Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75W 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)It's unfortunate about the previous poster but I have the same unit and it is incredible! The unit has all the bells and whistles that you would expect on a much higher priced receiver. Do some research on the the chips used in this thing, they are incredible and are found only in a $5000 high end competitors line. The weakness of this receiver is that it can sometimes be too rich of a sound and lacks the crisp high that some look for because, honestly the degraded sound that we have received from companies like Sony and what we listen to in our cars have ruined our idea of what even sounds are. Just a side note, one of my buddies was the one who brought this "weakness" to my attention because he said it didn't have enough high range. I told him well watch the whole movie and lets see how fatigued your ears feel. Afterward, he was amazed how nice and easy it is to listen to this HK. The strength is it's punch and ability in the home theater to make gun fire sound like gun fire and not rocks being thrown against a tin roof. HK doesn't disappoint in my opinion with this receiver and it's too bad one customer, and the only review had a experience that is honestly out of this world. HK customer support is probably one of the best in the world, and are often recognized for that fact. Besides one month old and breaks, why not take it back to Best Buy?

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Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75 watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver is your all-in-one receiver for your home theater system. This 7.1-Channel A/V receiver includes HDMI switching and audio/video processing. With 525 watts (75 watts x 7 channels) at your fingertips, movies will put you into the heart of the action. Picture this! The AVR-354 not only includes a host of powerful features such as DCDi by Faroudja video processing, Simplay HD'-verified HDMI' 1.1 connectivity with full audio processing as well as EzSet/EQ'and XM Ready technology - it uses a colorful user interface to make system setup and operation easier than ever. Add full multi-room capability with A-BUS connectivity and you have pure Harman Kardon sound everywhere in the house.

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Marantz SR6004 Audio/Video Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned five Marantz SR6004s, only one of which is still working today. All were purchased from an authorized dealer and were brand new or A stock. I bought two units - one for my study utilizing a 5.1 setup plus heights and one for my bedroom - 5.1 setup with two in ceiling speakers in each bathroom configured as a second zone.
The four units that died all died in less than 30 days. The quickest died after 8 days, the longest made it about 26 days. The death always included a pop or thud from all speakers and then the Marantz entering into protect mode. Once in protect mode, it cannot be revived - even by leaving it unplugged overnight or trying to reset it via the front panel. It is completely fried.
In both rooms, all of my speaker connections are without isssue; the Marantzs have replaced Onkyos and a Denon that have operated in the same setup for over two years. The Marantz was well surge-protected in both rooms - even to the point i surge protected the coaxial feed from the cable box.
The failures occurred without warning or symptom of a problem. Of the four failures, three occurred while watching college football on a saturday, one occurred one evening with the tuner on only.
The surving unit is still working without issue in the same setup. Earlier this week I torture-tested it, left it on for three days straight without issue or excessive heat.
It is my contention there is either a faulty part or faulty design that causes catastrophic failure to these units. One other has reported an identical death to mine on his SR5004.
Marantz categorically denies a problem.
I would hold off on buying this unit despite my true affection for its sound. There is something wrong with some of these units.
If you do buy one, buy it from an authorized dealer who has a generous 30 day return policy (and will pay for return shipping costs if online). These units have generally died within two to four weeks of use, but I have not made it too far past 30 days with my working unit.
I really like this receiver and have been more than persistent and attempted to trouble-shoot the issues with Marantz. They were of no help at all and continued to insist the problem was only in my setup.
it's a great receiver when working. I can only hope that Marantz addresses the catastrophic failure affecting these units and issues a recall to those affected.

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USB port for iPod Digital connection, Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD MA and Dolby ProLogic IIz decording, Audessey MultEQ&Dynamic Volume, Color GUI, Analog to HDMI scalling, RX101Bluetooth Receiver included for iPhone/Mobile, M-DAX compressed audio expander

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Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 1.3a Repeater Review

