Logic 7, Awesome Sound

Reliability

Went into Circuit City to spend 300-400 bucks or so, on an off the shelf, run of the mill Pioneer. Wasn't interested in spending more than that. On a whim, I listened to the H-K AVR500 and suddenly the Pioneer looked like soup sandwich. Didn't want to spend that much, so opted to save 50 bucks on the open box buy. Took it back when I found it had the volume control problem that others spoke of. Circuit City didn't give me any hassles, but I had to wait over an hour before I got frustrated and walked out, not purchasing another. Bought a second unit from J and R music, a real bargain at 649. This unit periodically has severe audio distortion problems. Waited on hold for 45 minutes w/ H-K who gave me troubleshooting ideas. Replaced cables, still distorts periodically while watching TV. This unit is going back. After reading the other reviews, I'm too skidish to hang onto it past the 30 day period. Disappointed that a receiver with such awesome sound characteristics is plagued by such poor quality control. Sticking w/ Denon. My last Denon was/still is bullet proof after 11 years, surving the assaults of three children. I don't think China's manufacturing ability is quite up to par w/ Japan's when it comes to assembling such a complicated piece of electronics.

Similar Products Used:

Denon

Looks good. Music sounds good.

Choppy/breakups in video during changes in scene (DVD, Sattelite and AIR)

First let me say that I will not bother calling HK support or management anymore. The 30+ hours spent over the last year waiting on hold, running back and forth to service locations, typing e-mails, and worst of all listening to lie after lie was a total waste of TIME. AND we all know TIME=MONEY. After all my efforts I finally received a replacement for my AVR65. HK sent me the AVR 500. Within 30 minutes of receiving the unit I noticed the video choppiness (scenes cutting out and stuff). At that point I quit!

Here are some of my observations/experiences:

I. HK has terrible service. Wait times typically exceed 1/2 hour. Local service technicians hate working with HK. Few shops continue to service HK equipment for many reasons. Some of the reasons I have heard are: 1) HK will not send the replacement parts, 2) HK will not authorize the necessary replacement parts, 3) HK does not have the replacement parts.

II. The AVR65 I owned had the following problems: 1) jitter/choppiness suring fast action scenes and light/dark transitions (DVD, Sattelite, VCR, AIR), 2) Humm/hiss in all speakers at different times, 3) Unit would move to full-cranked volume with no notice and needed to be powered down, 4) left channel went out after 5 months, 5) center channel went out after a few more months.

III. This AVR 500 replacement appears to be the exact same receiver as the AVR65 with another bell or two, but nothing has been done to correct the video choppiness. HK told me it was due to television interference or whatever, in any case, the video should play undisrupted regardless of what is around it and the amazing thing is that HK refuses to rectify any of the problems.

IV. I am quite concerned about some of the reviews I read regarding humm/hiss, DVD's ending abruptly (Private Ryan), unit randomly shutting off. These are some of the many issues that people had with the AVR 65.

I am rating this HK receiver the lowest value due to total lack of quality and the HK Company. I am rating the overall rating 1 Star because the video choppiness all the time with all sources. And they knew about the problem a year ago.

HK you SUCK!

Sincerely,

Richard Kalajian

Similar Products Used:

HK AVR65

This is for Rodney...Lets us at least compare apples to apples. Well in your case peaches to peaches or peanuts to peanuts! How can you compare a $2200 1994 Pioneer(which we know would be equal now to about $3000) to a $500 HK AVR300. The 300 has only 45 watts of power which would not be optimal for your system. One question Rodney where did you buy this receiver. As someone who sells ht systems my first question to you would be what type of speakers do you have? Then i sure as hell wouldn't recommend the 300..Minumum would be the AVR 500 or the AVR 7000. Next thing Rodney, why did you post the 300 review in the section for the AVR 500. All the does is remove the small amount of credibiltiy anyone reading your review would have initially given you. Enough with Rodney. My review of the HK AVR 500. For the price ($799 retail) this receiver is one of the best I have heard for music. When you play CD's through this unit they almost come alive when the logic 7m is activated. One of my favorite demos is SEAL's Crazy. The begining intro is wonderful to demo Logic 7 and his vocals really show off how clean the HK is. I have played the avr 500 through bipoles, dipoles, quadrapoles, direct radiating, jewel cubes and satellites, it does not matter... The sound is just amazing... The sound stage is captivating. For home theater I think the unit is very capable. The sound quality in 5.1 is excellent. The subtle effects and the overall soundstage is quite impressive. I wish it had the speaker selection(irect radiating or bipole) that the Denon 3300 had. In pro logic the unit's logic 7c is amazing. Rent the matrix on vhs and see how good it sounds. I had a very hasrd time while blindfolded telling the dvd 5.1 version versus the vhs dpl version. Fit and Finish...HK has really improved the build on the unit from more digital imputs to the aluminum face plate. Thought was put into this unit over th avr65.

