Customer Reviews
Amazing Quality, hard to set up
First, I am ecstatic with the quality of this receiver. I have 5 Boston Acoustics speakers and a sub-woofer, and when I replaced my 6- year old Yahama, I couldn't believe the difference. My speakers were only producing half of the clarity and definition I now get using this receiver. Handel's Messiah sounds like I am in the room with the orchestra and choir. Any Movies off cable blow me away.
I was able to balance the speakers manually, but I wasted time using the EZ "automatic" setup. After struggling, I found in the back of the manual that H-K recommends using manual setup unless you have 7 speakers. I found the surround sound setup manual to be very disorganized; you will see the same topic in three different places depending how far you have gotten. Some pointers in the back would have helped me during initial setup. I would give this receiver 5 stars, but took one off due to poor user set up documentation. I was able to program the supplied remote for my DVD, but still can't get it to work for my CD player (Sony) or my Cable box (Scientific Atlanta). I have tried every code in the book and it still wont work, and I have polled the components for proper codes using the manual instructions, too.
Why can't H-K spend a morning straightening out the user help manuals and send us all a copy so we can optomize the performance of this terrific system?
great receiver
The avr240 is the entry level receiver from the Harmon Kardon AVR line. It's an upgrade version of avr235 with ipod connection and Ez+ setup.
few good functions I want to mention:
1. speaker bass control: you can specify what type of speaker you have, and the receiver will automatically calcuate bass output level based on the speaker selection.
2. sound delay function. let's say if ur front speakers are 20 feet from you and ur back surround speakers are only 5 feet away from you. this receiver will calculate the delay and compensate the difference. same apply to video processing. this way, you can avoid the lip sync effect that caused by un-synced audio/video output.
3. virtual sound function. only have two speakers installed in ur bed room? this reciever can tweak the output and make the 2 speakers sound more like a surround sound system.
4. very sleek design. unlike the black dull onkyo or dennon receivers, avr 240 is sleek. with silver metal cabinet,shinny black face plate, and exotic blue light, this receiver is very modern looking and pleasant to look at.
5. Ipod connection. i have not tried this function yet since i don't have an ipod. but with the current popularity of ipod, im sure ipod users will appreciate this function.
bad:
1. very complicated menu and remote. it's not a plug and play machine. it took me some time just to figure out how to turn the radio on. Ez+ setup is not that great since you have to re-adjust alot of things if u want to personalize ur system.
2. volume knob is made out of plastic which felt "cheap" and easy to break.
Current set up:
- avr 240 receiver
- Front: Athena speakers 35 - 20,000 +- 3Db
- Surround: Polk audio speakers 60 - 20,000 -3Db
- Plan to purchase a JBL subwoofer
