First of all, I must admit that this receiver was given to me at a family Thanksgiving party in 2011 by a lady who had it stored in her basement. At the time I was more into my vintage receivers of the 70's, so I felt rather indifferent towards this one. I mean all the hook-ups on the back and features were mind boggling to me. I wondered if I was even going to keep it. Now me, still being new to the world of fine audio equipment and obsessed with power and sound quality, was using it with 5 speakers in surround mode with 2 stereo equilizers, one for the front 2 speakers and one for the two surround speakers - big mistake. Before long, I had completely fried the circuit board. My repair guy said you should never use stereo equilizers (especially 2 at once) in surround mode because the two are incompatible. So I put it in storage for about a year. It cost me roughly $280 for a new circuit board, but it was worth every penny. I now use it in stereo mode only with one equilizer powering a pair of vintage Bose speakers and the sound quality is second to none. In fact, and I hate to say it, but it outperforms most of my vintage systems with their big tower speakers and all. I figure it better, considering it's monsterous power consumption (up to 1100 watts). I also heard from another reviewer that it's power output in stereo mode (110 wpc) is a conservative rating. Hmm.....makes me wonder. This one's definetely a keeper, especially since it's monetary value is nothing to brag about. But they say the true value of something lies not in it's possesion but in it's use. And that's exactly what I plan to do with it - use it - for a long time to come.

I bought my unit in Dec 2001 - this big old thing has been cranking away to this day and I'm still loving it - without any problems whatsoever. It cost AUD1650 back then and had been in demonstration unit, so well run in and tested before me, but sold with full warranty and support as 'shop display model.'

It has plenty of power in the DTS and stereo modes - so absolutely plenty of grunt running the surrounds and centre - so anyone reporting volume level problems has other issues with their set-up or there might be a fault with their AVR7000.

Until this month I ran 4ohm Linear Design K2500 floor standing speakers...this thing drive them with ease, part of the reason I bought the biggest HK in the shop was for the conservative rms w rating, toroidal power-supply and high current design. This month I purchased new loud speakers after 16 yrs and on the upgrade path for HiFi Cd source.

When auditioning speakers I took my AVR7000 to the hifi shop as I needed to assess if and how the amp ran the new spkrs while I saved for dedicated amplifier(s). The shop used entry level Yamaha cd player to approximate my home source and the avr7000 drove them so well, I bought the spkrs on the day. At the end of a 90min auditioning session I had them switch the speakers over to $13k worth of Leema Accoustics (Amp: Tucana II 140W RMS 8ohm, CD Antila IIS Eco) just to humour me and hear what spkrs were capable of.

The difference from the AVR7000 to this level of equipment using the same Monitor Audio GS-60 speakers was surprisingly close - there were differences, but not where I expected them to be i.e. bottom end, base etc. I remarked quietly to my wife, "I can't the $10k difference!' Just in case you think I'm tone deaf, during my speaker auditioning I dismissed MA-RX8 pretty early on, but spent some time between GS-20 and GS-60 - I took home the GS-60s.

I really am wondering whether I need to drop $5k on dedicated 2ch amplifers or pre amps and monoblocks, maybe $13k Leema Accoustics are not very good....or more likely the AVR7000 is really punching above it's weight as a 2-channel amp. I keep reading receivers are crap for stereo, indeed local high-falutin' hifi shop cringed when I told them what was driving my MA GS-60s...but it comes back to two golden rules in hifi:

1. Listen for yourself
2. Never trust review - so I just wasted 25mins typing this out LOL!

Picked this unit up used for very little money, no remote but my Harmony was programmable. First con, Harmony does not include the code for OSD (on screen display), this would have made setting up the receiver so much easier. HK does keep the manual for this receiver online, thank you for that.

Spent some time with a sound level meter and got the levels set. This can take a while, the unit keeps separate settings for Dolby, DTS and stereo for each input. Suggestion, leave the subwoofer set to zero and use the volume control on the sub to set its level, the receiver does not include test tones for the sub, you will need a test CD/DVD. Do a search for one, there is a nice one available for free that does tones, I really wish it did test patterns as well.

The receiver replaced a small Pioneer that cost about $200.00 several years ago, it worked but was never great. The new (to me) HK was like a breath of fresh air. I am driving a pair of ESS Heils as my main speakers and every one in the house, not just me, agrees that the overall sound is much better. The Dolby and DTS decoding are first rate, dialogue is much better, music in stereo mode has better soundstage and depth in the playback.

