Official Harman Kardon AVR 1600/2600/3600 owner's thread - Page 2

It seems that it usally the same people complaining over and over, I've had my 354 for over a year and after two FW updates still trouble free! And I even have the dreaded PS3 connected via HDMI

hey guys just got my 1600, unpacking it now and will give you my impressions on it soon (upgrading from the AVR 154).

I am kinda confused that the manual said that the receivers power is 35 watts x7 ? The harman kardon website says 50w per channel and so does all online manufacturers specifications.

just got off the phone with a harman kardon representative to ask him the real power of the 1600 and he said hes not even sure but that he thinks its 35 watts per channel.

Now im kinda pissed since all the websites dont mention this receiver having 35 watts per channel and say that its 50 watts. he even said he was going to inform this info to the development team? wtf is this? am I like the first one to notice this $hit?

Quick heads up to all you interested in the 1600.. a harman kardon rep just called me back and got an email from the development team stating that the receiver is not 50 watts per channel but 35w. He said that the websites and even their website havent updated this...bad start for their new receivers.Thinking of returning it now

Just a quick question guys, the harman kardon rep told me that i would notice a pretty big difference in loudness from the 1600 35w's to the 2600 65w's (considering the 2600 list of watts is even correct). what do you guys think? I dont know wheter to return the 1600 and get the 2600.

Just unpacked my 3600... working on setting it up now.

Anybody have questions or information they need before pulling the trigger on one?

The step-ups of the 2600 over the 1600 are significant, alot more than just output power..

• Faroujda Processor/Scaler for Deep Color
• HD GUI/OSD and Alpha-Blend capability
• 1 more HDMI Port
• Dolby Volume
• iPod/Bridge III Connector
• Zone II Audio

How much power you need depends upon the below:

• Loudspeaker specs for impedance/sensitivity (Brand/Model)
• Listening room size
• Type of source material
• Average listening level

Just my $0.015...

yeah I have one. What wattage per channel does it say on the manual?

Regarding the HK 1600 power output specs, the HK website also calls the AVR as 5.1
where it really is 7.1..
Suggest that you double check your questions with somebody higher up @ HK that is more familiar about their features and specs..

Just my $0.015...

85 Watts x 7 channels.

well i wont bother you guys much anymore lol but after testing the 1600 via my ps3 and hdmi i am dissapointed. Im getting ALOT of audio dropouts especially when im scrolling the menu i hear no clicking sounds. whenever i load a game my screen (samsung LN46A650) distorts and i hear loud popping sounds from my speakers. They sound like theyare going to break or something...

Anyways, I was kinda hoping for a smooth experience and didn't get it. After hearing horror stories from the 254's and 354's im not willing to take a risk and "wait" for firmware updates. I hope you guys have better luck with the 2600 /3600.

this is exactly what i didn't want to hear.
if there are any positive experiences, i'm listening... thanks!

Any experience with the iPod syncing? One of the big reasons I want to go to the 3600 is because the 354 which I sold had horrendously slow iPod interface and wouldn't show videos.

The 3600 includes the Bridge III, and it can handle 720p (component video) from the iPod...

Very awesome..

Just my $0.015...

My 354 shows videos through the iPod interface - it is a bit slow though.

What are the differences between the 3600 and the 3550HD other than five extra watts per channel? Is it worth it to get one over the other, or are they basically the same thing?

• 1 More HDMI port
• Dolby Volume
• Bridge III for iPod/iPhone capability and 720p
• Sirius Radio capabiility

Just my $0.015...

Put in the 3600 last night and I am having all kinds of issues. My DirecTv I get picture but no audio, I think I can fix that just by resetting my box. I get nothing from my PS3 through HDMI, I can get it to work through component but it will only display in 480. The receiver will not let me set the resolution at anything but 480. The HDMI pass through works fine with the DirecTv but nothing with the PS3. I have an older Hitachi plasma with a DVI input and I am using a HDMI to DVI adapter, the tv is capaple of 720P. I wonder if that could be a problem with the display, I am looking into getting a new TV anyway.

I have used Denon for years and I am really disappointed in there last couple of models. I really want to get the H/K 3600 work.

The Bridge III works great.

I'll do some further testing (once I get my @$(@I$@ harmony remote working again) but I have the PS3 set on bypass and it works just fine... and I haven't noticed any audio dropouts like I did before on my AVR347.

You guys keep complaining about audio dropouts. May be I am just lucky, but my HK AVR 745 is rock solid with PS3!!

I originally had it hooked up with the video via HDMI and the audio via optical. Connected via optical, I experience the dropouts, most noticeably when scrolling across the XMB. It wouldnt click the first 2-3 menus, but would pick up down the line somewhere.

Now I have the PS3 -> 3600 via HDMI for both video and audio. The display on the 3600 reads Multi-CH PCM. I tested at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, and 30 second intervals and experienced no dropouts when scrolling across the XMB. Clicked on the first menu change every time.

Excited about there finally being new HK receivers out. I currently have an AVR 247.

The things that interest me the most are:

1) Ability to matrix 5.1 LPCM sent over HDMI to 7.1
2) Ability to pass-through HDMI video untouched

This "Dolby volume" thing seems intriguing too. Is that something that automatically reigns-in overly-loud commercials? If so, I'm sold... that pisses me off SO much!

Now, before... HK had told me that their lowest-end model that offered A above was the 254. I was almost ready to upgrade, except for all the other issues that model had (and its inability to passthrough HDMI video, which mine can actually if I set it to 1080i/p). So I waited. Which is the lowest-model in the above line-up that can do this? I was reading the other posts and it almost sounded like the 7550 but that'd make no sense since that's the top-of-the-line model while before the 254 (which could) was 2nd-cheapest from the bottom.

I used to be able to matrix out 5.1 to 7.1 with DVDs on my 247 but since going Blu-Ray and using LPCM I lost that ability.

Well, I'm pretty sure it's tangerines and oranges here... Mine isn't slow on picking up audio at all from any of the sources I've gone through so far, including my PS3, 360 or DVR.

And before you say I don't know what I'm listening for, I've suffered the past 2+ years with the AVR347 with the dropouts/slow pickups.


All i can do is tell you what I have it set to... if you want, I can snap a picture of the OSD for the setup when I get home from work. I setup the DVD input on the 3600 to handle the PS3. Renamed it to PS3, changed the video and audio source to HDMI 2 and then set the bypass to on. Pretty much that simple. PS3 is set to display 480i, 720p and 1080i only. (Dont have a 1080p TV). All audio formats are checked save for AAC.

I haven't checked the firmware on mine, but I can tell you it was manufactured in August 09.