Check out AT&T's FREE camera phones
-
CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews
- See all user reviews
Product summary
The good: Above-average sound; very high-quality digital-to-analog converters; six digital inputs; Stereo Direct analog-bypass mode; two-year parts-and-labor warranty.
The bad: No A/B speaker switching; lacks phono input; no onscreen display.
The bottom line: This receiver offers a glimpse of high-end sound quality for a real-world price.
Specifications: Product type: AV receiver; Sound output mode: Surround Sound; Amplifier total output power: 225 Watt; See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 07/16/2002
Entry-level receiver with high-end sound
The AVR 125 is HK's least expensive receiver, but the company didn't scrimp on build quality. Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS 5.1 surround decoding are handled by the sort of leading-edge, 192KHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converter that we usually see in more expensive components. Fussy audiophiles can bypass the converter by selecting the Stereo Direct mode for external analog sources, an option that most comparable receivers don't offer. The high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier section incorporates discrete output devices; power is rated at 45 watts into each of the five channels.
OK, HK deleted a few standard features, such as a phono input, component-video connections, and A/B speaker switching, but the six digital inputs and the fully adequate video/audio connectivity options should satisfy most buyers. There's a set of analog inputs for hooking up a DVD-Audio (DVD-A) or a Super Audio CD player. Front-panel digital and A/V inputs are ideally situated for gamers and video-camera users, and the color-coded speaker connectors should reduce the possibility of mixing up cable hookups. We also loved the AVR 125's easy-to-use front-panel-mounted bass and treble controls.
The receiver lacks an onscreen display, so we relied on the unit's front panel for information. Luckily, everything about the setup procedure was easy to understand and fairly intuitive. If you have large left- and right-front speakers, you may want to take advantage of the AVR 125's Advanced Digital Bass Manager, which allows you to send the LFE/subwoofer channel signals to the front speakers in addition to the subwoofer.
A quick note about the remote: The slender, preprogrammed clicker is partially backlit, and its different-sized and -shaped buttons are nicely organized.
Open your ears
The Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense DVD sounded very right--the band's rock-solid rhythms pulsed out of our reference Dynaudio Contour speakers with the sort of gusto that we associate with more powerful and pricier components. Detail resolution and air were excellent. Very dynamic DVDs such as Saving Private Ryan did reveal the AVR 125's power limitations but only when we played the system at fairly high levels.
Continue reading
User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