Only really two of them. First the OSD. It took me about fifteen minutes to figure this one out. It is very poorly layed out and confusing. The manual is of no help and to do the setting it must be done on screen. So when one is listening to music to do any adjustments you ahve to turn you tv on. Next weakness is the remote controll. I just hate these remotes. Onkyo uses the same damn one... They must get one hell of a discount to put these in the boxes...Can't anyone take a cue from Marantz and include a remote like the rc2000. For me it is no big deal I have a Pronto but for someone to spend $800 and get a sh*tty remote is inexcuseable.

I am giving the unit 5* for the value name another $799 receiver that sounds this good and offers so many features.

On overall rating I am giving 4* because 5* is perfection and there are some flaws and annoying nuances. Plus I have never seen or heard perfection in a piece of hardware.

Oh by the way Rodney Sculthorpe or as I prefer
Corny Upholstered have a good day and get a clue.

Thats my story and I'm stickin to it!!!

Similar Products Used:

Denon 3300 Onk TXDS676

Lot's of bells and whistles for the buck. Very good surround with DVD player.

It's dead after using for about 5 weeks. Poor availability of autorized dealers to work on the unit. Awful manual.

After reading reviews and getting a demo at Circuit City, I went out on the web and bought the AVR 500 for $599. I used to sell exotic systems years ago, and frankly, I had rarely been so confused trying to set this beast up. The manual contradicts itself in several places. The OSD is almost laughable, but worked well for balancing the speakers in a variety of modes. We were blown away when I plugged in the DVD and cranked some classic movies with tons of special effects. The CD, plugged into the optical port, never sounded better. The remote, well I don't need to go there as everyone agrees it's a dog.

About two weeks ago, I was having problems with the optical input section. When I would try to play a CD, the unit's display wouldn't flash the PCM indicator and the surround modes wouldn't work. After fiddling around by changing sources and surround modes, the unit would finally figure it out and allow play though the optical port. Well, last Saturday during the middle of one of my favorite CDs, it stopped playing altogether. Sure enough, the PCM indicator had gone out and none of the surround modes worked. I tried my usual stuff to no avail. Next, I tried playing a DVD and as expected, it too wouldn't work in any mode but analog and surround off and the unit display gave me a "no data" indicator after working perfectly the night before. So, here I sit with a two-channel stereo receiver with no optical input capability.

Easy enough, call HK for the nearest service center. Yeah, right. Circuit City won't work on units they don't sell and the local guy here in Denver isn't taking any HK service work due to overload. As I am writing this, I have been on hold for half an hour waiting to speak to a live person about this problem.

Pray you don't need service. Two-year warranty is fine, but I'll have to ship my unit out of state (Denver with only ONE authorized service center - you've got to be kidding me!).

One day I'll give a better review when I've actually had the unit long enough to evaluate it. Sigh.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Yamaha

Great value; and still not acting like an AVR 65

Slight clicking on volume control (under certain setup conditions)

I realized no volume control clicking when I have the unit switched to a source set up for digital input (+90% of my use). Still , even for analog input devices, the only time you will hear clicking is when there is no source data, ie; nothing playing anyway. The clicking, BTW, is a constant level. It doesn't increase in relation to the gain output.

If this kind of "flaw" makes you crazy then please refrain from frothing over it on this review page. Take it into consideration when submiting a rating? Sure. But it's a great-sounding, fully-optioned receiver, not a brain operation.

I'm into month two and finally relaxed enough to really start listening to this product. It does it all, it does it very well, it gets a top rating in my book.

Similar Products Used:

AVR 65

Sounds like an AVR 65

Doesn't act like and an AVR 65

I just received an AVR 500 to replace an AVR 65 (it suffered from audio drop-out between CD audio tracks when using a digital input). This was handled directly (and pleasantly) through H/K Customer Service.

The good news for those owning a well-behaved AVR 65 is that there are not big changes in the design, asthetics or sound quality. So don't feel too left out. The good news for those looking to buy an AVR 500 is that there are many subtle but desirable improvements too.

