The new Harman Kardon AVR1700 - Page 6

The remote has a "Dim" button near the bottom of the remote that should cycle between the available modes.

The DIM feature on the 1700 does 3 Things

1. Full on, burn out your cornias volume knob
2. Half brightness of LCD, volume knob light off
3. Volume light and LCD off until volume or input is changed on the receiver

Ok thank you, appreciate it a lot. A lot I have to still learn on the thing. Dlna and in screen volume messages are next today.

hit the AVR button, then use the DIM button on the bottom of the remote next to the skip buttons
once turns off the volume button and also dims the display, but still readable and less distracting
twice turns off the display.

not sure i like vtuner for net radio. mine takes 94 seconds to connect to vtune network, then you have to go thru 2 folders before you get your channels. no way to delete all the other folders and go directly to your channels. the pioneer vsx1020k has an internal web interface that connects straight to your last played channel and toggles left or right to access other channels. i'm used to turning on the amp, hit the net radio and walk away. still impressed with the unit though.

Anyone else notice that the avr1700 isn't even listed on best buys website anymore. Before Christmas I saw maybe 15 boxes all stacked and they were all gone when i was there on new years.

Maybe new models will be revealed at CES. Better get your 1700 now if you can... Nothing is even close to the quality of this receiver for the current price.

I saw a spec showing that the 2700 will also have the same 100 watts p/channel but adds 7.1 and some video processing. Assuming the higher price tag of a 2700 makes the 1700 a killer deal.

Does anyone know if this would be an upgrade to a Pioneer 1018 that I have had for a few years? Thanks.

The 1700 is current and will remain till the Fall.....
@$199 it was a great buy, excellent features!!!

Just my $0.02...

Only if you need more HDMI inputs or the internet steaming, Airplay, etc.

VSX-1018 is a pretty complete unit.
7.1
THX Select
7.1 multichannel inputs
7.1 preouts to add external amp
zone 2
video upscaling


The AVR 1700 is 5.1 with none of those other features. I wouldn't make the swap. Get an Apple TV if you want the internet connectivity.

I have an AppleTV so it would pretty much just be for the extra HDMI inputs (which I could use) and if the sound quality is improved. The other features I don't really need.

Could it be that it was pulled because of too many returns, due to problems?

@$199...
HK lost $...
It generated significant sales but only Best Buy made $..
Overall reliability has been very good..
As mentioned in my previous posts @$199 the 1700 was a great buy.
And one of the top sellers @ Best Buy during Christmas......

Just my $0.02..

It is possible. i went to my local BB this morning to see if they can fix my hk 700&1700. They already had 3 700 and 8 1700 returned in the last 3 weeks. And 3 open box 1700 & 1 open box 700. They wouldn't specify why it was returned.

When did you get it? I bought my avr700 in September and 1700 in November. Both through Harman music. My wife threw both boxes away with the receipt inside. So no service.

Consumer reviews do not indicate reliability issues. I recall the reviews on bestbuy.com to be excellent.

It was below a 4 out 5 stars before being pulled from bb website. But had excellent ratings on amazon. Seems like these new hk receivers are a hit or miss.
Edited by joe801 - 1/3/13 at 3:02pm

I do not recall reliability issues in the comments... I remember the negative reviews pointed to the volume knob, connectivity, and general look.

Didn't read the review at all. Just saw the rating. But at that time didn't pay much attention to any type review or ratings. I just went with them cause it was cheap. it's a lot different when it breaks down. And nothing can be done, my wifes fault. And then you question the quality. While the next person says nothing but good things.

i set up the 2nd receiver for zone 2 porch speakers today. zone 2 receiver connects to the network in 3 seconds vs receiver 1 connection speed of 90 seconds. receiver 1 is probably going back to the store. bummer.

i also figured out my zone 2 connections. (r1 is receiver 1 and r2 is receiver 2)
hdmi out on r2 to hdmi 6 in on r1 . this way i could use the tv to set up r2 thru r1. there is a 25 foot hdmi cable from r1 to the tv.
used rca cable to hook record out on r1 to aux 2 in on r2. this way i can play what ever music source playing on r1 onto r2 (aka normal listening mode)

now i can:
listen to the same music source thru the whole house and porch (r1 thru r2)
use r2 for net radio or pc streaming mp3s on the porch and have r1 watching a movie in 5.1
add speakers in the office from r2

one issue that popped up: both receivers are on the same rack. both receivers react to any push of a button on the remote. i can run zone 2 without the remote, i'll just block off the ir window on r2 and operate it manually.

my biggest issue? teaching my wife another system and remote

Can still be had for $199 at fry's. http://www.frys.com/product/7372554

I never dealt with Fry's. I just ran across it on the web.

