- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 15 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
3.5 stars
"Great receiver after firmware updates."
Pros: Offers many different input options, allows video switching from a single source, great 7.1 sound output, relatively easy to setup and program, upscales all video input to 1080p through a single HDMI cable. On screen GUI is a nice touch.
Cons: Updating firmware is an involved process. One more HDMI input would be nice.
Summary: I purchased this unit about a month ago at Best Buy. When I got home it was relatively easy to set up out of the box. After I powered it up I was very pleased with the sound I had coming out of the system; I have a 7.1 setup in my apartment using older, different brands of speakers and I was really surprised at how much better the sound was when comared to the Sony and Onkyo receivers I had used previously. The manual and onscreen GUI made it relatively easy to set up the inputs for the XBOX 360, PS3, Wii and the Comcast Motorola cable box.
After having set everything up and hearing how great everything sounded, I was dissapointed to see that the upscaling from the cable box made some of the images look much worse on my 1080p Westinghouse TV. I also noticed that some of the sounds from my PS3 were missing when operating the XMB. I found out by searching on the web that I would be able to upgrade the firmware, but in order to do so I had to get a serial cable. I found a pretty cheap on on the Internet and ordered it. When it came several days later, I updated the firmware. The firmware updates have definitely helped as problems with the PS3 were fixed. The 1080p upscaling from the cable box has vastly improved as well ; it took much time and effort to fix the HDMI "handshake" issue between the two units. From everything I've read this seems to be an issue related to cable boxes in general.
If this unit had arrived with the most recent firmware update and an extra HDMI input I probably would have rated it higher. Extra HDMI would be nice if I ever decide to hook a computer up to the TV. The firmware update was not terribly complicated, it was just the mater of waiting for the cable and the 45 minutes it took to update after getting the cable. The most aggravating part of setup involved the cable box, but I consider this a cable box problem, not a problem of the receiver.
I love the great sound provided by this system; I also like the fact that I can get input from any video source with only one HDMI cable running to my TV. I am happy with my purchase and it has been an asset to my home entertainment system.
- 2 replies to this review
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The" handshake" issue can easily be fixed by entering the Menu - Settings your particular PVR cable box. 1) Power off PVR, press Menu , must be done on the front panel, not the remote. 2) Press 'Menu" button on front panel. 3) scroll down using buttons on front panel until setting "4:3 OVERRIDE - 480i", change this setting using side arrow to either "OFF" or "STRECH". If you choose "OFF" in SD you will have the side bars, if you choose STRECH , you get full screen...Your choice...The HDMI handshake issues disappear between SD and HD.....
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Can you please tell me how you fixed the HDMI "handshake" issue?
Everything about the receiver is awesome except for the trouble i am having when i switch from an High Def channel to a standard def and vice versa. I would still have audio but would lose the audio. I've upgraded the firmware, exchange the unit for a new one, upgraded the firmware again but it still does it. Please help. Thanks!
Where to buy
Harman/Kardon AVR 254:
$459.99 - $599.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$599.99 | Yes |
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$459.99 | Yes |
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