Your opinion on 2008 Harman Kardon models

[Footloose301]

I know they're not out yet, but I've always been a fan. Heres their new stuff, pretty well priced too.
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...C&prod=AVR+354

AVR 354.

-HDMI v.1.3
-All the latest codecs.

[Footloose301]

Ahhh, must be nobody here likes Harman Kardon. They are a very nice piece of equipment if I do say so myself. Too bad they're not very powerful

[sokrman14]

All though they say they aren't that powerful, they are all high current and will give you very consistent and clean power ratings. With that being said I am not a fan of HK. They are ugly (in my opinion), hard to use (hardest of the more common brands Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer, Elite, Onkyo, Marantz, etc.), and they don't pack a lot of features. I haven't specifically looked at this years models, but I expect more of the same as they traditionally do.

[fronn]

I have the previous (X47) model and I love it... SQ is great. Power wise I can't say I've felt it lacked. They are rated conservatively (can add at least 30% probably to get single/dual channel wattage that's more comparable to other companies ratings), so even the 354 with 75 it's still probably closer to 100w or more from other companies.

My only complaint about the 47 models were the various bugs. I'm a fan of HK's sound -- at some point I'll probably go for a 354, but it won't be til next year (and that's assuming I don't find a more compelling receiver from another company - I'll probably try out a few).

I wish HK made a wider range of receivers

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by sokrman14

All though they say they aren't that powerful, they are all high current and will give you very consistent and clean power ratings. With that being said I am not a fan of HK. They are ugly (in my opinion), hard to use (hardest of the more common brands Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer, Elite, Onkyo, Marantz, etc.), and they don't pack a lot of features. I haven't specifically looked at this years models, but I expect more of the same as they traditionally do.

Really? You think they're ugly? Wow. I think they are beautiful. I like the really flat/glossy look with the bright blue volume ring.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Really? You think they're ugly? Wow. I think they are beautiful. I like the really flat/glossy look with the bright blue volume ring.

yeah... that's interesting, because I find them very user-friendly, and very asthetically pleasing.....

but I don't dig their sound

[sokrman14]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Really? You think they're ugly? Wow. I think they are beautiful. I like the really flat/glossy look with the bright blue volume ring.

Yeah, I hate their design. I prefer something a little more classic and plain. I don't want it to be the center point of my system, that is for the TV and the speakers. The rest I want to simply perform. The HK's do perform, just not the way I like my system to sound.