HK AVR635 Firmware Upgrade

Ern Dog
Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
edited July 2006 in Electronics
Has anyone done the firmware upgrade for the HK AVR635 that is on their website? What are your thoughts about the upgrade?

I don't have a RS-232 cable and my laptop doesn't have the RS-232 port. Plus HK advises that this firmware upgrade be done by a cerified technician.

My options are:

1) Buy the cable and a new laptop and follow the direction on the website carefully and then return the laptop. (& pray I don't F-it up)
2) Send it to HK to do the upgrade.
3) Do nothing and buy a new CD.
Post edited by Ern Dog on
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited July 2006
    I forgot one more thing...

    My HK didn't come with the Ezset calibration mic because it was a floor model. Would you recommend I purchase this from HK or purchase an SPL from radio shack for the best calibration results.
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2006
    wrong thread oops.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited July 2006
    Ern Dog wrote:
    I forgot one more thing...

    My HK didn't come with the Ezset calibration mic because it was a floor model. Would you recommend I purchase this from HK or purchase an SPL from radio shack for the best calibration results.


    I've not done the firmware update on my 635 (I'm not even sure if I need to since it was a recent Refurb from H/K). If you're comfortable using the SPL meter, I'd go that route. I used the EZset mic, but wasn't particularly impressed with the sound and adjusted everything by ear after that. I'm hoping a friend can come over and use the Avia disk and SPL meter and show me how to set it like that.
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  • starchaser
    starchaser Posts: 354
    edited July 2006
    Hi Ern,

    Not to jijack your thread, does your 635 ever run a little hot. Mine gets very very wam, you can keep your hand on it but it's hot compared to all my other gear.

    i have not yet tried the EZset mic, the spl is what i've used in the past and will at least do my final tweaks with that. I'd like to try the Avia disk to as i've heard good things about it.

    overall, i'm pretty happy w /the unit though hk could make their manual a little more user friendly<< i'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer i know but my Onk manual was so clear and easy to understand.


    t
    "There's a lot of places driving up and down I-95 that smell like ****" F1Nut
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited July 2006
    If it's not broke, don't fix it! Go get a digital SPL meter at Radio Shack & do the calibrations yourself!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited July 2006
    starchaser wrote:
    Hi Ern,

    Not to jijack your thread, does your 635 ever run a little hot. Mine gets very very wam, you can keep your hand on it but it's hot compared to all my other gear.

    Yes, my 635 runs quite warm too-especially when pushed hard for longer periods of time. However, it has never went into protection mode.
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  • millerman 3732
    millerman 3732 Posts: 1,488
    edited July 2006
    MattN03 wrote:
    Yes, my 635 runs quite warm too-especially when pushed hard for longer periods of time. However, it has never went into protection mode.
    same here

    If you do deside to do the updates becareful and besure to write down all yor settings it completly resets everything back to zero, Ive downloaded the update but I could see were it helped any plus one of the first updates I downloaded screwed up my OSD and I had to reload an older update just to get it to work again. If I were you I would just leave it alone. Besides if its a newer 635 it probably already has the latest updates.
    Casey
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited July 2006
    Mine runs Hotter than Hell. I have my Onkyo DVD player sitting on top, so this isn't helping. This is such a big concern for me that I'm thinking about reconfiguring my system so that the HK can have more space to breath, which means I'll have to take out my VCR or buy some audio stands. In the mean time I've got a big fan pointed at it when I'm cranking it up.

    I agree that the manual SUCKS. Onkyo manuals are very simple and clean.

    So far I haven't heard anybody say that the firmware upgrade was an important or worth while thing to do. So for now I'm leaving it alone and buying an SPL meter. Before I really let this go, how can I tell which version of firmware I have? The date on the back says May 2005.
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  • drew spelts
    drew spelts Posts: 310
    edited July 2006
    I would give the 635 5-6 inches of room above the unit that way the heat can find a way out. Mine runs so hot that I can not hold my hand on it withought burning my hand.
    Harman Kardon AVR635
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  • SKsolutions
    SKsolutions Posts: 1,820
    edited July 2006
    I keep a pot of stew on top of mine, just in case I get hungry.
    -Ignorance is strength -
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited July 2006
    I never thought about the benefits this could produce...

    This could be a secondary heat source for me in the winter to stay warm, or I could heat up my tortillas on top, or I could hang some stips of beef and make jerky!
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  • starchaser
    starchaser Posts: 354
    edited July 2006
    Excellent Ideas... I'm going to try heating up a can of spam for my late night snack!
    //
    Finally ran the EZ whiz bang.. it was close yet i ended up tweaking the cross overs a little. I agree, go w/ the SPL if you don't have the mic.
    //
    I don't know what firmware is on my unit, maybe if i sent HK my serial # they could tell me. If the unit is still under warranty, anyone know if they'd cover the upload if i took it to an authorized service center?

    t
    "There's a lot of places driving up and down I-95 that smell like ****" F1Nut
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited July 2006
    I performed the firmware update without any issues. Check out avsforum for tons of information on it. I was lucky enough to get my old Dell laptop to work long enough to upgrade using the serial port. Use the search function and you'll be on your way. Just FYI, didn't notice any differences after doing the update.

    I'm sure you can find someone to let you borrow their HK 635 mic. If not, I can ship mine to you if you promise to ship it back :) I love using EZEQ every once in a while, if for nothing else than to get my sub to rock the foundation with the test tones.

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=557549
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