I purchased this receiver from Amazon.com at the very reasonable price offered, and have since enjoyed its class of quality and performance. I can confirm other reviewers' opinion of its very clear sound quality and nice looking built. Beyond that I want to say that it's very discriminating to the nature of its source material: good recordings sound fabulous while poorly mixed ones sound intolerably muddy. Several shortcomings nevertheless are present: limited A/V connectivity with only 2 video inputs; a merely moderate current output--perhaps not enough to drive large speakers or low-impedence ones well; somewhat flimsy connectors on back panel requiring careful pluggings and unpluggings. But these reservations are secondary for me given its nice balance of costs and benefits. If you want quality more than newest technology (DTS etc.) this is definitely worthy a try.

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Harman-kardon AVR 25

This unit sounds much better than the units at $600-$1000 range. The sound is very crisp and clean. I am using the unit with 2 Energy XL15s and a JBL sub., and it sounds excellent. You can't go wrong with this one at around $200 price tag.

I just bought the AV-3s three days ago and I have listened to about 50 cds, watched 4 DVDs and have listened to every cable FM station available here. In two words "It's Awesome". I was considering Harmon Karden and NAD as well as this Nakamichi but when I found it on sale for $349 canadian(that's about $225US), I couldn't pass it up. Great imaging and stereo separation. It also sounds great when I play DVDs in the pro-logic mode. I haven't tried it with a sub yet, but with my Sound Dynamics 616s, it sounds fabulous. I could care less about the hall and stadium DSP settings but other than that it is perfect for the person who doesn't want to spend a huge amount of money and still get an awesome A/V receiver. To the guy who paid $900US, OH MY GOD!!! are you an idiot?!? If you can afford anything with your billion dollars why dont you buy Krell or Linn, or something of that caliber?

Hello to the world!I love this receiver, I got it for $900 US dollars and it is absolutely brilliant! Nakamichi is the best and my stereo is the best in bahrain. I should know, I'm an oil billionare with enough money to buy anything!

I got this receiver,(to my surprise),the same time I received my new Sony-strde835.My Yamaha 692 was in the shop being repaired,thanks to my youngest son,and I was planning on upgrading to full-on dolby digital from digital ready,I had heard some good things about the Sony so I ordered it from Crutchfield.The same day as I was looking at stuff from Amazon.com I came across the Nakamichi AV-3s.I accidently ordered it.Boy was I surprised when they both showed up at my door.Initially I planed on returning the Nak. to Amazon but after a good five or six hours of stress trying to get the Sony working and sounding properly,I had enough.This Sony was just like all the other Sony products I had auditioned,cheap,full of useless adjustments,and just plain crap.The next day the Sony went bye bye.I missed my Yamaha and had almost completely forgot about the Nak. until my wife asked me when I was sending it back.I had forgotten to give the UPS guy the Nak. when I gave him the Sony so I would have to wait until Monday to send it back.My wife had given a direct order not to open the "stereo box" because it would cost us money to return it. I couldn't help my self,I waited until noone was around and tor into it.I had to at least look at it!It looked pretty good with some higher end connections I didn't expect to find.And a cooling fan?!The nak. had my attention and curiosity wondering what it would sound like-noone was home,they would never know.After quickly hooking everything up I checked out the amp.specs in the back of the manual to see what I would be dealing with.55watts?Hummm.Good THD though.I didn't know what to expect,so I setup the speaker volumes first as well as the delays for the dsp modes picked out a cd, popped it in, and sat back.At first it was a little flat so I tweaked the tone controls and selected another track.I WAS STUNNED!It sounded great,better than great!Zero noise,detailed,warm,and that was just in plain old stereo.I selected the natural dsp mode and my jaw dropped.The sound stage was unreal!Huge comes close.It was thrilling,there were details in the music I hadn't heard before and my subwoofer was just loving it,smooth uncolored flowing bass.My JBL MR310's never sounded so good-now I know why they cost so much,breathtaking sound I had never heard!I had to double check the invoice for the price.$199?!I have heard $900+ separates that don't sound this good,what is up with this giveaway price!Every piece of music and movie I threw at this receiver sounded unreal,it never faultered in any way.And as for the 55watts per channel don't let that throw you THIS THING CAN PUMP IT OUT!The 100watt Sony would buckle at the levels I was getting with the Nak.I think the Yamaha would have a little trouble keeping up as well.And for the first time I fully under stand the meaning 'nonfatigue'.It is relaxing to listen and easy to get lost in the music because it is so detailed and quietly warm even at the ear shattering levels it is capable of achieveing.Bottom line,this receiver is impressive don't let the price fool you,you can do worse for three times the money.Nakamichi is back with a vengence.Does any one remember the Nak. "Dragon Series" in the late 70's? Well the Dragon has awoke again 20 years later this time in the form of the AV series receivers!

I considered the Yamaha 592 and Harmon Kardon 35 first (with a price limit of $350 or less) but then saw the Nak for $279 at Fry's (by the way I still hate this place) and I snatched it up instantly. I don't have the capacity to A/B it with any other recievers but subjectively, it sounded the best, plus you get to drop the Nakamichi name to all your friends!(plus, it looks expensive!). It reproduces music very cleanly and dose great with movies(not my primary concern) with no signs of strain at high levels, even though it only produces about 80w per(15 amps) Some shortcommings: 1. The tuner is barely adequate, get a booster 2. No freaky electronic frills, if you want them purchase the Yamaha because this unit is basic ! 3. The cooling fan can be heard if you are really quiet.
Budget minded buyers, be paitent and look for the best deals from all avenues. Go for sound quality first and screw electro-gadgetry found on Sony, Pioneer and others of that ilk. I bought the Nak, a pair of Infinity RS5's, polk R1's, an Infinity ssw-210 powered sub, all new, for less than $850 dollars. You couldn't convince me that spending 2x that would give me any appreciable improvement in sound quality.