The new Harman Kardon AVR1700 - Page 12

I started with EzSet and then made few tweaks. I had to change crossover frequency to 80 - Ezset had it at 40. I also adjust the distances a little bit. To me after the changes the sound is great.

This deal just hit the frontpage on Slickdeals. Expect a lot more of these to be sold in the next few days.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/87940/best-buy-harman-kardon-avr-1700-3d-network-ready-5.1channel-av-receiver

I purchased my 1700 about 2 weeks ago now, paired it up with Polk CS2, 75T fronts, R300 Surround and PSW10. Sounds fantastic.

So, does implementation of switch mode power supply make this reviever compatible with european sockets? M Code on the first page states that it should support both 120V and 240V voltages, but I'm looking at images and see that American AVR 1700 has "120V~, 60Hz" label, whereas European ARV 170 is labeled "220–240V, 50/60Hz". But these are internet images. Could someone tell me please what is it written on the rear of your reciever near power cord socket?

First time poster, long-time reader.

I picked up a HK 1700 earlier this week and find the sound quite nice, so far. It is my first foray into modern audio and figured I didn't want to spend too much until I determined what I really like and want....and I also believe I should be spending more on my speakers in the long run than my receiver. Some background.

1. The HK is replacing a 15 year old Panasonic SA-AX7 receiver.
2. My speakers are Infinity Reference 5 large floor standing from 20 years ago or more and a Polk center (CS1, I think)
3. I've not seriously listened to a nice, modern HT setup, ever. (yes, I am deprived - especially for one who considered himself an audiophile 30 years ago).

So, these are the things I've noticed.

1. Overall it has a nice sound (but I have nothing to compare it with save an old receiver - and it does sound better than that)
2. EzSet only works for 5.1 sound. I have the two front and the center speakers and the EQ application fails because it can't find the other speakers.
3. The OSD options seem sparse to me, but then again, I don't have anything to compare it to. It certainly is a spartan interface.
4. Occassionally the Logic 7 seems to get confused in news programs that have music as intros/outros to segments as the soundstage disappears and sometimes wavers for about 5 seconds before coming back. The sound becomes shallow and focused almost like a mono program or perhaps the front speakers are dropping out and only the center is being fed.

I'd love to know if anyone else who has this receiver is having similar issues with the wavering sound on programs.


As an aside, since I've had the receiver, I've noticed the sound as some programs go to commercials increases and then stays higher during commercials and then reduces once the program starts again. Once again these are news programs with music intro/outro and I'm definitely hearing the volume increase for 15 seconds or so before the commercials start and then more quickly diminish upon resuming of the program. I am not laying this on the receiver. Just wondering if television networks have found a work around for the new FCC rule to normalize all the programming/commercial volume.

Electrically yes for AC line voltage.
However...
Note that channel spacing of Euro AM/FM bands are different than North America...

Just my $0.02...

I've been running a Yamaha HTR-5790 since they came out, love it, but I don't really utilize the full 7.1, only 5.1, and it has no HDMI inputs at all. I picked up one of these today, but it's still sitting in the box. The biggest reason I picked it up was for the HDMI functionality, I'm just wondering if this is considered any sort of upgrade from a power/sound fidelity standpoint. The Yamaha was around $800 when I picked it up (I got it for $350 as an open box item at Best Buy, but it was $900 new on the shelf), and it's been awesome, just wondering if there are any reasons other than the HDMI for making the switch.

It's not an issue with the EQ mic, your receiver or the speakers. That's just how it works. Mine did it too.

And according to a review here, it's 100% normal.

It EQ'ed my sub.

See my post a few up. It's not an issue with the receiver, your speakers or the EQ mic. That's just how the test works.

I'll be taking mine back. I, like others from the SlickDeals forums are experiencing "video flicker" issues when watching content from a PS3. I had a few other issues as well.

YouTube video and more information in my SD post here.

Weird, my PS3 is working perfectly through the 1700. I wonder what could cause that.

