Powerful and clean sound.

connections for your speakers aren't at the best angle.

Well I got a hold of this model due to a blunder on circut cities part. Basically I got this model for $13 over the AVR 45 I used to have. I used to have the 45. It wasn't bad at all. and now that I have the extra 10-20 watts over that one, the sound has been improved. I really like the s-video inputs and outputs. I never found the remote too dificult to use. the on screen menu makes it a total snap to get set up. I haven't used the muli room functions yet but plan on it.

Similar Products Used:

AVR45

DTS, Dolby Digital

Buzzing sound, lack of Digital inputs.

Well, I was victim to this buzzing reciever. Took it back and got the newer HK AVR500. MUCH better reciever, more inputs. Digital outputs.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo

Very True Sound. The right functions and no B.S. This receiver is a (in my opinion) the best buy in its class.

None found yet.

If you are looking for a receiver with sound clarity that produces audio the way it is meant to be heard, look no further. I have not experienced any of the problems mentioned in other reviews but they did make me somewhat skeptical before purchasing the AVR65. After closely comparing it to many other receivers in the same price range, and even higher price ranges, I saw no need to look anymore. Perfect balance of power, performance, and clarity as well as many added features(DTS,AC-3, etc.). The handbook accompanying the product was exceptional and the backlit remote is not too big---not too small.

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Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha products in the same pricerange ($600- $1K)

5.1 inputs, pre-outs on all channels, each channel can be customized for speaker type used.

Only one optical input

So far an excellent receiver for the $ and then some. Sounds excellent with my satellite/SW speakers. The ability to use the pre-out for some wireless speakers and headphones is a plus. Night mode for DVDs is excellent for keeping dialog volume up but limiting the high volume sound effects. I got the unit at One-call for less than $500. Try to find the features and sound quality in another unit for that price.

Similar Products Used:

Technics

Mutliroom, Front A/V jacks

Age

First of all, I don't know what people are saying about the poor quality of this receiver. I got this receiver for Christmas and I haven't had one problem. I am even using generic RadioShack cabling! I picked this thing up at www.onecall.com for around $500. This receiver fulfills every need for me as an average home theater enthusiast. I read the reviews and see people complaining about such petty things as the balance of the remote, the delay between audio source switching, and clicking when you change volume.
First of all, if you give a receiver a bad review because of the weight balance in the remote, you obviously have a death wish out for the maker of the product. I, myself, have no problem with the remote of the AVR65. I find it very usefull. It allows me to control eight devices without having to have 8 different remotes.
As for the delay between audio source switching... give me a break. Just because sound switches off for maybe a second when switching audio sources it doesn't mean that the product is faulty. This so called weakness doesn't bother me a bit.
Third, regarding the clicking you hear when switching volumes, the minutely present clicking is hardly noticable. First of all, you have to switch the volume very rapidly in order for the clicking to become apparent. The speed in which the volume has to be changed to hear this clicking is too fast for the remote to do itself and can only be obtained by spinning the volume knob on the receiver. Now, who changes volume that quickly with enough frequency that it becomes a serious weakness of the receiver? I didn't even notice the clicking until just recently. Come on people... find something better to do that criticize a perfectly fine product.

There are weaknesses to this receiver despite what I said earlier. The primary weakness is its age. The newer H/K models are out now (the AVR 100, 300, and 500) and they offer a year's worth of new technology on the H/K line. They have more digital inputs and include digital outputs. The other weakness I would have to say would be the documentation. The documentation talks of ways you can hook up a multiroom and setup complete with multiroom remote control but doesn't go into details about how this can be obtained.

In summarizing... I've had this receiver since Christmas and I have yet to experience a problem. I wrote this review because I'm sick and tired of people trashing this product for no apparent reason. If you are in the market for a good receiver I would strongly recommend you get the newer H/K models for further compatibility down the road. But if you can't afford those models are if you think those models are a little too feature equipped for what you need, I would still by the AVR 65.

Greg Szorc

Similar Products Used:

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Referring to the posting from casual listener, Singapore, how much did you pay for the set? The lowest price I was quoted was S$780. The HK is much better unit than its nearest competition in terms of price and sound. I did contact Harman about the problems mentioned in the forum,but they assured me the unit manufactured for Singapore went into production well after the problems were sorted out. According to the reply, it was a software problem. Hope this helps

Similar Products Used:

None

Excellent 5.1 sound quality watching DVD movies.