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(More customer reviews)I spent several months researching my new receiver for my home theater. I spent countless hours hanging out on the avsforum, read everything I could about receivers. I was looking for a receiver that would have the following features:
- at least 2 HDMI inputs
- great sound quality for music as well as movies
- HD audio codecs (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA) support
- would cost $650 MSRP or less
The choice is clear:
- Onkyo 606 or 705
- Yamaha 663
- Sony 820 or 920
- HK 254
- Pioneer 1018
- Denon 1909 or 988
I didn't even try the Onkyos, because I was afraid of the overheating problems and the humming noise reported on many units. Plus, they are downright ugly. The Yamaha had only 2 HDMI, and did not pass BTB/WTW, the Sonys are notorious for having the worst sound quality (unless you tap into the really high end models) across the board, so I didn't consider those either.
I was then left with the HK, Pioneer and Denon receivers.
I first bought the HK 254. All the users on avsforum swore by the HK sound. Well, they were right. The sound is nothing short of outstanding. The GUI is light-years ahead of the competition too. And finally, it is by far the slickest looking receiver of all.
Now, on the negative. HK is notorious for releasing products that haven't been thoroughly tested, and that don't work properly until the firmware update is released, and even at that point, it doesn't always work right. Well, they got that right too...
1 - the fan noise on 2 different units was unbearably loud, and not only was it loud, it wasn't a constant noise: it was pulsating. Crappy quality control from HK, can't afford more than $2 on a decent fan!
2 - if you connect your PS3 to the HK receiver using HDMI audio out + Linear PCM (the only way to take advantage of the HD audio codecs), here's what happens: you get sound drop outs that last for several minutes in many bluray movies (There Will Be Blood is a good example). Also, in GTA IV, you cannot hear the dialogs from the person you talk to on your cell phone. When I say "you cannot hear the dialogs", I mean: there is NO sound at all, it's not that the volume is low.
3 - the surround sound never "locks" on the one you want, it always reverts to Logic 7 eventually, and even if you can sometimes get it back by cycling through the surround sounds, it doesn't always work and it is a major hassle.
4 - it can't pass HDMI video with video processing turned OFF (it's always on!), and it won't pass BTB/WTW either.
I don't want to go into the details of all these bugs, but they completely kill all the enjoyment you could get from the unit. I exchanged my first unit, thinking I got a lemon, but the 2nd unit showed exactly the same problems, all of them. I finally returned the unit, disgusted with HK's quality control.
I then tried the Pioneer 1018, the Denon 1909 and the Denon 988. All 3 of them performed flawlessly, without a single hickup.
The Pioneer worked great but sounded a little weak, lacked punch and attack compared to the HK. It also had a very annoying bright blue LED that you can't turn off, and the worst remote I've ever seen.
The Denon 1909 and 988 were very similar, the 988 having a very slight edge in terms of SQ for music, but lacked the extra HDMI input and didn't have the Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Volume features. The 1909 was the only receiver I tried that could maintain the surround field perfect at any time and any given volume.
I ended up keeping the 1909, because of its great sound quality and of its superb handling of surround field, thanks to the Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Volume. Oh, and did I mention that it just works? ;)
After my disastrous experience with the HK, I wouldn't touch that receiver with a 10ft pole. If you consider this unit, wait until HK comes up with a firmware update, and make sure that it actually fixed all the problems. For more info about these problems, visit the avsforum dot com forum, and search for "Official Harman/Kardon AVR x54: Problems and Solutions Thread".

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The Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-channel home theater receiver with HDMI 1.3a repeater is an affordable home theater system that gives you more bang for your buck. 7.1-Channel A/V receiver includes HDMI' switching and audio/video processing. With 350 watts (50 watts x 7 channels) at your fingertips, movies will put you into the heart of the action. This is upscale video without an upscale price. The AVR-254 is Harman Kardon's most affordable receiver and allows you to upscale incoming analog video signals to high-resolution 720p output or select two HDMI' inputs for audio processing -all with a Simplay HD'-verified, single-wire connection to an HDMI-equipped display. And the sound? Pure Harman Kardon audio, with the clarity possible only with EzSet/EQ' technology and our high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier design.