Second con, as soon as the unit was unplugged or the master power switch was pressed all the settings would be lost. Solution replace the 0.047F capacitor mounted on the circuit board directly behind the front panel. Easier said then done. Cap obtained from DigiKey, 2 caps plus shipping about $6.00. Getting to it though that was a problem. Unplug unit then remove the top, you will then need to remove both of the flat boards mounted in the center back, there are a load of screws along the back at the video ports and the digital I/O ports that will need to be removed to get these cards out. You need these out of the way so you can unplug three audio cables running from the front board. You will also need to unplug several other cables and cut a bunch of wire ties to get everything loose. There is one red/white wire running from the front board to a plug located at the right front corner of the bottom board of the right side board stack directly behind the main transformer, you can reach it with long needle nose pliers or heavy tweezers. Once you have everything loose you can release the front panel enough to remove another large bunch of screws to separate the front board from the bezel. The cap in question is mounted on the front of the board, just under the display and to the left of the big IC chip. My replacement part looked different but fit in easy enough, watch your polarity, my part had a small - symbol stamped into one leg. Just reverse your steps for reassembly, be sure to use a few wire ties to keep wires away from hot heat sinks. This fixed my problems.

One other common problem is the switched outlet, it often comes from the factory with a one amp fuse, easily blown, if you do blow it, replace it with a 3.3 amp slo blo, this fix is per the factory service bulletin. The fuse is on the board directly behind the switched outlet.

Another thing to be aware of is its size and weight, it weighs almost 50 pounds and is taller and deeper then most other receivers, I had to add a brace to the shelf its stitting on and a board under it because the front feet hang over the front of the shelf.

A couple of other cons, there can be a static blip as the unit switched from stereo to Dolby or DTS and vice a versa. Given that this was one of the first Dolby/DTS receivers I am prepared to overlook it. By many accounts this is an unreliable receiver, don't go looking for one, but if one comes your way really cheap, then take a look. The factory remote would have made setting up the sound levels easier, but I managed without it. The On Screen Display only works on composite and S-Video, normal for this era. No HDMI switching (alos expected), get one from MonoPrice that has a digital audio out as well for $50.00 that will do the job. If your running a home theater system at this level you should be using a good universal remote like the Harmony One.

I am glad the receiver came my way, cash is tight and I can not afforded a high end receiver at this time or in the foreseeable future. Even if this unit fails in a couple of years I am still ahead of the game.

I'm guessing on the year as I am the second owner - original owner had this amp for three years, I've now owned it for almost another three years. Was in my AV room until I replaced it with a SONY DA5200ES in order to get HDMI connections.
Now in my bedroom attached to a BOSE Acoustimas 15 speaker system with BOSE VC10 center speaker and BOSE 161 speakers as the satellites. My bedroom TV is a 34” SONY CRT connected with a composite (yes composite) cable for all my video sources.
My wife and I watch at least one movie every night. Mostly DVD but also VHS, Blu-ray and HD DVD sources.
This unit is in mounted in a MDF cabinet that I cut out the side of for ventilation.
The sound is a wonderful, we usually run the volume at 13-20 (being a real amp the volume of 0 is full output). I have absolutely no complaints with this amp, it plays everything I throw at it - Dolby, DTS, CD's and even some 96/24 Hi Def recordings.
I live out in the woods and I am on the last utility power pole in my area so we do not get good electrical power. This unit has survived many brown outs, power outages and even close lightning strikes that have taken out our power. It has always recovered usually without even losing its speaker settings.
This amp has pushed Cerwin Vega RE 30 speakers (4ohms), Polk, BOSE, Klipsh and other good speakers without ever complaining. I use 12 gauge wire and banana jacks for all my speakers and amp connections. All RCA cables are top quality with heavy connectors (MonoPrice's best).
There is nothing I can find to complain about with this HK 7000 amp!
.

bass is great, treble very sweet sounding, very smooth midrange and lots of power

as long as u can keep it on your shelf and not on the road trip, its been more places then i have in that i give two thumbs up hk.haha

the amp is great but reliable not so good, my brothers kids could make a better amp. i bought as combo with a harmon dvd 5, that lasted about three months then died, the tech said if u watch a movie on it every day it wont last a year, ha my friend has a sony used steady for four years no prob.Like they say go with a dvd player whose brand makes tvs, i believe no more prob sony all the way. well back to the avr 7000 i had for about five months when the volume cranks full blast while watching a movie,ran up turning nob down, dead fish. burning up all my mirage speakers, so mad but hk replace the speakers, amp goes to ontario where it stays for 4 months waiting for parts haha on the way back the courior drops it smash s the face, well back to ontario another month and half after this nightmare. finally i hook it back up and work great well for a few months and then tada, full blast again this time i turned the master off saving my speakers. i dont recomend this amp thoe very good sound, nice looking amp not dull like older hk models. i think the problem lye in no internal fan,my amp was never in a cabinet, but run real hot, i think hk was hot and heavy to get it out and for sale

Customer Service

well lets say they have great voices.

