Home > Consumer Reviews > Harman Kardon AVR320 Audio/Video Receiver

This is a very good receiver if you know how to use it.
Sound is very clean. Harman Kardon's 55 watts rate is
very consertive, it has more than enough power for my
need.

When I started shopping, I bought Onkyo 600 first (mainly
attracted by its 80 watts rating, and 6 channel output).
However, after listen to Onkyo for a couple weeks, I am not
satisfied with Onkyo's sound quality, so I purchased this one.
This receiver sounds much better than Onkyo. It produces much
cleaner sound. Finally, I returned Onkyo and kept this one.

I am using a pair of JBL S38-II as my main speakers. If you
can't hear the difference between this receiver and other
cheaper receivers, you are probably using not-so-good speakers.
If so, upgrade the speaker and hear the difference.

This receiver do have weakness though. It is not easy to use.
It takes me quite a while to get familiar with the remote and
the control buttons on the receiver. Even after I am familiar
with the remote, I would still say the remote is not easy to
use. Harman Kardon needs to improve its egnomics design.

I find it hard to read some reviews that compare this HK to a SONY or (arrghh) RCA receiver and find them in the same ballpark. With the high current capability and wide bandwidth response, this receiver SOARS above your BEST BUY receivers. Even with mid-priced speakers, the sound this amp reproduces is definitely high end. 55 watts/channel fills my theater room through 2 JBL L-100 Century's, AR center and surrounds and a modest (100w/12") KLH sub. Remote sucks as stated above, and MADE IN CHINA on back doesn't leave me feeling warm, but this has a gorgeous full sound you won't find with anything less than separates or a high end Onkyo or Denon, IMHO.

I bought this item off of review and recommendations, and couldnt be happier. it has many more inputs and outputs than i could ever use, an easy to read display, and relatively simple controls. the onyl drawbacks, in my opinion, are the main remote control, which is more cluttered than my dorm room. second, for 699 they should bump the power up from 55x5 to at least 100x5. now, i understand that for a lot of people 55x5 is enough, personally, it is enough for me, but only because is have it hooked up to a pair of wharfedale atlantic 400 towers, and in the rear jbl n24IIs. also, the so called learning remote doesnt seem to want to learn everything, as i cant get it to learn the functions of my keyspan DMR.

It does strange things sometimes, and the latest dissappointment comes when I am playing a DVD, and pressing PAUSE or REWIND causes the amp to reset it's audio mode to 5 CHANNEL STEREO instead of Dolby Digital for no apparent reason. There are many quirky problems like this for me and my HK. It's a shame I'm stuck with it till I can get a new one, which will bear a name rhyming with PONY. I think HK used to be a staunch competitor, but now it seems they just don't put any thought into how users will interact with thier products. This amp is downright confusing, not user friendly, and DEFIANT to my commands. I'm familiar with tech toys, and this is my white whale, elusive. Many functions you will try to make work, and for some grand set of circumstances, they will not. You'll read and read, and discover the answer eventually; "oh I get it, this will not work unless this is exactly so" and so on. Simple features become exhaustive, and you will harbor BUYER'S REMORSE. AVOID HK.

I suppose this receiver may be acceptable for a small or noise restricted viewing area. The sound quality and presence is excellent although realism is far out of it's reach due to amplification wattage limitations. The difference between this receiver and even RCAs' now superceded, outdated RT2300 is like night and day. My older RCA receiver has twice the power, the same reproductions specs., 2 main speakers, 1 center, 2 surround, and a 100watt powered subwoofer; FOR THE SAME PRICE!
Now, also take into account the fact prices are dropping with length of time on the market, proliferation, and competition!
I felt severly ...[over charged]concerning My Harmon Kardon purchase.
I sold it in a yard sale for ...[undisclosed dollar amount] and considered myself lucky.
I am now the proud owner of a new RCA RT Series System. Pick any new RCA home theater package 100watts or better and you'll be Thrilled with your purchase and amazed at the realism & quality. You'll also have money left for POPCORN!

Jimmy Dickens/ Future Marketing Concepts/