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Denon AVR2310CI 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with 1080p HDMI Connectivity Review

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(More customer reviews)I looked at all the brands and settled on Denon because they offer a very complete set of features for the money. This model is basically identical to the Denon AVR-890 model sold in big box stores except it has some extra features that are useful for custom installations (if you have your HT installer do it for you) and has two remotes instead of one on the 890
What I liked about this model over many of the competitors:
- Audyssey MultEQ is an advanced auto setup system which adjusts all the settings for your speakers. You plug in the included microphone, it outputs test tones and calculates the optimum settings for you. It takes measurements over 6 positions to ensure that the calibration settings work well over the whole listening area. Audyssey (in my opinion) is a more sophisticated system than what you would find in the competitors like Pioneer and Yamaha. Denon implements the complete set of Audyssey MultEQ features, shows you the resulting settings, and permits you to tweak the settings afterwards even.
- Audyssey Dynamic EQ - This is a GREAT feature. It's not unlike the Dolby Volume feature offered on other brands. What it does is it makes the sound more natural when you have the volume control lower than the reference standard (the volume the studio used for their reference). When you listen at low volumes, the human ear becomes less sensitive to certain tonal ranges, so this circuit helps restore the tonal balance of the sound. It also balances the level of the channels based on your volume level to make sure you can hear the rear channels better at lower volumes. I think this feature works GREAT and it's something anybody can notice. I think this is a must-have feature. Again Denon is to be commended for offering this feature on all their receivers in 2009
- Dynamic Volume is a useful feature to keep the sound level from blasting you when commercials come on. It's nice for watching TV.
- Denon has better control over video and audio settings. You can adjust the crossover frequency individually for each set of speakers. So if you have large speakers in the front and small satellites in the back, you can customize the bass management individually for each pair of speakers, taking advantage of each speakers' full bandwidth. For some reason many other receivers, Pioneer, Marantz, Yamaha often don't have this per-speaker adjustment. If you use Audyssey to set up your system, the Denon will use this capability to optimize your speakers' bass capabilities.
Also, Denon remembers the VIDEO settings for each input so you can have custom brightness, contrast, color for each input.
- Denon 890/2310 uses the Anchor Bay ABT2010 video processor which is a top grade processor. It does a superb job of scaling and deinterlacing video (Anchor Bay's video processor is well reviewed) probably as good or better than most TVs. It works for both analog sources AND HDMI, converting all your video to the maximum resolution of your TV up to 1080P or any other resolution that is optimal for your set. You do have the option to turn it off and passthrough the signals if you don't see a benefit. For most people, unless you have a top of the line TV, this processor can benefit all your sources
- Many receivers take a long time to resync the HDMI signal when you change inputs. On my previous Onkyo, the screen would blank out for 7-12 seconds when I switched from Cable to DVD. The Denon does it as quick as any I've seen, only 2-3 seconds
- Denon has Graphical User Interface over analog and HDMI connections. So you can adjust the settings while a video signal is being played and you will see the menus overlaid on top (especially useful when you are adjusting video settings). Many other receivers only do GUI overlay for analog connections, but not HDMI. With the Denon 890, you can see Volume Level indicator overlaid over the picture while you are playing back HDMI sources.
- It runs very cool. Many receivers run very hot but this one is good if your ventilation is more limited in your AV cabinet.
- It offers Dolby PLIIz, which allows you to run 7.1 speakers and give you height channels (five speakers in the front). I don't use this feature but it's an improvement over a normal 7.1 setup.
The BAD:
- This model does not have Preamp outputs so you can't add an external amp later if you need more power.
- The manual is hard to understand. Fortunately, there are some great FAQ web pages put up by one guy (search for Denon FAQ)which takes all the mystery out of the settings and adjustments
So, the Denon 890 is a superb product that is leading the pack in this price range. They didn't cripple the product in any way except the lack of preamp outputs.
As far as sound quality, it's debatable whether brand X is better than brand Y, but I can say Denon doesn't make poor performing products in general. Their amps are solid performers that are average to above average in meeting their rated power specifications. Even thought this unit isn't the heaviest chassis, it still packs a punch for its price range.