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paper weight ah rock in back yard

Heavy Amp
Pretty Unit
Remote is decent for OEM

Power cord not detachable
Jumper Pins
5 second delay when processing DD
Sub level low on most DSP's
Volume changes randomly
Thumping noise when changing inputs
Some inputs stopped working
Left Channel started failing
Bloody Hot
High End slightly rolled off
Video switching does not work w/o screwing up signal
No resale value

This is a flagship receiver by Harman Kardon.
It's full of problems.
I was very annoyed, b/c a friend of mine got an HK 8000 for his troubles and they told me that the majority of my issues were "features."
I sold it for $100 last week to my nephew.

Customer Service

They are not nice to those who are civil with them.
My friend got a new hk 8000 FOR BEING A JERK AND DEMANDING NEW UNITS, 4 TIMES.

Easy configuration
Great Sound (when Working)
Good Dynamic Range

Serious problems with QC on parts
Confusing Menu System
Various repair issues

Overall I have been pleased with the performance of the reciever when it has worked properly. As a previous HK owner (AVR55 and AVR85) I was very impressed with the sound quality of the reciever initially.

However after about 4 years of use, the Receiver began to have problems of all sorts. It has been in the shop 4 times so far all with problems relating to different channel outputs. The major problem seems to be with the new digital ESP processing unit that made it's debut in this model.

I hate to say it, but I'm starting to have serious regrets at purchasing this reciever as friends with Onkyo's, Yamaha's and Denons are still going strong.

In talking to the repair center near me I found that this reciever one of of the most problematic to come out of HK's line.

I'm having serious second thoughts about purchasing another HK reciever because of the problems I've had.

Customer Service

After the warranty runs out, customer service is spotty at best. Not HK's finest moment in my experience.

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Power, warmth, ease of setup and use. Remote control. Quality for the price.

I'm on the edge of my seat but nothing yet.

Just received my receiver used from an ebay seller and after thoroughly pushing the system over the Thanksgiving weekend I have to say I'm thrilled with the unit. Previous complaints about the controls being too complicated are, so far, unfounded while breakdowns in use over time and a checkout of the unit's 5.1 capabilities I can't verify as of yet. I've been pushing a pair of Theater Research TR900 speakers and recently connected an old Soundtech CX2C as a center speaker for an added punch I'm not sold on as being necessary as of yet. Massive Attack's Mezzanine really pushed the receiver's low-end, which I have also read some gripes about and I have to say I'm thoroghly sold on the system. Love it. Great clarity and power. I have a relatively small living room, about 120 square feet with high ceilings, but the receiver feels like a great fit rather than a beast in a small cage while the TR900's sound so warm there isn't a dead zone in the room. Highly recommended, especially if you can get the unit for as little as I did. Get good speakers like these TR900's to really make the most of the unit. I connected an old pair of Panasonic speakers to the unit before connecting the TR's and the Panasonics were absolutely dreadful. Monster wiring for everything. Love the remote control. I haven't used any of my other remotes for anything since getting everything connected, which only took a couple hours, and I'm really impressed with the remote's learning ability and ease of use considering all the steps needed to do much of anything with my old multi-remote.

Wonderful sound throught the spectrum. Very, very clear and layered. I put on Eric Clapton's "Me and Mister Johnson" and was wow'ed. I am now seperating my CD's into poorly recorded and well recorded. I've never heard such a variation in recorded CD's before. What the hell are the recording companies doing? and why are we paying those prices for poorly recorded music?

None at this price.

I just want to update my previous review. I had a problem with my surrounds and no output for the centre speaker. I took the unit to Jam Industries here in Delta B.C. for repair. What an exceptional job they did for a very reasonable pricen and in less than a week. Once I got it home I hooked it up immediately. What a beautiful sound I got. Lots of volume from the surrounds and centre speaker. Now I know why this is such a great AVR. Highs are superb without distortion sounding irritating, lows are throaty and clear, no smudging of the bass at all. Of course my KEF 104/2's may be of great help here but prior to purchasing this AVR, they never sounded like this. I know they are smiling:) If you want to contact Jam Industries you can at this address and phone no.; Jam Industries Limited 580 Ebury Place, Delta, BC V3M6M8 (604) 520-0568 (604) 520-6352 (fax)

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Nothing that can compare to this.

Absolute great receiver.

Logig 7, but all other features making up for it.

This is a great receiver. As most of the reviews in other magazines and web sites says, a high end stereo and surround amp. Lots of power, but not over doing it. Every bit of sound on the spot. Having the later module AVR2550 before this one, the onle negetive aspect of the 7000 is the lack of bass in Logic7 mode. But Prologic mode is fine for the use I want it for. Much better Dolby 5 channel and DTS response than the 2550. Robbie Williams latest show 'What we did last summer' is absolutely amazing through this amp. The over heating problem that many is talking about is no problem to me. My receiver is in a cabinet, and what I did is to install three small fans used as CPU coolers in a PC on top of the amp. Very effecient. Getting to normal temperature, and stay there.

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