Customer Reviews

Harman Kardon AVR-154 5x30W 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Harman Kardon offers a no-nonsense approach to style, design and audio expression. I purchased the AVR 154 to complement my audio/video system, which includes: a 1080p, 46" Samsung LCD; Sony PS3, 1080i digital cable box, Dell notebook, and Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 satellite/sub system. My a/v system is set-up in an apartment living room (14' by 16') with vaulted ceilings and the floor is carpeted. My favorite sofa chair is set-up just off-center about 11' from the center speaker and TV, but the receiver has ample features to help me achieve a sweet spot, set crossover points, and control my cable box without moving from my comfy chair.

The receiver's dynamic power output combined with ultra-wide bandwidth and low distortion are a great match for the balanced tonal quality of the Polk satellites. Even with a rating of 30 watts per channel, movies and music have a renewed enjoyment. I selected this audio component specifically, because it has more than adequate power for my speaker system and living space.

My impression when watching Dave Mathews and Tim Reynolds - Live at Radio City Music Hall (Blu-ray) was sheer "awe". Watching and listening to Tim Reynolds pluck away at his acoustic guitar helped me appreciate his musical expertise in a new way; not to mention, Dave Matthews's vocals are splendid during the opening song, "Bartender". When watching BT - This Binary Universe (DVD) in DTS, the artist's electronic expression is revealed in crisp, clear detail and showcased the receiver's ability to accurately reproduce the wide-band frequency spectrum of synthesized sounds. While playing Battlefield - Bad Company, the game comes to life with whizzing bullets, exploding gas tanks, and angry mercenaries in pure Dolby Digital bliss.

To connect my components, I used HDMI cables for video and optical digital cables for audio. This simplified connecting the components and maintained audio fidelity. However, the drawback to this set-up is that I could not program the HDMI 3 remote button to control the digital cable box. I had to program the Vid 2 remote button to control it. Not a big problem, but just slightly annoying, because I wanted to fully utilized the HDMI switching.

In summary, if you just spent an obscene amount of money on a flat panel that has the audio equivalency to a portable laptop, shelling out a few hundred bucks on this receiver to give it a nice home in your living room would not be a bad idea. Or if you are like me, an extreme audiophile with an extremely tight budget, this is a great pick.

I wish I would have bought the AVR 254. The AVR 154 is a very good product, I'm happy with it. However, after I bought the 154, I found out that the 254 upconverts to 1080P, I feature I wish I had. Also, the video inputs must be consistant with the output on the monitor out. IE, HDMI in must be HDMI out. So, I had some s-video inputs, and I had to use s-video out. Kinda a bumper. However, if your strapped for cash and you don't need those features, this is a very good product.

I consider myself an "audiophile" by all rights with my downstairs system costing in the $30-$40,000 price range (although price doesn't necessarily equate to quality but my separate components are amazing and were hand picked over years of trial & error). This receiver though is for my daily upstairs system where the family watches tv and occasionally a movie together during the day or early evening and we do like the sound to be good through our 5.1 "upstairs" system too. When we want to get "serious" about music or movies however we go downstairs!
That's why I was all the more shocked by this relatively inexpensive receiver looking and sounding so good! And even more surprised that I could buy it brand new through Amazon for the same or less cost than similar used or refurb'd systems elsewhere (Ebay, etc). There are lesser priced receivers out there but they are definatly lesser quality too and/or don't have or switch HDMI w/1080p!
I don't particularly like the big Japanese firms receivers with all of their rediculous bells and whistles (like who really flips through 20-30 different sound fields anyway like hall, disco, reverb, ambiance, and whatever else kind of fluff they offer) give me a good upmix of two channels to my five or seven (natural sounding not overly synthesized or mechanical) along with the usual great Dolby Digital and DTS and I'm good (and of course a good six channel analog pass through if using an SACD OR HD DVD source)! And the fact that everyone who goes to Best Buy or Circuit City or Walmart gets "sold" on them there. I almost overlooked the HK AVR's after seeing them in Costco stores (but I've purchased several big screen plasma/LCD's from them and their all great) but I'm glad I took a closer look!
Harmon Kardon has hit the mark perfectly with this receiver the AVR 154. It's an elegant looking receiver which has a high WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) with a very simple uncluttered front face that looks good on or off (unlike the Japanese receivers which seem to have a race to see who can cram more knobs & buttons onto less real estate the quickest).
The rated 30 Watts x 5 channels (which is a very real power designation and you should note the low distortion which is across the whole frequency range of 5Hz-30KHz where many Japanese models will offer their rating only at one frequency like 1KHz or only with the two front channels driven) are plenty for almost any sub & sat combination however if I were using it for full range speakers I might want to look at the next model up which offers 50W x 7 channels (although it might be worth trying the less expensive model first). I replaced an older model Sony ES (Elevated Standard) receiver CD/DVD/SACD player all in one unit (which was rated 110 watts per channel) with the AVR 154 and I could not hear any difference in power to HK's 30 watts per channel! Wow!
My only gripe is that it does not upscale digital video (or on screen display/GUI; this requires a complete separate video connection) such as 480p or 720p to 1080p HDMI although it does a great job of switching or passing the native signals through. For upscaling I need to go up to the next level receiver the AVR 254. Other than this little nuisance it is a very good receiver for not a lot of cash.
I would highly recommend this receiver to anyone who wants a world class receiver on a very limited budget. Great sound, great looks, easy to operate (once set up because the quick start guide and manual are a little confusing)! Highly recommended...
I may try out their higher end AVR 254 and if so I will offer my opinion for you on it too.

