Harman Kardon AVR 240 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver, Silver

by Harman

Product Details

Product Manual [1.08mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 15 x 6.7 inches ; 30 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 36 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000BOC05I
• Item model number: AVR 240
• Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,793 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Harman Kardon's AVR 240 7.1-channel A/V surround receiver is among the best receivers in its class, as it harnesses many of the company's latest features and technologies to go with its near-universal surround-format compatibility. Internally, the receiver is engineered for extraordinary sonic performance, with an amplifier section that delivers seven channels of high-current (+/-35 amps), wide-bandwidth amplification--50 watts into 8 ohms, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with less than 0.07 percent total harmonic distortion--in addition to employing state-of-the-art 192 kHz/24-bit audio digital-to-analog converters.

Take a closer look at the AVR 240's connections. You can also view the unit's front panel in detail.

The receiver also offers a wide range of digital and matrix surround modes, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx (which provides an expansive, full-range 7.1-channel program from any stereo or 5.1-channel source), DTS, DTS ES Discrete and Matrix, DTS 96/24, and DTS Neo:6. Listeners will also delight in the Virtual Speaker mode, which creates an enveloping sound field when fewer than six speakers are available, and Dolby Headphone, which provides a much more open and realistic presentation through a pair of ordinary headphones.

Adding to the receiver's versatility are such sound-enhancing features as Harman International's exclusive Logic 7 processing in both 5.1 and 7.1 versions, which creates a wider, more enveloping field environment and more defined fly-overs and pans; and VMAx, which uses proprietary processing to create an open, spacious sound field even when only two front speakers are available. The receiver's extensive bass management options, meanwhile, include four separate crossover groupings.

Other receiver essentials include high-bandwidth, HDTV-compatible component video switching with assignable inputs, an onscreen menu and display system with the choice of a blue or black background screen, and compatibility with the Bridge, a Harman Kardon device that works with most iPod models. The Bridge lets you operate your iPod from across the room using the AVR 240's remote control, which has been preprogrammed with several iPod control codes. As a result, listeners can select tracks and navigate most iPod functions, charge the unit, or even view track information on the AVR 240's LED display or onscreen menu.

The receiver's variety of audio and video connections include three wide-bandwidth, HDTV-compatible component video inputs, five S-video and five composite video inputs, and two analog audio inputs. Digital audio options, meanwhile, include three coaxial and three optical audio inputs, including one of each on the front panel. Other jacks range from 6- and 8-channel direct audio inputs to 7.1-channel preamp outputs that accommodate a DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, or universal player.

Anyone that's ever suffered from technology overload when setting up his or her audio/video system can rest easy with the AVR 240. The unit's intuitive onscreen menus coordinate with the system's EzSet/EQ function to provide automated system calibration and room equalization, thus greatly simplifying installation. The resulting speaker output compensates for the effects of a room's acoustics to improve the overall system performance. In tandem with EzSet/EQ--which comes with its own microphone--the AVR 240 also includes a full set of manual configuration settings for those who wish to custom-trim their system even further.

Lastly, the AVR 240 comes with an AM/FM tuner with 30 station presets. The AVR 240 measures 17.3 by 5.9 by 13.8 inches (W x H x D) and carries a two-year warranty on parts and labor.

What's in the Box
AVR 240 receiver, remote control, power cord, AM and FM antennas, EzSet/EQ microphone, user's manual.

Product Description

7.1 Channel Audio/Video Receiver that can hook up to your Ipod for Audio Playback, Control, and Charging.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harman Kardon Sets the Gold Standard, April 11, 2006

By 

Daniel Gordon "Video guru" (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harman Kardon AVR 240 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver, Silver (Electronics)

The Harman Kardon Avr 240 sounds excellent. 50 watts per channel may not seem like a lot to those who rate receivers based on how much wattage they output. However, Harman Kardon uses power more efficiently than other companies.
Watts per channel is an incomplete measure of amplifier power. In terms of dynamic range and impact, it's current that counts. High current capability is an overall design approach encompassing everything from transformer design and storage capacitor size to discrete output circuitry and minimal use of negative feedback. This electronic equivalent of a high-torque, high-displacement racing engine results in audible benefits. You enjoy tighter bass, superb transient response and enhanced presence at any volume level.

