Harman Kardon ??

Hi

Does anyone use the Harman kardon amps. I heard that they are very honest about their power outputs. Also heard that they are the guys who invented the whole receiver thingy!!

All the experts, I need your opinion regarding this

hi,
Harman is as good or as bad as any of the low/ middle range AV receivers out there. Harman is not at all the product it was even 10 years ago. The build, layout, and feel has radically changed since they shifted to manufacturing in the east.
I like a two channel set up so AVR s are not my cup of tea but i had a HK AVR 25 about 15 yrs ago which was a dolby pro logic (GOD THAT WAS JUST IN THEN) AVR rated at 75 watts and it was very good even for stereo listening but the ones i have seen subsequently are not great.

I guess the marantz or denon or even an onkyo would be better though am sure lots of folks here would have different thoughts.

Regards

HK has still it's own followers. Now a days the manufacturing hub almost for everyone is PRC, though one may get models manufactured somewhere else. But what I dont like about HK's parts is their plastic front panels. Otherwise, their specs are competetive, and are as clear as Nad's, though Nad's are more conservative. The specification of drive current is their mantra in the marketing game, which from a circuit engineer's perspective strikes the right chord. For stereo, I can compare HK with Nad, Rotel etc.(The Rotels have better build quality.)
My 2 cents

That's true.

I bought my first serious AVR a few years ago. I firstly researched, researched and researched. And then listened, listened and listened. And then bought an HK. Other amps I had compared them against were primarily Onkyo, Yamaha, Denon. Strictly my personal opinion, but HK beat the thing out of competitor's amps on a bang for buck basis.

HK sound is what an amp's sound should be. NEUTRAL. It preserves the details and does to sound that any good amp should do. NOTHING!

I have heard equipments at much higher price point and have a feeling that have been blessed with a good pair of ears. And I trust, at budget level (in international market that is, in Indian market they are at the beginning of the "hi-end") they are the best.

Wrt, power rating. They are one of the most modest companies. I myself was a sceptic and wanted to find the truth. I went to a leading hi-fi store in the town and hooked a AVR 240 with a Jamo D590. Jamo D590 is a full 3-way system with a large low frequency driver (8") and a difficult load (4 Ohms). I was skeptic and was expecting the amp to run out of gas. Behold nothing like that happened. The AVR 240 drove the Jamo D590 effortlessly. And it was not a small-ish room either. A huge 30x75 feet hall (as good as open air sans the roof). Need I say more?

I agree with the sentiment that Harman Kardon gear is no longer what it used to be a decade or two ago, but at the entry level in the international market of hi-fi, HK is still my number 1 choice.

I used to have a HK AVR20 10 years ago. Though a prologic AVR it was great for music as well. Unfortunately i upgraded a few years later to one of their Dolby Digital amps. While it was great for movies but very average for music. Have now shifted to Nad and Rotel. Would agree with everyone that HK is not what it used to be.......and their newest amps look terrible!