HK 990 - anyone heard one - Page 2

I thought this was an integrated amp not a stereo receiver...and yes I would like one also.

No, I am not missing the point. Given the price, and that some people may want to hook up an optical disk player, a basic decoder seems useful. Unless every player can be set to output downmixed two channel PCM - maybe they can and it's not a big deal.

Its target market was the high end 2-channel in Europe, not home theater. There is also a matching CD player with a proprietary interconnect to minimize jitter..

Just my $0.02..

You could be right that prospective buyers don't need/want a DD/DTS decoder. Seems rather pricey though, for the features it has.

Does any manufacturer make a 2 channel integrated amplifier that will decode dts and down mix to 2 channel with the lfe channel intact?

I think it's feature-full. There are plenty of integrated amps that have no way near the features that this offers and cost much more. If you want quibble about price get the HK 3490.

I want to see/read a pro-review and see where they rack and stack it.

Just because it doen't have Lexicon or Levinson* on it doesn't mean that there is a lack of quality. This shouldn't fall in-line with the more mundane HK HT receivers. Resources have been drained producing this one.

*Harman International is the parent company for Revel, JBL, Lexicon, Harman/Kardon, and Mark Levinson

Your getting off track here. ALL Source components have ANALOG out. Use the downmixed 2 Channel out. OR FEED downmixed PCM signals. No need for internal decoding of DD/DTS

I was under the impression the 2 channel analog out or the 2 channel PCM signal would not send the LFE content to the sub in a 2channel scenario.

Does the Parasound P3 have room correction/BM capabilities?

I also dont understand their pricing. A quick web check suggest that they are selling it for 900GBP approx in the UK. That would be $1500.

No but those features are not exactly popular in the 2 ch market like they are in HT. I was pointing to some examples of companies who have been making high quality 2 ch gear for some time and have a great track record. You can get a great brand new setup from them for less than the HK. I think most of people, including me, do not care about those features for a 2 ch setup.

Even if you are liking the digital connections, you could pick up a high quality DAC unit from Emotiva for about $350 that is most likely superior to the DAC inside the HK 990.

Like I said, I like the product and the EQ feature might be a cool thing to play with though I am skeptical that I would implement it. I am just put off by the very high price point. I just upgraded my 2ch setup about a month ago, so I could have been a potential customer. I spent around $1600 for a brand new matching Rotel amp/pre amp. I could argue the advantage to having separates as opposed to an integrated amp when it comes to sound quality is far superior than some digital processing of my high quality analog signals.

I am of the opinion Room EQ is way overrated when it comes to HT. For 2 ch use, I think it is a waste. Take that extra money and put it into better speakers.

Sure, you can go through the extra step of setting your optical output to two channel PCM, I guess. Or they could have included DD/DTS decoding which is included in the most dirt cheap AVRs on the planet That way, it would work with any DVD or Blu-ray player for any movie. For $2500 MSRP, I would have expected that ability.

Lack of popularity is not an indication of lack of value or usefulness.


And one can also argue that merely having separate components is no guarantee of superiority although that is a common perception. There is, also, the economy of a single chassis and power supply that could shift the outcome of the price/value comparisons.


I am of the opinion Room EQ is almost always essential when it comes to HT. For 2 ch use, I think it is equally useful, especially if it is the same room. Acoustical treatments and, if necessary, room EQ are better investments in sound performance than an equivalent investment in hardware, including speakers. Take that! (I used some of your words.)

P.S.: I am expecting an HK990 for review soon. We'll see.

Kal..
A couple of suggestions while reviewing the HK990..

1. Get a sample of the HD990 CD player as well
2. Get a schematic of the HK990 and check out its output topology and dual torroidal power supplies
3. The amplifier was designed by Richie Miller, who did the Citation series the 990 is probably the best amplifier for sonic performance released by Harman in the last 20 years.
4. The Room EQ software runs on the TI 710 DSP and is similar but scaled back to whats in the JBL Synthesis components. Pay special attention on how it handles the lower bass frequencies below 200Hz..

I will be interested in your comments after you have completed the review process.

Just my $0.02...

... neither is mass popularity. I was just stating a fact.


I never said it was a guarantee. I was merely making a point that just because this unit has a feature that another may not does not make it better. The proof is in the pudding as they say. Even in a single chassis unit as the HK, they try and separate components as much as possible. For example, having dedicated transformers for the amp and preamp sections or shielding between separate digital and analog sections. So the philosophy of discrete components is usually a distinction of higher quality equipment. Whether that be all in one chassis or separate chassis all together.


We'll have to agree to disagree here. I would always advise someone building a system to put as much as possible into the speakers as you will get the most audible increase in sound quality. It is easier to upgrade other things later including room treatments, cables or whatever.


I look forward to reading it. Please post a link in this thread when it is done.

when?

To date we have not seen Kal's test report..

