Harman Kardon AVR 500 Dolby Digital/DTS Audio/Video Receiver

by Harman Kardon

Product Details

Product Manual [518kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 17.5 x 6.5 inches ; 34 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 38 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: B0000300EF
• Item model number: AVR 500
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,929 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

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:

• Sound quality rivals separates
• Excellent build quality
• Loaded with features
• Controls are easy to navigate

Cons:

• Lengthy set-up procedure
• No phono input

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still GREAT After 1 Year!, August 29, 2000

By 

Rob "k_mann" (Vancouver, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon AVR 500 Dolby Digital/DTS Audio/Video Receiver (Electronics)

It runs on 45 amps. Simply put this is the number you should be looking at. Other receivers at higher price points run less amps compensating with more watts. I auditioned an Onkyo (36 amps I think & 105 watts/channel) with the HK AVR500 (45 amps & 80 watts/channel). At the same volume level, the HK blows away the competition with rich, full sound.

The pros outweigh any of the cons with this unit. As with all HK products, this particular unit is very sleek and elegant looking. The surround modes are easy to setup using on-screen menus which also allow for plenty of customization. As for the remote, I've seen better but this one does allow for macros permitting you to turn-on your entire system with the touch of one button. And again, this unit sounds GREAT with all inputs including cassette, CD, DVD, VHS, and cable producing very vivid and accurate sound.

Now for the cons... ...this model lacks many of the surround modes (theater, cinema, auditorium, arena etc) that other systems have. My personal feeling is that this is not necessarily a con. I don't need all of these other "processed" modes but it may be something you like. I have just replaced a Dolby ProLogic receiver that had all of these extra modes which, after playing with them at first, I forgot about and never utilized for many years. It does have Pro Logic, Dolby Digital and DTS which are all essential.

Please let the following con pay tribute to the outstanding output of this unit. The AVR500 does not have an input for phono. I love my vinyl and have hundreds of albums. Because of this I almost decided to purchase the Onkyo which included a line-level input for phono. The HK's sound was SO convincing that I opted to retire my turntable to the closet (I have since hooked it up to a separate amp).

There you have it, my thoughts on the AVR500. I hope my review has helped and I wish you the best on your search for a receiver.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Harman Kardon AVR500, June 17, 2000

By 

Ryan Huntington (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon AVR 500 Dolby Digital/DTS Audio/Video Receiver (Electronics)

I have owned this reciever for 6mo and love the quality of sound it produces. It performes equally well in both stereo and cinema modes. my reciever was one of the early serial numbers so I have had to have the volume control replaced, eratic volume control was a problem on the first AVR500's. This reciever is very flexible with many analog, digital, coax, and s-video plugs. I would have given this reciever a 5 Star rating if I didn't have to have it in the shop for a month!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seriously consider this AVR, December 4, 2000

By 

"rory00" (Powell, WY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harman Kardon AVR 500 Dolby Digital/DTS Audio/Video Receiver (Electronics)

I purchased this amp/receiver about a month ago and had it hooked up the night it arrived. The setup is kind of confusing at first but once you figure it out (what the manual is saying) it isn't too much trouble. I am a big believer in amps over watts because you can create high watts with low amps and hence no sound but if you reverse the order; high amps and low watts the neighbors come a knocking. I also like to be able to "feel" my sound ie. the rumble of a tornado in the movie Twister. This receiver does/has all of this and more. The one con I have for this receiver is that it is short of inputs by 2. 1 is phono which I don't listen to alot so it wasn't a big con. The 2nd missing input is one for my satelite which has digital outputs which would have been nice to hook up but this was overcome by entering through the VCR. Oh well can't have everything on a buget. Overall this is one of the best AVR's I have seen for the price. If you like the artificial sound stages of other systems then don't buy this AVR but if you want the sound that came with the DVD, CD or Tape then this one is for you. You won't complain about the price when you get it set up.