Video Receiver

Harman Kardon AVR 500 Dolby Digital/DTS Audio/Video Receiver
Manufacturer: Harman Kardon
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Harman Kardon's AVR 500 combines excellence with ease of use. Harman Kardon has long been known for their clean sounding high current amplifiers and stylish designs. They are able to brilliantly integrate these features into an easy-to-use high-performance machine. At 70 watts of high-current power to all 5 channels, this receiver has plenty of juice to produce incredible, room-shaking surround sound while still being able to deliver crisp, clear music and vocals. The high current design and ultrawide-bandwidth make for increased load capacity, better peak and valley reproduction, and flat-out better sound. Hearing is believing, and the AVR 500 effortlessly proves that to be true. Harman Kardon stays on top of cutting-edge technology, by adding features such as Logic 7 Cinema and Surround Modes and VMAx Virtual Surround Sound. Logic 7 Cinema and Music Surround was developed for creating multi-channel surround playback from two-channel sources, such as music. VMAx, Virtual Multi Axis Sound, recreates a realistic, multi-channel effect from any source by simulating a large "sweet spot". VMAx technology is currently being used in some virtual reality games - it enables the listener to place themselves as close or as far from their speakers, while still receiving the full effect of the sound. Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital and DTS are also on board, allowing you to decode virtually any source out there. As one of the newest members of the Harman Kardon family, the AVR 500 easily earns its place in the ranks as a winner. By combining new technology and features with their reputable standards of phenomenal sound and user-friendliness, Harman Kardon has done it again.
Amazon.com Review
Harman Kardon's AVR 500 is a shining example of a fine audio-video (AV) receiver with superb sound. In addition to standard Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby Digital surround decoding, the AVR 500 also comes with built-in DTS (Digital Theater Sound) decoding as well as Harman Kardon's proprietary Logic 7 and VMAx surround modes. Most importantly, though, the AVR 500 is simply a superb sounding receiver.

For example, with CDs the AVR 500 presents a big, natural window on the music. The qualities we expect from separates (preamplifier and amplifier components) but don't usually get from integrated receivers abound here: a wonderful sense of air and ambiance; complex layers of rich harmonics; a beautiful nuance in vocal delivery; wide dynamics and subtle microdynamics; smooth, extended high frequencies; and a bottom end that is at once powerful and well defined and never muddy.

Surround decoding of Dolby Digital- and DTS-encoded discs, performed by 24-bit, 96-kHz Crystal DSP (digital signal processing) circuits, is just as impressive. The AVR 500 creates one of the most convincing and enveloping soundscapes we've heard from a receiver, rivaling the performance of many fine (and pricey) configurations of separates.

Unlike most of the overhyped proprietary DSP modes out there, Harman Kardon's own Logic 7 (multichannel) and VMAx (two-channel) surround modes work extremely well, in most cases audibly improving regularly decoded, discrete source material (such as Dolby Digital and DTS)--which is no small feat. Logic 7 also instantaneously generates 5.1-channel information from two-channel material from CDs, television, VHS tapes, and other sources, letting you take full advantage of your surround system.

Setting up the AVR 500 is--not surprisingly--a complex and time-consuming effort, but one that pays off. To its credit, the unit boasts a terrific onscreen display menu for setup, one of the best owner's manuals we've seen, and an uncluttered, full-function, illuminated remote control.

Although the AVR 500's price is higher than that of the average AV receiver, its performance is anything but average. In this case, the extra money buys you one of the most dynamic and satisfying receivers we know of.

Pros: