Shop With
Confidence at
The Amazon.com
HDTV SuperStore
 
|  | Home Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 1.3a Repeater | |
|  | |  | | | Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 1.3a Repeater | | | | | SKU:
| | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days | | Only 1 left in stock, order soon! | | | | | | The Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-channel home theater receiver with HDMI 1.3a repeater is an affordable home theater system that gives you more bang for your buck. 7.1-Channel A/V receiver includes HDMI™ switching and audio/video processing. With 350 watts (50 watts x 7 channels) at your fingertips, movies will put you into the heart of the action. This is upscale video without an upscale price. The AVR-254 is Harman Kardon's most affordable receiver and allows you to upscale incoming analog video signals to high-resolution 720p output or select two HDMI™ inputs for audio processing - all with a Simplay HD™-verified, single-wire connection to an HDMI-equipped display. And the sound? Pure Harman Kardon audio, with the clarity possible only with EzSet/EQ™ technology and our high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier design. | | | |
List Price:
| | |
Our Price:
| $669.99 | |
You Save:
| |
| | |
|
| | Product Details | | Product Length: | 15.0 inches | | Product Width: | 17.3 inches | | Product Height: | 6.5 inches | | Product Weight: | 33.3 pounds | | Package Length: | 22.0 inches | | Package Width: | 18.3 inches | | Package Height: | 10.4 inches | | Package Weight: | 33.6 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 62 reviews |
| |
| | Features | Harman-exclusive Logic 7 Movie, Music, and game surround sound processing in 5.1 and 7.1 channelsHDMI 1.3a with Deep Color and Faroudja DCDi Cinema video processing with upscaling to 1080pEzSet/EQ equalization for quick and accurate system setupFull Suite of Dolby surround decoding, including Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital PlusXM Tuner Ready
| |
| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 5 Star Review with Caveats Feb 27, 2010
The specs of this unit are obviously good, but when it came to actual function, I experienced several of the problems detailed throughout the reviews listed on Amazon. After trying the multiple firmware upgrades and still experiencing issues, Harman Kardon agreed to send me a new unit entirely free after over a year of owing the unit. The new box was the AVR2600, which has an additional HDMI port, the ability to add am iPod dock, and 15w more per channel. Not bad at all. And while I have to admit the customer service was a little bit of a roundabout, in the end, I received a product that I can't complain about.
Enjoying the sound Nov 04, 2009
I moved recently and treated that as an excuse to buy a new stereo system to replace the large and aging one that I had previously. The main feature that I was concerned with (aside from sound quality) was HDMI upconverting and switching, as I hoped to do away with the inconvenience of switching two sources all of the time on the TV and receiver.
I paired the receiver with a set of HKTS-18 speakers (a matched set of 5.1 speakers from HK). Setup was nothing out of the ordinary - hook up the sources, speakers, and go. No surprises there. When I turned it on, I was pleased to find that it has a robust on-screen display menu system (showing up on the TV) which makes setting up sources very easy. All I had to do was choose a source, and set the inputs for audio and video on that source. Done! The shortcut method for this is to select a new source, then turn on that source for the first time. The receiver will detect the inputs which just started and automagically set them up as the inputs for that source. It also lets you set default surround sound modes for different content types on each source. Finally, it has an automatic speaker tuning system where you place a microphone (included) near where you will sit when listening and it plays sounds to determine the proper level and tuning (bass, treble, phase, etc.) for each speaker. Very cool.
Because of the easy setup process, I was able to get right down to listening very quickly, and I was very impressed! It sounds crisp and clear at low-to-normal listening volumes, where my older system often sounded muffled. The subwoofer also sounded nice and level at low volumes, and blended well with the smaller satellites, which doesn't always happen with 5.1 systems. Some of this is because of the speakers themselves, but the crossover and auto tuning in the receiver also gets some credit for the smooth transition. I tried out some of the Logic 7 stereo upmixing filters and found them to be okay, but nothing special. For watching stereo TV, though, the movie mode works fine, and sound a bit better than simple stereo since it pulls out the voices and directs them to the center channel. Nothing that ProLogic doesn't already do, but they're not bad. On surround sound sources (blu-ray, dvd, etc.) it sounds fantastic! It can apparently do downmixing, too, but I haven't tried it. Over the weekend I threw a party and cranked up the system for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised by its performance at higher volumes. At only 50 watts/channel, I didn't expect it to really pump out dance music over a crowd, but it did an admirable job, and with no noticable distortion. I didn't even have to get it all the way up to full volume for it to be heard loudly over the crowd of 25 or so people dancing and chatting in the apartment.
