| Brand Name: | Harman Kardon |
Product Specifications
Technical Details
- Dolby Digital/DTS 5.1-channel surround decoding
- Assignable audio-video inputs and outputs
- 5.1-channel analog inputs for DVD-audio or other future formats
- 6 digital inputs
- AM/FM tuner with RDS (Radio Data Service)
Product Details
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Product Description
Amazon.com Review
For those seeking home theater performance a cut above the ordinary, the team of Harman Kardon's Signature Series 2.0 surround processor/tuner and Signature Series 2.1 multichannel amplifier (sold separately) offers superior sound, sophisticated ergonomics, and outstanding build quality.
For its own part, the Signature Series 2.0 processor/tuner--which requires an outboard amplifier for you to listen to it--offers great sound, terrific setup flexibility, and ease of use, though its performance is slanted more to audiophiles than videophiles. It handles decoding for all the major surround formats--Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, and DTS. In addition, the Signature Series 2.0 offers 5.1-channel analog inputs for newer surround formats, such as DVD-audio, where the decoding can take place in your source component. This processor even includes an RS-232 serial port for interfacing with home automation systems.
Most receivers present a fascia loaded with knobs, buttons, and blinking lights. The 2.0's front panel is refreshingly simple: there's a large volume knob, three sets of large push buttons (which let you scroll through your inputs, surround modes, and AM/FM stations), a mute button, a power on/off button, and a large LED screen.
Unlike conventional preamplifier/processors and receivers, which preassign the inputs (CD, DVD, etc.), the 2.0 features six source "positions" that you can configure and custom name to meet your particular needs. The 2.0 comes factory-configured for the most common associated equipment, but you can easily alter them. (There's no phono input, so you'll need an outboard phono stage to listen to LPs.)
You can set the video input, audio input, surround mode, bass/treble setting, and subwoofer level for each of your source components via the remote or the front panel. Once you configure the system's simple onscreen menu, using the 2.0 is as easy as pushing a single button. You can also make temporary modifications to your settings from the remote. These changes automatically cancel when you change sources or turn the unit off.
The 2.0's flexibility also includes a left/right and front/rear balance control plus various center-channel and movie modes. Of course it offers a "bass management" system, which allows you to route audio below 100 Hz from all five channels to a separate powered subwoofer, if you choose.
The tuner includes Radio Data Service (RDS), which automatically displays call letters, station type, and other information sent by stations supporting that system. You can also name stations manually.
While the 2.0 generously offers six analog and six digital (four coaxial and two optical) inputs as well as six composite video inputs, there are only two S-video inputs and no component video inputs or outputs--which is a problem if you want the highest quality video from DVD and HDTV. Furthermore, the 2.0 offers no digital outputs for recording to CD-R or minidisc. If you have a laserdisc player that outputs a Dolby Digital AC-3 RF signal, you'll need to add an outboard demodulator for that.
The 2.0's learning remote is not backlit, and most of the buttons are the same size, but the layout is logical and reasonably easy to use in the dark.
Despite its video-switching limitations, the Harman Kardon Signature Series 2.0 is an extremely well-built product that looks and feels solid and operates flawlessly. Connect it to a high-quality five-channel amplifier such as Harman's Signature Series 2.1 and you'll quickly appreciate the 2.0's smooth and relaxed yet detailed low-distortion sound.
As is often the case with matching components, the 2.0's sound perfectly complements the liquid sound of the Signature Series 2.1 multichannel amplifier. Put the two together and you have a synergistic combination that sounds better than either piece by itself. That said, if you're thinking about adding one of these units to your existing system, either works great with many other brands of preamp/processor or amplifier.
Pros:
- Flexible setup and customization
- 5.1-channel direct analog input for DVD-audio or other future formats
- 7 input positions, multiple analog and digital inputs
- RDS tuner with 30 station presets
- High build quality
- Exceptional sound quality with dead-silent backgrounds
Cons:
- Only 2 S-video inputs, no component video inputs or outputs
- No RF demodulator for AC-3 laserdisc playback
- Non-backlit remote
- No phono input
Amazon.com Product Description
Signature Series(tm) by Harman Kardon represents the finest expression of Power for the Digital Revolution(tm) product design. Each Signature component is engineered for maximum versatility and visual and operational elegance. Most importantly, each Signature Series component delivers uncompromising reproduction of even the most dynamic digital audio and audio/video recordings.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you want the bst audio experience,
By "paulsreview" (Kansas City) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Harman Kardon Signature Series 2.0 Surround-Sound Processor/Tuner (Electronics)
This is simply the best audio processor I have owned (Denon and Onkyo pale by comparison) This receiver has ample Coax, Fiber, s-video, and RCA connections. (Sadly no composite video). You can create absolutely perfect reproductions with the onscreen programming. Each channel of sound coming in lists if its to low, high or reference. You adjust the gain so that each audio channel is staying within refernece (For instance my VCR is +22, the CD player is -5) In addition you can use any audio and any video source at the same time - say your listening to a CD and want to watch DSS or DVD, no problem. You set the distance from the listener to the speakers, so the speakers have the correct volume. You also have 6 channel input as well. The finest DSP you can purchase
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great sound and flexibility,
By
This review is from: Harman Kardon Signature Series 2.0 Surround-Sound Processor/Tuner (Electronics)
I bought a Sig 2.0/2.1 combo because my speakers are 25 years old, the size of small coffins, and have low impeadances. They love current. Even with 45 amps of current, the protection circuits in my old HK AVR500 would kick in under heavy (i.e., cranked to the max) loads, and shut the unit off.
