringing:D

but I also upgraded my speakers as well...

If your current receiver doesn't have digital sound (AKA Digital Dolby and/or DTS), you should DEFINATELY get a new receiver...otherwise I would get speakers first...then a receiver

Awhile back I went from a Pro Logic receiver to a newer Kenwood that did Digital Dolby and DTS...NIGHT and DAY difference

noimposse · February 2006

Well, as for the sony speakers the model number I got from Best Buy is: SSMB350H. They still sell them in stores an online, for about 90 bucks. I got them about two years ago....and they certainly do sound better than the speakers on my tv but I know they arent decent at all.

The reciever, I have no clue honestly. Im at school now and it's at home on my desk so I can't get you the model number, all I can tell you is that its two years old, 5x 100w, dolby digital, dts, 1x optical and 1x coax inputs. I picked it up for about $200, nothing special.

Im running on a dying set of cheap logitech 5.1's as of now and its starting to drive me nuts. What I would like to do for the remainder of this semester is just have a nice sounding 2.0 setup if possible.

BullShifter · February 2006

Just checked UPS tracking, it's only 30 miles away! It better be here friday.

BullShifter · February 2006

Damn thing finally showed up today, monday. I am very happy except for the fact it didn't come with a mic for EZ-set up. My only complaint is the speaker connections, they're too damn close to each other. Now I need another set of rears and a better center channel. It just never ends, next I'll need a better subwoofer and an amp...... Here's a better idea, send my R50's to the rear and get some Bose for the front. :rolleyes:

I noticed some "white noise" at 0db on any input with no signal. It's pretty hard to hear it, if it's there, when it's turned to 0db with a signal. Is this normal?

kingsqueak · February 2006

I would say definitely it is normal. 0db is cranked way up on the Harman, lesser receivers driving that hard would have very audible noise.

noimposse · February 2006

It didn't come with a mic for setup you say? I know I plan on getting the 240, but I thought from the 240 up it came with the mic?

And from what I've heard, most recievers will put out some kind of noise like that at such high volumes.

Harmon Kardon Reciever

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