The only slight annoyance that I have found with the receiver has to do with the HDMI support. I have a Motorola cable box, and from time to time the sound would cut out, forcing me to switch sources to get it back. After reading several pages on the internet about this, I thought I might need to upgrade the firmware on the receiver, but I already had the latest version. After looking around a bit more, I found out that the particular model of cable box that I have has issues with HDMI handshaking when changing channels. Ridiculous! So I hooked it up with component and optical audio instead and have had no problems since. Because the cable is only 1080i anyway, there's no loss in quality. That's the only problem I've had - everything else has been fantastic!
 good when works... that is not often Sep 19, 2009
it was my second HK, first a 247 replaced by the 254. problems in software and lost of image and sound. by HK CS i sent the receiver to HK service... for what... same issues.
Now the receiver is in a box in the basement... and a Denon 889 is taking care of the HT.
the HK has a very good sound and more power than the Denon... when works... the Denon works every day.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
This Review Section Should Split Into Pre & Post Firmware Update Sep 11, 2009
Simply put, this is a fantastic receiver that was initially released with absolutely horrible firmware which caused a lot of problems. The firmware has since been updated (quite a while ago) and the problems have disappeared. Thus, if this is one of the receivers you're considering, you need not be afraid to buy it. The problems are gone and all that remain are the benefits.
One of the best additions to my home theater Sep 07, 2009
I bought this after my old stereo died finally forcing me into the HD age, and I couldn't be happier with the purchase. It has lots of on screen displays (front panel and TV) as to which input is selcted, the volume, and more. It comes with a microphone which can be used to auto adjust all of the speakers after they've been positioned where you're going to leave them! All of the inputs are customizable: you can change the name and the combination of which audio and video input go together. This confused me a little at first as I'm used to having "TV" and "DVD" and then just plugging in what I want. It has HDMI1 and Optical 1 (etc). Then you go into the menu and say which 2 you want to put together. The receiver upconverts (and downconverts) to whatever level of HDMI you specify, or you can let it autodetect the quality of the monitor.
The remote seems oversized and I would rather have the extra front panel inputs on the back where they could be permanently connected without detracting from appearance.
| |
|
Shop with confidence at the Amazon.com
HDTV & Home Theater SuperStore
|
| |  | |  |
|
Best Sellers - Audio Top Rated Definitive Technology Floorstanding Tower Speakers | | | | | | | | | | Definitive Technology BP7006 120v Tower Speaker (Single, Right Channel, Black) | Definitive Technology BP7006 120v Tower Speaker (Single, Left Channel, Black) | Definitive Technology Mythos ST 120v Supertower Speaker (Single, Black) | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Definitive Technology BP7002 120v Tower Speaker (Single, Left Channel, Black) | Definitive Technology BP7002 120v Tower Speaker (Single, Right Channel, Black) | Definitive Technology BP6 Tower Loudspeaker (Single, Black) | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |
|
Consumer Reports Says Buy Your HDTV at Amazon!
Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2008) -- When it comes to price, Consumer Reports says shoppers are most likely to find the best deals online. And the publication called three ecommerce sites "standouts" in this year's Consumer Reports ratings of electronics stores: Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com and B&H (bhphotovideo.com)
The magazine's survey was based on more than 38,000 purchases of electronics, including flat-screen TVs, between January 2007 and June 2008. The report indicated that online stores consistently offered better prices. (The magazine's full report can be found in its December 2008 issue.)
"Buying online can be better," the magazine said in a press release. "The higher-rated electronics retailers in Consumer Reports annual reader survey are Web sites. Readers who bought online rated their overall satisfaction at 90 out of 100 -- higher than those who bought in a store. Additionally, many Web merchants offer free shipping, even on TVs, which could spare the hassle of struggling to fit a bulky carton in the car or paying a local store for delivery."
Consumer Reports said that while no single retailer scored excellent in all shopping categories, Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com came closest.
purecinema.com is proud to be an Amazon.com SuperStore
|
|
Consumer Reports Says Buy Your HDTV at Amazon!
Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2008) -- When it comes to price, Consumer Reports says shoppers are most likely to find the best deals online. And the publication called three ecommerce sites "standouts" in this year's Consumer Reports ratings of electronics stores: Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com and B&H (bhphotovideo.com)
The magazine's survey was based on more than 38,000 purchases of electronics, including flat-screen TVs, between January 2007 and June 2008. The report indicated that online stores consistently offered better prices. (The magazine's full report can be found in its December 2008 issue.)
"Buying online can be better," the magazine said in a press release. "The higher-rated electronics retailers in Consumer Reports annual reader survey are Web sites. Readers who bought online rated their overall satisfaction at 90 out of 100 -- higher than those who bought in a store. Additionally, many Web merchants offer free shipping, even on TVs, which could spare the hassle of struggling to fit a bulky carton in the car or paying a local store for delivery."
Consumer Reports said that while no single retailer scored excellent in all shopping categories, Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com came closest.
TopRatedHiDef.com is proud to be an Amazon.com SuperStore
|
| You may also like ... Recently Viewed |