Remote is a bit small but works fine. Using it in a low lit room makes it a little difficult to see the selections.

Excellent! Have had absolutely no problems with this RCVR.
Had read all the reviews about the noise and interference problems that many people were experiencing and was a little hesittent at first because of it but I am glad I stayed with HK. It by far had the best sound for the money. I think a lot of problems can be prevented by using a little common sense when running all the audio,video and power cables behind your audio equipment. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR POWER CABLES ISOLATED from the audio and video cables. My set up kicks butt and I will never set foot in a movie theater again. It sounds a lot better here at home.
Somebody mentioned the regular music CD's lack good sound quality. I thought that for a minute but you must realize that some cd's are not digital recorded or are copies of analog reproductions. You can verify this by checking the rating on each cd. It will tell you that it is digital or analog. I found this out by playing a Fleetwood Mack music cd and was a little disappointed. Then I played the "DANCE" Fleetwood Mack DVD at it totally blew me away. I thought there shouldn't be any difference between a cd and DVD recording but there is.
I know it was a DVD cd that woke me up and once I mentioned it to a few more people I found out at that time that normal CD's will sound just as good if you know what to look for. So start comparing the cd's at the store and you will see what I'm talkig about.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 656

Greetings from S.A,
I read all your comments on the HK AVR65....,
and it gave me a few worries ,as I was very keen on getting one.

Then I spoke to the local agent,

Who assured me that they didn't have these so called Bugs....
it was only the first batch ...

Our Units from from O/SEAS DENMARK,

and are Model AVR65RDS

With the rds tuner.

I have a boston VR10 Center, CR 9 fronts,and VR500 sub with VRS rears
and I've cranked her up....to -10db when my neighbours aren't in..
and I haven't found this distortion.

I had the local agent crank up the center to 10db and run it full blast,
and I didn't pick up on any of that on a heavy
dialogue piece....

Internal DD decoders many times lack bass management,
and delay management ,so I say to MR SONY OVER they....BS,
your internal decoder couldn't honestly compete on a discrete level
with the ic on HK.

I saving up for a HK CD HD760 with dual burr brown dacs...

all I need is more expensive fronts....

enjoy the music......and " THE EAGLES RULE!!!!!!""

Cut the BS.......the thing is fine....

Yamaha sux for Stereo.....I've had 3 already....
HK 25MKII was as a winner.....& the 65 is in the same vain...!!!

I got this product and I really like it. It provides a high quality sound on all modes. I noticed that it provides a very smooth sound in DTS mode. This is interesting since DTS is trying to hit the market; as a matter of fact, if you own one of this receivers, I'd recommend to get a DTS music CD, the sound is amazing!
This particular receiver does not have the humm that others do. Thanks to the internet I found out about this problem and called Harman Kardon, they said that they were aware of the problem and that if I was going to buy a new AVR65 I should get serial number JS0003-08000 or higher (it actually was 7000 and something, I don't remember exactly). Anyway, I checked it out and it works perfect. Doesn't get overheated and performs very nicely.

The remote is very nice and easy to use. It has limited macro capabilities though, i.e. only the "Power" can be programmed.

Automatic "codec" sensing is pretty accurate. It switches OK from dolby digital 4.1 to mono (some DVD's have special tracks in mono), etc.

On the wish list is: More than one optical input.

I'll give it a five because it reproduces both home theather and stereo music listening pretty smoothly.

The AVR65 that i have displays terrible distortion on the Television (wavy lines, bars, static, you name it!) i dont have a hum or buzz coming from the speakers like some have complained about, but i have noticed that the surround channels and the center channel are unusually quiet. as a matter of fact i have to have the center channel cranked all the way to +10DB (and yes all the speakers are matched) i have found a very annoying and aweful temporary fix to the wavy line/bars problem. first i had to buy an RF modulator at Radio Shack for $30. this has composite inputs and an RF (Coaxial/Antenna) output to the TV. if i move this far enough away from the AVR65 and wind the Coaxial Cable up into a ball and site it near/under the RF modulator, all the distortion goes away. but ive broken many things in frustration figuring this out!!!! and its extremely frustrating, did i mention that already? =) anyway, i keep calling HK to see when they will release a fix or a replacement for this model. its an awesome amp and as for a stereo i give it * * * * * stars, but due to all the issues this amp has, it gets ZERO stars as far as home theater is concerned. if anyone knows when HK is going to issue a warrenty replacement on this model, please Email me if you would... HK wont tell me anything. later
justin