Going in I knew this wasn't the high-end Harman/Kardon receiver. However, I figured that since it had an HDMI-out and three HDMI-in jacks, it would be good enough for what I needed. While I do like the customization options regarding video and audio inputs, I was shocked beyond belief to know that this receiver does not support audio through HDMI. I found this out when trying to configure the video/audio inputs. I even called tech support to verify. Any HDMI input requires a separate audio connection! One of the attractions of HDMI technology is that the cable can carry a video and an audio signal, both at pristine quality. So why would an AUDIO receiver not make use of this capability? For me, this receiver was a huge paperweight now, so back to the store it went.

After purchasing a 42" Sharp Aquos LCD, I was looking to add some serious sound, but without going broke. And really, I was trying to find a setup for around $400.

My initial product search was focused on the "home theater in a box" type systems, but after reading countless reviews that recommended purchasing separates, I changed my focus. I'm glad I did. The sound from this thing is amazing. And don't fret about the 30w per channel. Paired up with Polk Audio's RM 6750 speaker system, the AV-154 blasts through my 14' x 18' living room. My wife says it sounds just like being in the movie theater. Gaming is a whole new experience, too. Mission accomplished--quality sound at a total cost (including speakers) just over $400.

So why only 4 stars? The AV-154 can pass through HD video via HDMI cables, but you need separate digital audio hookups for sound. This is my one complaint. I ended up connecting my cable box and PS3 directly to the TV with HDMI cables, and used optical digital cables to connect those items to the AV receiver. A bit of a pain, but I'm very satisfied with the result.

I just bought the AVR-154. Being a H.K. fan from way back I had confidence I was buying an awesome sounding receiver. I wasn't disappointed. For the money it can't be beat. I agree with the other reviews regarding the video switching. Forget about it. Use the receiver as a fine sound instrument. The manual takes a lot of patience and re-reading, and this is from an electrical engineer like myself. I hooked everything up correctly and still had problems. Troubleshoot one thing at a time and you'll fix it by trial and error. If you're not into electronics, buy something simpler to install or hire a "geekster."

This unit has a very clean low distortion rate and delivers very high quality sound, the only negitive is that is not automatic set-up and it is a little complecated to set-up.
This unit makes a very good addition to a home theater and the Harman Kardon AVR-154 delivers very good sound for theater and music buffs.
I would highly recomend it to anyone looking for a low cost but very effective system. I was and is a much better system than Sony,Phillips, Magnavox and others in it's price range.

I have just opened the box and tested this unit, have not had a chance to install. However, it may be a while before I can and this unit certainly deserves some praise. I have been an audio hobbyist for years, as well as a professional musician/production person at night. I build my own speakers, and have regular experience tuning and troubleshooting pro-audio systems in a variety of venues. I favor simplicity over complexity, always cut before boost, etc.. One of those guys that works with music enough that the home system is always a simple, purist approach with older tried-and-true hardware.

So-- I wired the AVR-154 into an old (early 70s) single pioneer 4-way floor speaker. Not even running in stereo. No comb effects. Speaker in the center of the wall. No reflections.

This unit is crystal clear, clean. Lows are pronounced, realistic, full but tight. Highs are not rolled off early, yet are present without any distortion that I can hear. Tight sound. Knowing what it sounds like to stand next to the drums, bass, keyboard, and hear everything happening around me, this receiver gave me a similar feeling. I could hear the instrumentation.

Sure you can run hdmi to it, but whats the point if it doesn't pass audio? Good entry level receiver, however you can find ones with more power for less. You still need to run opticals or coaxials for audio!

this is an awesome product. when they say high power 30 watts per channel, they aren't kidding around, it is easily more than twice as loud as my old rca 100 watt per channel system, and hooked up with some polk audio speakers, there is no comparison in sound quality. the hdmi is purely a pass through, meaning video and sound just go strait through, if you want the sound to go through the 5.1 system, you will have to get it through optical cable or rca type digital cable. all in all I'm very happy with my purchase, price was very reasonable, delivery was fast, and sound quality is excellent.