Harman Kardon AVR1565

[mike c]

what's the general opinion on the HK AVR 1565?

they're being sold at a super low price (199usd) ... i don't need it, but at that price, i could use it as a 2 channel receiver someday.

http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-CA/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=AVR 1565

 

[j_garcia]

Price seems good for what it claims to offer. I'd probably pick up a stereo receiver or integrated when the time actually came, unless HDMI is something you wanted it to have too.

 

[Grador]

I find the non-colour coded component video jacks rather amusing.

 

[mike c]

Price seems good for what it claims to offer. I'd probably pick up a stereo receiver or integrated when the time actually came, unless HDMI is something you wanted it to have too.

yeah, but am afraid i won't see another deal like this (basically a stereo receiver with bass management plus bonus HDMI)

do New Old Stock receivers regularly touch 199usd?

 

[mike c]

I find the non-colour coded component video jacks rather amusing.

yeah, they should have dropped the color coded binding posts and kept the RCA color coding.

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i read on another forum that these are the "china cheapening" of HK receivers to keep the prices low.

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this is also the only receiver spec'ed at 1khz instead of the 20-20khz like the higher models. that and a 280w max consumption.
i figure this is a 2 x 50w amp at 20-20?

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i also like the old blue master volume knob light (it's white now)

 

[j_garcia]

50W real world sounds about right and would be inline with what their older 1xx series were doing back when they were doing well and they also just gave the actual rating of 50W for a 50W receiver Since HDMI may not show up on stereo receivers right away (if at all), it does seem like a good deal.

 

[anamorphic96]

HK seems to have changed the way they display wattage numbers now. Seems they may be trying to make things look more like the Yamaha,, Onkyo, and Denon's. I would venture to guess this has the same amp section as the previous "1" series had. Your looking at 30 to 35wpc with all channels driven and 40 to 45wpc for two channels driven. Full bandwidth. For that price it's a very good deal.

 

[Alex2507]

i read on another forum ...

You read other forums ?!?

Having bass management for stereo is why I got Jeff's old Yamaha RX-V2600 from him for $350. It also has the power to launch most bookshelves into a lunar orbit.

When I had an H/K AVR 430 as a surround rec'r I would look at amps in the >100watt range with lust. Now that I'm running rec'rs that just put that out on their own, anything with <200watts doesn't excite me ... that much.

So yeah ... for $200 that's almost okay if you don't plan on using it for anything more than to power nearfield monitors. Actually now that I think about it, it's kind of an elegant solution for a small office system. It looks nice plus it doesn't weigh 2000 lbs.

 

[mike c]

yeah, i typed in HK 1565 here and didn't get any hits.

that 2600 looks like a smashing deal, but am unlucky with electronics and moreso with used electronics.
otherwise, the market here is full of 300+ buck receivers, i've sold my old denon receivers for less.

but i've always liked the HK look.

 

[Alex2507]

that 2600 looks like a smashing deal

That price was what an eBay 'completed listings' search produced as an average once you deduct shipping costs.

The thing about the H/K you mentioned that I am sure you're aware of is a lack of pre-outs so you're stuck with what you got power wise.

This thread prompted me to go look at the spec's for my HT rec'r and now I can't wait to get a 2 channel amp hooked up to it for the mains.

It's an Onkyo TX-SR800 rated at 100 watts into 8 Ohms 2 channel driven. I know your market is different and that you're not into used gear BUT the Amazon asking prices indicate that it's worth around $250. I got it for $120 from a pawn shop and it has pre-outs and is THX certified which has meaningful implications regarding the x-over slope. Not that it's important but I could actually make a couple of bucks selling it. So when are you getting the H/K?

For 200 bucks, how could you not? ... providing that it will be enough power for it's intended use.

 

[PENG]

yeah, they should have dropped the color coded binding posts and kept the RCA color coding.

-0-

i read on another forum that these are the "china cheapening" of HK receivers to keep the prices low.

-0-

this is also the only receiver spec'ed at 1khz instead of the 20-20khz like the higher models. that and a 280w max consumption.
i figure this is a 2 x 50w amp at 20-20?

-0-

i also like the old blue master volume knob light (it's white now)

If they specify their "maximum" power consumption like Yamaha, it could mean at 10% THD. This is not new though, HK has been using this term for a few years now probably even before they are made in China.

 

[j_garcia]

The 1650 is at Frys for $249 today.

 

[mike c]

The 1650 is at Frys for $249 today.

great deal ... but starting to pull away from the bang for the buck price range (with shipping added) ... if the budget is upped ...

Harman Kardon - AVR 1700 - NEW5.1-channel, network-connected A/V receiver with AirPlay

there's a 320usd (shipped) HK1700 with HDMI inputs up the wazoo with about 30% more power too (compared to the 1565, but looks to have lesser power than the 1650)

but i'm not digging the new volume control knob

http://www.harmankardon.com/resources//Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductImages/en-US/AVR 1700/AVR1700_005_blk_800.gif

it boasts of:

Control through your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet
A free, downloadable app allows you to transform your smartphone or tablet into an easy-to-use remote control. Compatible with most iOS and Android™ devices, this high-definition graphical user interface gives you full control of your AVR 1700 and all its connected media through the convenience of your favorite portable device.

damn, i'm torn. the 199 thing is such a great deal ... but if i go any model higher, that would mean i don't have to buy now ...

 

[mike c]

and it's official ... they've given up underspec'ing their receivers ... they're now fudging them with 6 ohm specs

Harman Kardon - AVR 700 - NEWA 5.1-channel audio/video receiver with 75W-per-channel output and Dolby and DTS sound

 

[PENG]

and it's official ... they've given up underspec'ing their receivers ... they're now fudging them with 6 ohm specs

Harman Kardon - AVR 700 - NEWA 5.1-channel audio/video receiver with 75W-per-channel output and Dolby and DTS sound

The "maximum" power consumption is only 280W, wonder what the "non maximum" is.

 

[mike c]

1565 198USD shipped
70W per channel, two channels driven @ 8 ohms, 1kHz, <0.9% THD
3 HDMI inputs
'old' volume control

1650 248USD shipped
95W per channel, two channels driven @ 8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz, <0,07% THD
4 HDMI inputs
'old' volume control

1700 320USD shipped
100 watts per channel, two channels driven @ 8 ohms, 1kHz, <0.1% THD
6 HDMI inputs
new volume control

power wise, the 1650 seems to be the best deal.
inputs and connections wise, the 1700 leads.
for the bang for the buck, the 1565 leads.
analysis paralysis.

in case i use it. i plan to run 87db or 84db speakers

edit: frys deal is back

 

[mike c]

just ordered the 1650 for 270 shipped and taxed. (thanks for the tip jgarcia)

when the 1700 series gets a good deal, i'll jump on that in the future.

 

[j_garcia]

That was a good deal on the 1650

Just found this one too. Refurb, but dang that's cheap ($137)

DENON AVR-1513 5.1ch Home Theater Receiver 3D ready | Accessories4less

 

[mike c]

just got an email from frys asking for a scanned copy of my ID/Card.

i sent frys an email verifying if THEY really sent that email. (can't be too sure)

2 emails already, still no reply (used the contact form and frys CS email add)

that's why i wish amazon had this, amazon just loves me