Any Harman fans?

[picture_shooter]

Just curious to see if there's anyone here that owns Harmon receivers?

I'm looking for a budget receiver to put into the family room ($200 or less).

My wife is requesting to make sure I purchase a receiver that could be controlled by her Ipad to control and stream Pandora / iTunes while she's in the kitchen (family room is open to kitchen).

I totally understand @ $200 there are no network receivers, but I will be purchasing a AppleTV to make sure I can get around that.

So I have my eyes on a Harmon avr1565 thats less than $200 (on sale).
I cannot find any reviews on it

Any input?

I know there's always accessories4-less to buy a refurb and I may consider. but the only two I am considering at this point is this harmon and maybe the Denon 1612

(all I need is 5.1 with HDMI and binding posts on rear / this is the family room , not the theater room).

 

[M Code]

The 1565 uses the same basic hardware design as HK has used for the last 3 years. Primary difference is related to smaller power supply, lower power output, 7.1 > 5.1, no iPod dock and no video processor/scaler..
The 1565 was sold last weekend @ $199 on ad by Fry's and though this is far below their target pricing, due to the stagnant market and saturation of closeout AVRs it is a great price for an entry level AVR. Another good point is that the Harman warranty is typically longer than that founds comparable AVRs..

Just my $0.02..

 

[picture_shooter]

The 1565 uses the same basic hardware design as HK has used for the last 3 years. Primary difference is related to smaller power supply, lower power output, 7.1 > 5.1, no iPod dock and no video processor/scaler..
The 1565 was sold last weekend @ $199 on ad by Fry's and though this is far below their target pricing, due to the stagnant market and saturation of closeout AVRs it is a great price for an entry level AVR. Another good point is that the Harman warranty is typically longer than that founds comparable AVRs..

Just my $0.02..

Yup, I saw it Friday and almost swooped it up. Then today I called my Frys they were sold out (they only had two on friday) and today it went back to $350

Oh well, I guess back to square one.

I may just get the Denon 1612. Thanks

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I really like everything from Harman International - Mark Levinson, Lexicon, JBL, Revel, Infinity, Harman Kardon, Crown.

I used to own a $500 (MSRP) AVR. The RC sucked like most $500 AVR. But in direct mode (bypass RC, EQ, DSP), the HK AVR sounded great.

One area HK lack even in their $1,000 (MSRP) AVR is the pre-out for ext amp.

 

[M Code]

I really like everything from Harman International - Mark Levinson, Lexicon, JBL, Revel, Infinity, Harman Kardon, Crown.

I used to own a $500 (MSRP) AVR. The RC sucked like most $500 AVR. But in direct mode (bypass RC, EQ, DSP), the HK AVR sounded great.

One area HK lack even in their $1,000 (MSRP) AVR is the pre-out for ext amp.

Yup...
They used to include the 7.1 Pre-Outs but now they are gone...
I guess their product marketing boys decided they weren't needed..

Just my $0.02...

 

[allargon]

Yup...
They used to include the 7.1 Pre-Outs but now they are gone...
I guess their product marketing boys decided they weren't needed..

Just my $0.02...

The product marketing guys want you to spring for a Lexicon pre/pro instead!

I was also tempted by the sale, but I got disappointed by the lack of pre-outs.

 

[slipperybidness]

I've always been fairly impressed with the HK recievers that my friends had. Good SQ and nice looking too.

However, when I was shopping for a new reciever a few years ago, the salesman at the BB Magnolia told me his only complaint on the HK was a nit-pick that the volume knobs always seemed a little cheap or not too rugged. I was shopping for a new reciever b/c my old one's volume knob had gone bad, so that made the decision against the HK for me.

 

[M Code]

The product marketing guys want you to spring for a Lexicon pre/pro instead!

I was also tempted by the sale, but I got disappointed by the lack of pre-outs.

Lets be fair..
An HK AVR is not the same $ as a Lexicon processor..
But what many don't know is that many of the higher end HK AVRs used the Lexicon full process Logic 7, and actually built a couple of models for Lexicon..

Just my $0.02..