Aside from the Logic 7 circuitry, some others are:

-No audio drop-out. I think the problem went away with the new chipset;

-Increased power output for the tinitus crowd;

-Improved and smarter 8-device remote with added controls for other devices and marco learning capabliities;

-Digital inputs increased from two to four (two coax, two optical). These inputs can be assigned to any components;

-Ability to run speakers "large" and keep the SW on (despite that the manual says otherwise);

-Much improved manual (honest!); and last, but not least;

-Attached and shiny (rather than painted and dull) Harman/Kardon emblem on what I think may be an aluminum faceplate (it's so hard to tell without scratching it).

Having to re-configure the new unit I realized the flexibility in customizing all of the devices for different input and speaker configurations.

It may be early to render a verdict, but so far it looks as if H/K may have "righted a wrong" here.

Similar Products Used:

AVR 65 (big suprise!)

Most bang for the buck.

No component video.

I have just purchased the unit and have not set it up yet. I am partnering the unit with a Polk CS400 center and Polk RT/FX Rear surrounds, Velodine 100w 10" sub and a pair of Tannoy 6.5 near field monitors for the mains. Got a pretty good deal from Circuit City who nocked about $500 off the package price that includes 5 year warranties on the receiver and sub, a box full of monster cables and the best demo room I found in the area.

I will be setting it up later in the week. Any advice would be appreciated.

Similar Products Used:

Instead of the H/K AVR-65 and Denon AVR-3300

Excellent sound for DD, DTS, AC-3

Lots of heat, video switching is quirky

I purchased this receiver to upgrade my system to Dolby Digital. I was pleased with the quality of the sound and the features offered on the system. As my other gear began to improve (HDTV, progressive DVD, etc), I found some weaknesses in the AVR500.

I have experienced the volume control moving by itself. I discovered its related to heat dissipation in the unit. When too much heat builds up, the unit will move the volume. It can scare the hell out of you to have the volume suddenly go to maximum.

I wish the unit could switch components, as the new AVR510 will and I wish there were more options for video switching along with audio.

Overall its a pretty good unit.

Similar Products Used:

HK AVR300

Styled after the AVR7000, Tons of Adjustments

Minor Remote Control issues

As you might have already discovered I'm going to jump the gun and review the AVR510 here. I owned an AVR500 for a couple of months and I too had my fair share of trouble with it. It lost its mind a couple of times (surround settings) and the ocasional all speaker static noise for no appparent reason (mainly in Logic 7C Mode).
The store I purchased it from assisted me greatly by letting me return the unit when the AVR510's arrived. Wow, what a nice unit. Its styled after the AVR7000 series, black and gold front panel, HDCD capability, MPEG reading capability, an SPL meter(sound pressure level meter) built into the remote and a host of other features. So far I have had pretty good luck with it,It sounds crisp in all modes including DTS. By the way ,it also has added several new "Surround modes" including 5 channel stereo (Very nice) especially for games. Thats something even the $1500.00 AVR7000 does'nt have.
The remote does have its drawbacks though. The main problem I have encountered is with programming other equipment into it...It does'nt seem to want to accept ANY codes. Not even programming buttons indivdually works. I currently have H/K working on it but while I have 5 remotes on my coffee table I decided it was time to upgrade to a serious remote, the SonyRM-AV2100 LCD Learning remote. The only other minor grip I have about it is that the onboard SPL meter tends to run 1-2 decibals off on one or two of the speakers when its finished setting itself up. (I used a handheld analog SPL meter to check it with)
I have'nt had the unit but a couple of weeks and so far this is what I have found to be true. If my review should change or problems show up I'll be sure to post it here in the future. Based on MY experience so far I would recommend this product to other home theater and music lovers.

Similar Products Used:

AVR500

All the bells and whistles for a receiver in this price category.

Reliability

I had purchased an avr 300 last december, within four months was experiencing technical difficulties (reviewed under avr 300 if you wish to read) so I up graded to the avr 500. Within 8 weeks I experienced the inherent problem of the volume racing upwards just out of the blue, so back to the dealership again this time with the intension of something new. I was convinced to try another 500 with the assurance if I had any problems I would recieve credit to move into a new product line. Well this time it took less than one month and I once again had problems however not the volume issue a new one. I was getting white static in all modes(vmax,cm,cv,etc) except in surround off it would turn into a buzzing instead. Needless to say the sound quality when listening to cd's or dvd's was crap. Upon return and in talking with the sales person he commented that the quality control at harmon kardon was becoming the pits, I agree. I am stepping up to the Onkyo Integra line 7.1 and will review that in the next couple of months. I liked the avr 500 when it performed but I believe it would be wise to try others, read reviews and find a product that does't have inherent problems if possible.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Nad