I just heard about this new flagship Harman Kardon receiver model on engadget and other websites. The only info I have is that it is MSRP $2799 and features Dolby Volume control (normalizes volume from different sources).
So, does this mean the 755 and 754 have been renamed or is this a different beast all together.
Harman Kardon's 7550HD is a 7.2 channel receiver that features Texas Instruments' DA710 audio digital signal processor (DSP) in a dual-DSP implementation.
From what I understand, the Harman/Kardon AVR-7550 HD will be available come January 2009 (and I hope they don't play the delay game like they did the Harman/Kardon AVR-354 back during the summer), and will be priced at $2800.00.
I love the product, but it's a LITTLE too rich for my blood.
Anyone wants to check out this puppy when it finally hits the market in another month and a half or so???
I have my sites set on buying this receiver when it comes out. Several years ago I bought an HK AVR-7200 and loved it. I still have it and it works like new but it does not support HDMI or any of the HD audio formats. Since HK was in between receiver lines last June I bought an Onkyo 875 against my better judgment. It has all the fancy bells and whistles but it just does not have that warm and rich HK sound I desire. Kind of hard to trade up after just buying the Onkyo but if it does not sound the way I want it will drive me nuts forever. I bought the 875 at such a discount its not a huge loss anyway. Plus I can recoup some loss by reselling it.
I bought my HK AVR 745 refurb for under $800. If and when this one gets to that price, consider me in!! I love the 745 but it cannot do 7.1 PCM and has only 2 HDMI inputs and can only pass through 1080i video. I have compensated for some of the short comings by using a HDMi switcher/splitter and am able to get 5.1 PCM and 1080p24 audio for PS3 content.
Instead of licensing for dolby volume, thx2 or dynamic eq would be better money spent. Dolby kinda limit yourself to certain sources, considering many blurays are PCM and DTS.
Goatse - Depending on how HK have implemented it, Dolby Volume isn't limited to processing DD+ and TrueHD bitstreams. You should be able to process all of your sources - TV, Blu-Ray, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatse /forum/post/15141233
Instead of licensing for dolby volume, thx2 or dynamic eq would be better money spent. Dolby kinda limit yourself to certain sources, considering many blurays are PCM and DTS.
Dolby Volume is an IP that can applied to any incoming source stream, analog or digital, stereo or multi-channel. Its primary function is to balance the dynamic range, a source could be: a. A compressed stream from Satellite Radio be it XM or Sirius b. A compressed stream from an iPod or Internet c. A stream from a TV set-top box be it cable, Sat or off-air, think about when surfing the channels some may be loud while others are lower in volume level d. Can be used as a nite mode as well
There are 2 parts of Dolby Volume, 1st part is for controlling the source's dynamic range (volume) and the 2nd part is for frequency response tailoring. Also it works independently for each channel. The Dolby demos done @ CEDIA were incredible.
I am interested, just as long as it is not as buggy as the 745
Anyway, they will screw the buyers in the first year with an excessive MSRP, and then you will be able to buy it after a 1.5 year for around or under 1k.
Quote:
Originally Posted by longhaul747 /forum/post/15140547
I have my sites set on buying this receiver when it comes out. Several years ago I bought an HK AVR-7200 and loved it. I still have it and it works like new but it does not support HDMI or any of the HD audio formats. Since HK was in between receiver lines last June I bought an Onkyo 875 against my better judgment. It has all the fancy bells and whistles but it just does not have that warm and rich HK sound I desire. Kind of hard to trade up after just buying the Onkyo but if it does not sound the way I want it will drive me nuts forever. I bought the 875 at such a discount its not a huge loss anyway. Plus I can recoup some loss by reselling it.
By the way, I have never seen you ask for help on the Audyssey thread. I have seen allot of people complain about the sound of their receiver with Audyssey. Then after going to the thread for help they end up really liking it and state they would never go back to a receiver that didn't have Audyssey room correction
I would give it a try before making statements like you did
Thank you for contacting Harman Kardon. Please note that the AVR7550HD is scheduled to be available in the early summer of 2009. It will appear on our website within a few months, closer to the release date of the product.
oh well, the yamaha is looking better by the minute.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rswelter /forum/post/15625910
Thank you for contacting Harman Kardon. Please note that the AVR7550HD is scheduled to be available in the early summer of 2009. It will appear on our website within a few months, closer to the release date of the product.
oh well, the yamaha is looking better by the minute.
I have used the 745 and the 645 and they are nice but they also have several problems with HDMI audio and do not accept 1080p 24 either.
I would prefer for Harman to stick to a 2 year product cycle in the price bracket of the 660/ 6550HD. To release new models only every 2 1/2 years is problematic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rswelter /forum/post/15625910
Thank you for contacting Harman Kardon. Please note that the AVR7550HD is scheduled to be available in the early summer of 2009. It will appear on our website within a few months, closer to the release date of the product.
oh well, the yamaha is looking better by the minute.
RSWELTER, where did you get this information from? I have seen two different news releases from Harman... one says January 2009, then other winter 2009...
Quote:
Originally Posted by cppatin /forum/post/15657138
RSWELTER, where did you get this information from? I have seen two different news releases from Harman... one says January 2009, then other winter 2009...
The 3550HD is identical to the 7550HD, or so it would seem, but with only 75wpc and a lot less money, I've seen $699. If anyone is using a separate power amp, as I am, then paying for the 110w version is a waste of cash.
Yea...lets keep are fingers crossed that it comes out under $1999. So the loyal HK fans don't get as hosed for when you can buy it under $1k a year later.
Still nothing from Harman Kardons Website ... who knows when this is actually going to come out ... giving HK HDMI issues and other kinks in the past I am curious as to when exactly this will be released. You can't put out a 2 Grand flagship AVR with any issues. I guess Harman has finally decided to follow everyone elses strategy of high end AVRs with the latest tech and then have everything eventually trickle down. Its far easier to get things to work right when you have a huge budget to do it with the first time i suppose.
Anyway, hopefully this can all put Harman Kardon on the right track and catch up to everyone else.
I just purchased a new AVR 3550HD, I tried it with my NAD power amp, I gotta say I feel the straight 3550HD amp sounds warmer even at 75 watts (35 amps) compared to 150 watts of the power amp offers. It is just a differnent kind of sound it was clean with the power amp onboard but the AVR's amp is cleaner to me. I plan to purchase the 7550HD when it drops below $1300, probabally in 2010 I can't see it dropping any sooner, if you want to see large images of the 7550HD goto my website: JG HK Fan
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