SO, I decided to purchase a Sig 2.0 preamp and 2.1 amplifier. The total price was about the same as as HK's equivalent receiver. That makes it a very good deal. IMPRESSIONS: Sound: The 2.1 amp is beautiful. It blows away the amps in my Harman Kardon AVR500, which itself sounds really good. The 2.0 preamp also sounds better, but not to the same degree. It is a bit dry sounding, but very clean, articulate and uncolored. This is truly a high end audiophile piece of equipment, built in the US by Madrigal, the division of Harman Kardon which makes Mark Levinson and other high priced, high end audio equipment. It appears to use many of the same components. I did an a/b comparison between the 6 channel out my JVC DVD-Audio player and the HK. I also did an a/b comparison with a Sony SACD/DVD player and a Yamaha C-750 universal player. The HK's processors are noticably better sounding on PCM, DTS and Dolby Digital sources than the direct 6 channel outputs on these truly good sounding and well reviewed pieces of equipment. The Good: The tuner has very good reception and sound with lots of presets and RDS, which displays text information sent by some radio stations. The unit has lots of inputs (6 pair stereo RCA, 4 dig. coax, 2 optical, 6 channel direct, 6 component video, 2 s-video) and outputs, and has exceptionally good configurability. Analog inputs can be balanced so that when going from one source to the next, the volume stays the same. It also has lots of processing modes: Pro Logic, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Late Nite, Dolby Digital Mono, Mono Plus, four music modes and four movie modes. (However, lack of ability to control delay time between front and surround channels). (It is several years out of date, so it does not have ProLogic II.) Oh! It also has plain stereo. And, it looks good with an uncluttered industrial black aluminum appearance. It is solid and weighs 22 lbs, as much as many AV receivers. On the downside: It has poor bass management, a cheap universal remote control which is not backlit and which learns from other remotes, but has no built in programmable codes. There is no phono section. The unit makes a little squeeking noise every time my cd changes a track letting me know it figured out the format of the digital source material. The internal DACs do not feed to tape out. The implementation of Pro Logic leaves the music a bit blurred. Finally, HK went for looks rather than putting enough functional buttons on front. Wish list - A sleep timer. Overall, a really good product. Strengths: Very good sound quality, excelent value, lots of inputs and outputs and surround modes Weaknesses: Cheap remote which is not backlit, no phono section.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic front end for your surround system!,
By Phil P (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Harman Kardon Signature Series 2.0 Surround-Sound Processor/Tuner (Electronics)
If you are like me and find yourself with a surround system cobbled together from a collection of amplifiers and speakers, but don't have a good way to bring it all together...look no further! Don't replace all those amps with an "all in one box" surround system just because it's a hassle balancing all those descrete channels...The Signature 2.0 processor/tuner/preamp is just what you need. It has an analog 6 channel input for your DVD Audio player, digital inputs, optical inputs, S-video outputs, it's all here... And talk about quiet? This preamp is absolutely silent. Maximum flexibility in assigning inputs, no changing cables, just reroute them via menu (onscreen or front panel) control! The onboard processors are as smooth as silk, and the built-in effects (to add surround depth to stereo CDs) are subtle and never gimmicy. HK spent alot of time on this one! It is super. There is only one thing about this unit that I have to work around...the remote sensor in the front panel is rather narrow sighted and I find myself almost out of range a fair part of the time;whos living room is a perfect listening room? I will have to add an IR remote sensor to compensate. Please note that this is a deep cabnet, and it is heavy. Over-engineered it seems, since the power supply is clearly big enough to handle the consumption of this unit. The perfect solution for those of you who want to use a couple of stereo systems in combination for a surround sound system! You will love it!
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