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The new AVR-2310CI was designed for consumers wanting exceptional audio and video performance. Its 7-channel amplifier produces 735-watts of total power (105 per channel), delivering detail and dynamics to music and movie soundtracks. The amplifiers can be configured for 7.1 channel surround sound, or a 5.1 channel system in the 'main" room and power a pair of speakers in a second 'zone". It's equipped with 1080p compatible HDMI 1.3a Repeating technology, delivering both audio and video to your HDTV with single HDMI cable. This HDMI connectivity supports the latest generation surround sound formats available on Blu-ray disc, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and dts-HR. Also included is Dolby Laboratories new Pro Logic IIz Matrix decoding featuring front height effects channels that expands front soundstage. The AVR2310CI boasts a number of Audyssey technologies. Advanced Audyssey MultEQ analyzes a speaker systems interaction with room acoustics, and then delivers custom tailored correction processing to optimize clarity and tonal balance throughout the listening space. Audyssey Dynamic Volume is an automatic volume-leveling system that tracks audio dynamics to eliminate the irritating volume swings between TV shows and commercials. Audyssey Dynamic EQ is also on board to ensure rich bass and smooth tonal balance at low volume listening levels. In addition to enhanced HDMI 1.3a repeating (5 in, 1 out), the AVR2310CI features 1080p i/p conversion, analog to HDMI upscaling and HDMI to HDMI scaling. Video conversion is accomplished using a premium Anchor Bay Technologies 2010 chip set featuring 10-bit multi-cadence processing. This chip set also provides video noise reduction, picture enhancement, and adjustment capabilities not available on lower priced models. The AVR2310CI also features component video switching (2 in, 1 out), seven analog inputs, and multi-zone (2) / multi-source (2) capability.

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Denon AVR-5803 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel - black Review

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(More customer reviews)Possibly the best A/V Receiver on the market (although recently succeeded by the AVR 5805, which seems to have more amp channels than a reasonable person could use). One problem, however, is Denon Link compatability (a proprietary digital connection that only works with other high grade Denon equipment). The Denon Link is now available in three different forms, series 1, 2 and 3. If you have an AVR 5803 with the series 1 Denon Link and have a Denon DVD player that also has such a link, you want to make sure that they are of the same series or they may not be compatable. Denon offers free upgrades of these links, but that entails your retuning your component to them and waiting several weeks to get it back. This is sort of inconvenient if you have to send your receiver away for a month or so, since your A/V system needs a receiver (or pre-amp and amplifiers) to work. If you have a spare receiver sitting around that is OK, otherwise it is a pain.

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Xbox 360 HDMI Cable Review

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(More customer reviews)I Love my XBOX 360 with it's Microsoft VGA Cable.
Just wanted to Clear this up for people with the older 360's looking to boost their graphics. (This Cable dose exactly what it is meant to do, that is why I give it 5 Stars).
I have a non-HDMI XBOX 360 core system mfg. 7/2007, the picture doesn't show it well, but all this package contains is a Standard HDMI cable and a adapter that connects to the large A/V port on the back of the 360 and goes out to SOUND ONLY.
This WILL NOT Adapt your Standard 360 A/V port to HDMI.
This product only works if your XBOX 360 Already has a HDMI port in the back and it just gives you ports for audio so you can attach your 360 to HDMI and your surround sound receiver. where as with just HDMI cable, the sound is just coming from your TV's speakers.

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HDMI Cable - 2 Male Connectors - 2 Meters Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these cables as a last resort action to try and get my 2nd Generation Apple TV working. I kept getting a HDCP error. My TV was HDCP compatible so I tried replacing my existing HDMI cables with these.
Problem fixed. These are fully compatible with 2nd Gen Apple TV. They are good quality, heavy duty, and deliver a great picture.
I can't see any problems with the picture and that's when viewing it on a 50" 1080p plasma TV.
You can't beat the price either. I got two of these for less than half the price of one of Walmarts cheapest HDMI cables. They work a lot better too.

