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Review 3 of 24
Price Paid:
$140.00
from Harmon Audio Summary:
After owning an HK520 5.1 receiver for many years, I decided to replace the old Sony STR920 2 channel in the living room, so I bought this unit. I'm very happy I did.
It sounds so much better than the Sony. I didn't realize how bad it was.
The Sony may have had more muscle but the 3480 is cleaner sound, by far. I drive two Infinity IL-40 3 way speakers and a JBL E150P sub. I don't listen at high volume levels, no need when you can hear everything at moderate levels. Usually around -30db or so. I had a set of IL-50's and couldn't decide which set of speakers to keep and which to sell until I bought the 3480. The IL-40's are just a little bit better in the mid range than the IL-50's and they are a little bit smaller and lighter. The IL-50's got sold.
For the guy who left a review on this receiver and complained that it won't drive his Bose 901's: good God man, get some decent (read efficient) speakers and you won't need to crank the power up to space heater settings to get good music. Come to think of it, the 901's aren't really capable of good sound, only loud. Yes, they are loud, but don't produce the full spectrum. Oh well, die-hards abound. I too was impressed when I was 21 and heard them for the first time. My my how times have changed, and so has the sound, for the better, I may add. Strengths:
Plenty of power, good - but not great tuner, AM sucks, but they all do on AM. Lots of connections to add a turntable, CD player, DVD player, tape deck, etc. Versatile.
The 3480 plays music with a full spectrum with no emphasis on any particular range. I don't know the correct semantics to describe sound, like crisp, warm, etc. I do know what sounds good, and what I have sounds good. For about $1200 I have a very decent setup. I've listened to systems at BestBuy, Circuit City etc, friends setups, etc. and have yet to hear anything they have for that price or more that sound any better, and often it sounds inferior to what I have. Mismatched components is the usual cause.
Like anything else, the Laws of Diminishing Returns works for audio equipment too. Spending over a certain amount gets a diminishing return on gain. Example is a guy I worked with a few years ago. He has, or had, over $10,000 invested in a setup. While it sounded great, so does mine. How much better was his for 10 times the price? Maybe a factor of 1.2 or 1.3. Hardly distinguishable. To him it is worth it, to me it isn't. Weaknesses:
My only real complaint is the remotes. Why couldn't HK have used different frequencies for the HT and two channel receivers? When I want one on, the other comes on also unless I get up and do it manually. Not a weakness, just a thought.
The real weakness is the color of the remote. Who the hell decided the ink screening color should blend in so well with the color of the remote? It is difficult to read in anything other than bright light.
Whoever came up with the VMAX feature should be fired. Did you really think it sounded good?
Similar Products Used:
I currently own the HK520 home theater receiver, a fine one it is. Ive owned several Sonys, the STR AV920 110wpc, two channe, long dead, and currently have a Sony STR-D1015 120wpc that I use in the bedroom for music and TV, formerly owned several Kenwoods circa 1970's, 40 and 80 wpc models, 2 Marantz low power receivers from the late 70's, and a Sansui 1000 tube receiver that finally gave up its electrons 15 years or so ago, a fine sounding piece of electronics I bought in Japan in 1967. I'm still thinking about buying another one if I can find a decent one at a good price.
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