4.2 out of 5 stars. http://reviews.bestbuy.com/3545/6087397/harman-kardon-avr-1700-500w-5-1-ch-a-v-home-theater-receiver-reviews/reviews.htm

Wife left the house yesterday and I got a chance to open it up. Take into account that my last receiver was bought in 1993. The sound was very clear and crisp, "The Pass"(Rush) has never sounded so clear. Sounded like I was sitting in the studio. This was in Logic 7 mode which seemed to sound the best. 2 channel just did not sound that great to me but the Logic 7 really made a difference. I was able to turn it all the way up to +10 without distortion on some music, on music with more bass it seems to test the limit of the CSi5 and +5 was the cut off before it sounded as if the speakers were about to crack. Guess I can't ask for more than that. My old receiver "seemed" to be louder because you just couldn't turn it too much without having to back off but I think that it just wasn't as clean. BTW, at high levels it DOES get quite warm but I doubt I'll turn it up that loud very often at all. I can see no reason for it except to get someone's attention or just to show off.

I turned the knob light off and have the remote working everything except my old pioneer DVD changer that doesn't recognize the remote. The fact that I can work my Tivo premier actually surprised me because of all the functions of the Tivo. My new Sony blu-ray has v-tuner, pandora, and netflix, my Tivo has pandora and netflix, so I doubt I'll use the receiver for too much internet though I did run a cable to the receiver so I can hopefully use an android app..... at some point. You also can send audio to the tv, through the osd settings, but you give up the receiver sound by doing so.

New years eve I rented a blu ray movie and everyone was taking until someone hit a baseball in the movie. Everyone stopped and looked at the TV, it sounded like someone just hit a home run out of the living room.

Just wish it had bluetooth and standby pass through but I guess it wouldn't be "green" if it did as the receiver would use more power. It looks like I have a keeper here and should last me atleast 4-5 yrs before I upgrade. Heck, who knows, I might get 20 yrs out of this receiver like I did with my last one(pioneer vsx-512s).
Edited by signedup - 1/4/13 at 4:28am

Well I feel dumb. But good to clarify it.

I just picked receiver up a few days ago. I have TIme Warner cable via HDMI from a Cisco Explorer 4642 HD. some of the commercials are extremely loud when the receiver is in Virtual Surround mode. Ironically, one of the loud commercials is a Time Warner commercial. This happens even in Night mode

I thought there was a new law against this? I never had this problem with my old receiver, but that was analog & driven by the RCA outputs on the STB.

Otherwise the receiver sounds good. Is there a setting on the receiver that might help? If not i may not be able to keep it...the loud commercials are REALLY loud.

Am I blind or did Best Buy completely remove this receiver from their website? The AVR 700 is on there, but the 1700 has disappeared.

I noticed this too. I saw it on sale at Frys but when I clicked check local availability it's listed as open box. I may call them and find out if they have them in stock or open box only.

Some of the earlier reviews were really bad. Maybe that's what you were remembering.

It just passed last month. I think you can call the FCC and complain and they will contact the violators, maybe you can try calling TWC.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/techdailydose/2012/12/new-law-prohibits-loud-commercials-13

They removed it new years day.

Although the receiver is removed from the website, few bestbuy still have them in stock. Some have it as open box (usually the last piece for $169), and some have it as brand new ($199). If you ask a sales associate, he can look up the models in all nearby bestbuy store (although its not there in the website) and reserve one for you (essentially buy it as mail order). This is how I bought it in Howell NJ store, where they located four pieces in Manalapan, NJ BB and one in Eatontown NJ. I picked one from Manalapan, NJ store.