Harman Kordon AVR 635 - Speakers?

[sdmoel]

I am helping a friend set up a new home theater system. I am getting a “Harman Kordon AVR 635” receiver and want to set up a 6.1 surround. I am trying to find the best sound quality at a smaller speaker size (don’t really want to sacrifice sound quality for size though, even though he is leaning toward a Bose cube size if possible). I heard infinity complements the Harman Kordon receiver brand well. I tried the infinity, Polk, and Bose cubes the other night. I thought the Bose speakers sounded best, but reading a couple message boards leads me to believe that Bose is not well liked around the audio community? If anyone has suggestions that will give me the best bang for the buck, I would appreciate it. I am looking around the $1200 to $1400 range which includes a sub and a 6.1 set up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[armaraas]

Is there a reason why you are looking at 6.1 and not 7.1?
In my HK 235 manual it states that it is not recommended to use the receiver in a 6.1 setup, only 5.1 or 7.1. You may want to check the 635 manual online, but I bet they say the same thing about the 635. I know this doesn't help with the speakers, but something you should consider.

 

[sdmoel]

Just to save a little $ since there aren't any mediums that incorporate 7.1 at the moment (or am I wrong?). But come to think of it, if your going to do it, do it right. Compared to what you spend on a system, this is just a little more. Why skimp, right?

 

[armaraas]

Well, that's one way to look at it.

The 7.1 receivers usually have their own proprietary 7.1 format, because as you mentioned there is very little media out there if any that uses it. HK's is Logic 7, I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong. You can use this on any signal coming into the receiver and the receiver will break it down into 7 channels. I have heard good things about it from people who use it and say they won't go back to 5.1. If it receives a 5.1 signal it will create the back 2 channels, if it is a 6.1 it will split the back channel signal into two. However, if you are looking to save money, the thing to do might be to just get 5.1 right now, then later down the road when you have a little more money available buy the final pair of speakers.
If anyone else has anything to add or correct me on feel free.

As for speakers, Infinity and Klipsch are both made by HK as well, so they should go well with the receiver. Klipsch seems to be more hit or miss as far as if people like them. A lot of people feel that Bose charges too much money for their performance and are trying to make extra money off of the name. They may not be the best speakers if you are looking for bang for your buck.
I hope to be getting a 635 later this year, and at that time I will probably look at Infinity speakers. But in the end all that matters is what you like, so if you're able to listen to the various speakers then get what sounds the best to you for the money. Sorry I couldn't be of more help with the speakers, I have less experience with varities of speakers than I do receivers, which isn't much.

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

Well, been awhile since I stepped atop this particular soapbox...

The idea of certain speakers complementing or having "synergy" with certain receivers/amps is a myth.

The only other criteria for speakers besides their sound quality (meaning mostly accuracy, IMO) are: 1) if they are low impedance speakers (4 ohms) can the receiver safely drive them?; and 2) does the receiver have enough amp power to drive the speakers (or, put another way, are the speakers efficient enough to be driven by the receiver) at the desired level in the intended room?

One could add a third criterion: do the speakers present an unusually difficult load (having wide phase and impedance swings) for an amplifier and is the amp/receiver up to it? But that info is hard to come by and tricky to interpret even if you do have it. If the receiver is rated for 4 ohms you're probably safe with 90% of the speakers out there. "Difficult" speakers tend to be the exotic and expensive ones. Kind of like Italian sports cars.

The HK should be rated to drive either 4 or 8 ohm speakers, but double check on that. I doubt that the HK you're looking at or most comparable competing receivers would be inadequate for all but very inefficient speakers or very large and/or "dead" rooms.

Bottom line: Forget "compatibility" or "synergy". Choose your speakers on the basis of sound and accuracy -- and on rated impedance IF a given receiver/amp is not rated for 4 ohm loads.