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CNET editors' take
- Published on: 05/30/2008
Harman Kardon AVR 354
While most audio manufacturers trot out a new line of AV receivers every year, Harman Kardon generally sits out of the "feature war" and lets its models stay in the product line longer. That's why it's a big deal that the company has announced three new receivers, bringing many cutting-edge features that were previously missing from the company's lineup. As always, these new receivers have Harman's typically refined look, and now that some of the models include updated features--like high-resolution audio decoding, a high-def graphical user interface, and video upconversion--you won't have to settle for beauty without brains. Let's take an in-depth look at the new line.
Harman Kardon 154
(Credit:
Harman Kardon)
Key features of the Harman Kardon 154:
- 5.1 channels, 30 watts per channel
- Three HDMI 1.3a inputs
- Standard Dolby Digital and DTS decoding
- Two component video inputs
- Five digital audio inputs (two optical, three coaxial)
- Source input renaming
- No onscreen display with HDMI, standard-def menus
- $400 list price, available in July
- Read the full user manual (PDF)
Harman Kardon 254
(Credit:
Harman Kardon)
Step-up features on the Harman Kardon 254:
- 7.1 channels, 50 watts per channel
- Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding
- Faroudja DCDi Cinema video processing, with upconversion to 1080p
- High-definition user interace
- Automatic speaker calibration
- XM-ready
- $600 list price, available now
- Read the full user manual (PDF)
Harman Kardon 354
(Credit:
Harman Kardon)
Step-up features on the Harman Kardon 354:
- 7.1 channels, 75 watts per channel
- Three component video inputs
- Six digital audio inputs (three optical, three coaxial)
- Includes The Bridge II docking station for iPod
- $800 list price, available now
- Read the full user manual (PDF)
Don't get spooked that the watts-per-channel specs on these receivers seem low. While other manufacturers tend to inflate their power ratings, Harman Kardon sticks to real-world numbers--in other words, Harman Kardon's 30-watt receiver may sound just as loud as another company's "100-watt" receiver.
Overall, these receivers are a big improvement over the existing models, but they'll face an uphill battle versus the competition. Onkyo's TX-SR606 has most of the same features as the Harmon Kardon 254--plus it has four HDMI inputs--and it's currently selling online for about $440. Sony is also offering four HDMI inputs in the midrange level, and the STR-DG820 only costs $400.
Of course, Harman Kardon fans have always trumpeted the brand's excellent sound, but we'll have to wait until we get our hands on a review sample to do a comparison. Harman Kardon also puts a big emphasis on making products easy to use, and we have to admit that the company's manuals are a cut above the competition.
Where to buy
Harman/Kardon AVR 254:
$459.99 - $589.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Amazon.com Marketplace
|
$589.99 | Yes |
|
|
$459.99 | Yes |
|