Taking the receiver out of the box, I first noticed how heavy it is. It's built like a tank. I welcomed this craftsmanship considering other receivers in the store are mass produced junk that don't last. I've seen many other name brand receivers such as Sony that have the knobs come right off with little effort. For the peasant gang members who go to retail stores for their receivers this may be acceptable. For the rest of us that demand the highest quality value, buy Harman Kardon. The sound quality of the AVR 240 is breathtaking.

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony to Harmon...a huge step forward, June 8, 2006

By 

JC "JC" (Seattle, Wa.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harman Kardon AVR 240 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver, Silver (Electronics)

My previous system consisted of the Sony STR -DE698 which powered two polk bookshelves and center with an Onyko sub. I've always been a fan of the Sony brand...but have been consistently disappointed with the reliability and performance of the products in the past five years. In terns of the 698, performance wasn't noticeably lacking until I walked in to a Worst Buy and heard the reproduction of a Yamaha receiver with a sub par three speaker system. To say the least, I repeatedly questioned myself on why I even had a Sony receiver while driving home with my very board girlfriend. So I reacted by researching three different receivers at Amazon- Pioneer VSX-1015TXK 7.1 Channel, Denon Denon AVR-786S 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver, Yamaha HTR-5850 XM-Ready 6.1-Channel A/V Surround Receiver (Black), and of course the HK AVR-240.

The Pioneer and Yamaha looked great due to the fact that they offered THX certification. The Yamaha looked even better when I realized that it offered XM radio (which should be offered on all receivers within the next two years). Those were all great reasons to buy HK's competitors, but I decided to go with the 240 due to the following reasons: 1) Great price at Amazon 2) The overall style 3) Great reviews 4) High current reproduction - 50 watts sounds like 100 watts, or rather a 110 Sony watts = 50 HK watts.

Once I set up the 240 I instantly heard a huge difference of clarity through my center Polk. Instead of repeatedly turning up the volume to hear the dialogue, I could hear a balanced tone of dimensionally through all four speakers. Movies that included crashes and bombs of all sorts seemed to come natural to my four speaker setup through the Dolby vs Ref mode. This mode seemed to turn three speakers into five speakers (adding two invisible side speakers) which created a greater surround feeling within my 1 bedroom apartment.

If anything from my experience, I would consider the Sony as a Datsun and the Harmon as a Mercedes. Just my thoughts....food for thought that will hopefully help in your future buying experience.

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great receiver, January 6, 2006

By 

Brillat-Savarin "david" (houston, texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon AVR 240 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver, Silver (Electronics)

The avr240 is the entry level receiver from the Harmon Kardon AVR line. It's an upgrade version of avr235 with ipod connection and Ez+ setup.

few good functions I want to mention:

1. speaker bass control: you can specify what type of speaker you have, and the receiver will automatically calcuate bass output level based on the speaker selection.

2. sound delay function. let's say if ur front speakers are 20 feet from you and ur back surround speakers are only 5 feet away from you. this receiver will calculate the delay and compensate the difference. same apply to video processing. this way, you can avoid the lip sync effect that caused by un-synced audio/video output.

3. virtual sound function. only have two speakers installed in ur bed room? this reciever can tweak the output and make the 2 speakers sound more like a surround sound system.

4. very sleek design. unlike the black dull onkyo or dennon receivers, avr 240 is sleek. with silver metal cabinet,shinny black face plate, and exotic blue light, this receiver is very modern looking and pleasant to look at.

5. Ipod connection. i have not tried this function yet since i don't have an ipod. but with the current popularity of ipod, im sure ipod users will appreciate this function.

bad:
1. very complicated menu and remote. it's not a plug and play machine. it took me some time just to figure out how to turn the radio on. Ez+ setup is not that great since you have to re-adjust alot of things if u want to personalize ur system.

2. volume knob is made out of plastic which felt "cheap" and easy to break.



Current set up:
- avr 240 receiver
- Front: Athena speakers 35 - 20,000 +- 3Db
- Surround: Polk audio speakers 60 - 20,000 -3Db
- Plan to purchase a JBL subwoofer