Just my $0.02..

I am in the process of improving my 2ch music playback in my ht system. My budget is total $2k including a new ~$500 cd player. My solution was to get a preamp with ht bypass w/ a used "audiophile" amp, or an audiophile integrated amp with ht bypass. I've narrowed down my choice to a Krell kav-400xi (not that many choices out there for a high power integrated amp with ht bypass for under $2k), then I saw the ad for this hk990 in stereophile. The more I research on the hk990 , the more it looks like it will fit my need and then some, but $2k+ for a HK integrated amp that is really 3+yr old, and have been selling in Europe for 800pounds is just too much to swallow. So I've gone back to my org ideal and got a Krell kav-400xi, hopefully it will work out, it's hard to audition the 400xi due to it's discontinued status. from the user reviews, people either love or hate the sound of kav-400xi, hopefully I will like it enough to keep it, if not, I might give this hk990 a try.

I agree. I bought a pair of paradigm studio bookshelf speakers. I hooked them up to a denon avr while shopping for an integrated amp. At the prodding of the Denonites in that thread I ran audyssey. Wow, it made a big difference. It just sort of took the edge off the music and gave it a good tonal balance. After that trial, I just upgraded to a denon 3311ci, quit and left my system 2 channel. Had I known of an amp like the 990 hk at the time, I might have gone that direction.

Guys the price went down to $1499.99 on Vanns. When you list the amp, there is an option to request special price. They'll send you an email with the updated price. I also created a thread, but thought that I should post a message here because of the interest.

November issue.

Actually, no. Interestingly enough, both the HK 990 and the Emotiva XDA-1 utilize the Analog Devices top of the line AD1955 stereo DAC. But the HK 990 uses two per channel in a dual differential configuration.

AJ

This would probably my first post.

I think I'll hold back purchasing this for the meantime until you release the review..been itching to really get hold of this. Contemplating of driving a Dyn Focus110. A bit pricey here actually, around S$2400 (no disc yet) but can do arrangement with Visa

Hope the wait will be wothwhile.

Regards.

Google HK990 Test report...
You will find many reviews done in Europe. Some are in English from the UK, others are in French and German. This unit sonically is quite good, very flat frequency response especially considering the DAC stage..
Also build quality is incredible..

Major drawback is cost, may work for Europe but not for North America..

Just my $0.02....

I just purchased the HK 990 and have one issue - when I shutoff the unit, a large pop/thud emits from my sub. I am using the sub 1 input and output as the unit is integrated into a home theater using the Processor input.

Any ideas on why this is happening and how I can fix it? Can the pop/thud damage my sub?

Thanks

Which is what I just paid ($1199.97) for an open box HK 990 from Vanns.com. It comes with full HK 2 year warranty. It should be here by Friday. I was going to wait for Kal's review but that price seemed too good to pass up and there has been one comprehensive review.

Vann's assured me the unit is in excellent working and cosmetic shape - just open box without the user's manual. I've already got that on PDF so no big deal.

Anyone have one of these? Problems - Praises?

As I posted previously..
The HK990 is one heck of product built like battleship..
Superb amplifier designed by Richie Miller who did all of the Citation series.. 990 build quality is excellent and heavy. Also suggest that you add an 990 CD player, that combo delivers very high quality sonics..
Just be sure to use high quality loudspeakers that can deliver the above sonics, so one can appreciate its performance...

Also as mentioned previously, google the models and one will find many fine test reports from the Europe side.. There was one done by a French magazine that went on & on with praises..

Just my $0.02..

Latest and greatest test report on this at the same place by someone different. Excellent reading if anyone is interested. Will have to read what Kal has to say about it also.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/integ...-part-iii.html

I have Emotiva ERT 8.3 towers and a pair of sealed 12" subs. Not sure I even need the subs since Audyssey sets the ERTs at 40hz - they are speced to 45hz + or - 2db. Very nice speaker for not a lot of $s. I'm currently driving them with an HK 3390 - nice unit but I suspect 100wpc into 4ohms can be improved on. They remind me of the Revel F32s I heard this last summer. The highs come through clean and clear without being overly bright. I compared them to my Infinity IL40s - a very good speaker with a ruler-flat response - but couldn't keep up with the ERTs. So I sold them last week.

I do plan on getting the CD player at some point down the road - I've depleted my 'bank on myself' account so I'll have to let the levels come back up! I actually spent all that and then some so the CC will get fed first. From what I've read the CD player is superb. Even makes MP3s sound better - of course I won't be playing MP3s very often.


That guy really gets into the nuts n bolts of the room correction doesn't he? I'm not a techno freak but I think what he's saying is there is work left to be done with the room correction software. My listening space isn't a tough environment so I may not even use the room correction. I'll have to see how it sounds.

I just got a shipping notice from Vann's - the 990 will be here on the 9th. I haven't been this jazzed about an audio component in some time.