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Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'll start by saying I'm not an Audiophile. I just wanted a decent mid-range receiver that does all the latest lossless audio formats and has 7.1 channels so it's ready to take advantage of BluRay as that format evolves. So my primary focus is on a system that plays audio for movies and video games as it's primary function. Currently I have this receiver setup in a 5.1 configuration since that's the type of receiver it replaced. I have more speakers on order to expand it out but to be honest, right now if you're building a home theater from scratch, you only need 5.1 . The 7.1 specs aren't really supported yet and DVDs and Playstation/Xbox are all 5.1, so if you're starting from scratch save some money and setup for 5.1 first and expand as support grows.
I used the automated speaker calibration feature to setup all the channels. This is where you place the provided mic at ear level at three different listener positions. The receiver then sends out tones which will drive you and your dog nuts for about 15 minutes while the entire process goes on. Once it was done however, I was/am very pleased with the results.
I've heard some people ask about humming, i can detect no humming. I have some WiFi equipment close by which is 2.5 ghz and so far have not heard any humming. Some other people have said the Receiver runs hot to which I would ask those people, is this your first receiver? They do run hot ! This one runs no hotter than the old one i replaced from a different manufacturer so as far as I'm concerned, the heat issue is normal. I have it in a small component rack that's enclosed on the sides and back with a door on the front, it's got maybe half an inch space around the sides and 2 inches of space on top and so far everything is good.
The back has tons of inputs, but the primary reason I waited for the 606 over the previous model is the number of HDMI ports, the next generation audio/video cable which is a requirement for full resolution BluRay playback. They're rev 1.3a to support all the latest audio formats as well (none of which are currently supported by the discs themselves yet though). The receiver will pass through a 1080p signal from a BluRay or other high def video source. If you feed it a standard def 480i video source, it will upscale it to 1080i or 720p. It does a decent job but i would say upscaling isn't the receivers strong point, it does an acceptable job though. But lets face it, Onkyo doesn't build TV's, their bread and butter isn't video, it's audio.
I'm pleased with the performance and the styling of the receiver, it's just very basic and sleek. No built in graphical user interface and all that other nonsense that receivers 3x this price but no more times the performance come equipped with. This receiver for a mid end system for movies and video games just really can't be matched in terms of performance per dollar spent.
I have matched this receiver with some Polk Audio speakers. Specifically i have a Polk CSi3 center channel and six Polk RTi4 bookshelf speakers (all of which you can find at great prices here on Amazon where I ordered them from) and I am very very happy with the results. The Polk speakers like the Onkyo 606 receiver are over achievers for their price point, so they match together extremely well.
The only thing I have left to say is buy it, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this receiver to anyone looking for a solid movie/video game home theater experience.

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As part of the second generation of Onkyo high-definition-capable receivers, the TX-SR606 is at the forefront of affordable home theater. The key is to have the most capable version of HDMI. The TX-SR606 provides high-definition video and audio processing for four source components—another first for Onkyo at this level. From Blu-ray Disc players to gaming consoles and cable/satellite boxes, you have everything in the digital realm covered. Apart from 1080p video, the TX-SR606 can upscale all video signals to 1080i, regardless of the connection, for output via HDMI. Onkyo's own RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) also gives you inter-operability with the displays and playback components from other leading brands. And with an expanded version of Audyssey's room correction technology, the TX-SR606 maintains the fullness of surround sound audio quality at low volume levels. The TX-SR606 offers all-round excellence rarely seen at this level.

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Yamaha RX-V365BL 500 Watt 5-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I generally like Yamaha products but this receiver has one huge flaw. The HDMI outs do not support audio sound. I ran separate optical audio outputs from cable box and CD player. The one HDMI out on the reciever only worked with DVD not Cable box or DTV inputs. So don't plan on running a separate TV from the HDMI out on the reciever. The sound quality is good and the functions are easy to learn with the exception of the scene feature. Really not that well explained. I like the reciever and was able to work around the HDMI issue but think that this is a huge oversight on Yamaha's part. I hope this review is helpful.

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Yamaha RX-V365BL 500 Watt 5-Channel Home Theater Receiver

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Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable 6 ft. Review

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(More customer reviews)As stated in other reviews, bits are bits. If they get from one system component to another, you're doing just as well with a $5 cable as a $60 one. Monster and other companies are ripping consumers off with gobbledeygook buzzwords designed to obscure the mind and open the pocketbook.
I have installed this cable in my system, and its performance delivering 5.1 channel audio and DTS from my PS3 to my receiver is flawless. It performs identically to the other more expensive optical cable I have.
As of my last check of this product page, $1.31 as a list price and $2.98 for shipping makes for a total of $4.29. This is an outrageously good deal, beating even many other discount outlets. If you have a receiver that uses optical digital for audio input (as opposed to HDMI, which most newer receivers utilize), you simply can't go wrong. A definite must-buy at this price.

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