Just out of curiosity, do you have "Deep Color" enabled?

I do, it is on Automatic.

Also, RGB Full Range is set to Limited and Super White is off. I never could tell any change with them on different settings, so I just left them on their default. I haven't tried to change either one while using the 1700.

I've watched Netflix, Hulu, DVD, Bluray and rips via PS3 Media Server as well as played a few games and I haven't had any issues.

Lemme go peek at what I have set on my PS3. A few people on the SD forums said Deep Color was the culprit. As did somebody else in a previous AVS thread.

That being said, it's BS if Deep Color is the issue. After all, from the Amazon.com listing for the receiver, it's listed under the product features.

Edited by U2Edge - 1/16/13 at 9:47pm

Also, I'm not sure if it would have anything to do with it, but I'll add that I have HDMI Link off on the 1700, Control for HDMI off on the PS3 and CEC off on my TV.

Thanks for your feedback. I just checked my PS3 and I had the same settings as you -- Deep Color to Auto and that "white" setting thing to off. I'm pretty sure when we were having the issues, HDMI link on the AVR was set to "on". It's one of the first things I changed when I went downstairs about an hour or so ago to see if I could replicate it again. Tried watching Dora for 10-12 minutes with HDMI link set to off -- couldn't replicate it. Turned it back on. Still couldn't replicate it for about 45 minutes of various 1080P viewing (including Behind Enemy Lines again).

So at this point, it seems somewhat random. I did notice that at one point, with HDMI link set to "on", it physically turned my TV off when it had a big "dropout". It eventually came back on with the Sony "splash screen" at startup (per the norm), but...

I was using my ps3 with Netflix last night and it kept doing that cut off a lot. This morning I saw this and I changed the deep color settings. I watched Netflix for an hour and had no issues at all. I am hopeful that it fix the problem and hopeful that HK will give us a firmware update in the future to fix that issue. If not it's not a huge deal to me.

I think the "deep color" theory started on the AVS forums when some guy suggested that some receivers can't hand all types of video bit depths, etc...but if the product listing on Amazon says that it can handle it, then it should be able to. Not saying that Deep Color ISN'T what the receiver is having a problem with, but it might be sheer luck that when you turned DC off that it worked fine as I never turned mine off (left it on "auto") and I wasn't able to replicate the issue again.

I would just hate to not return it thinking that the problem "resolved itself", only to have it happen frequently 31 days from now when I'd be stuck with having to deal with warranty repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I kind of feel like we're the beta testers...and any input from PS3 / 1700 users might help us pinpoint (or at least narrow down) the problem.

Oh no, HDMI bugs again?

I just got a new Blue Rigger (highly rated) cable from Amazon. Changed my receiver output HDMI cable. Turned everything on. Immediately, my TV started freaking out -- dropping to black and/or no audio. It turned my TV off (I kid you not). It powered it back up and I had no audio on any input that I tested (cable HD, cable SD, even a radio station I know worked). Powered everything down. Powered everything back up. Brought up the receiver's OSD and turned off the HDMI control. The issues went away (I think I may have needed to power down and back up once again, but...).

I really think there is something to the HDMI control being "ON" that freaks it out.

All you having an hdmi hand shake problem... What tv do you have?

It appears to be an HDMI handshake issue yes -- but it happens at random times, for random durations, etc. Sometimes I can replicate it, other times I can't. There is a video example here:
I have a SONY BRAVIA KDL55HX800 TV. Other people with different TVs (I assume) are also having the issue. And I never had this problem with my Sony receiver (STR-DH810).

Try the following Power ON sequence..
1. HD Display
2. AVR
3. Source

Post back your results..

Just my $0.02...

D Been reading this post a lot since I bought my hk avr1700, and just wanted to give a bit of feedback and background about myself. This is the first receiver that I have purchased (have had others, but they were hand-me-downs)

Let me start off by saying that this avr is awesome. Easy to setup, network extras are awesome and the sound is amazing. Airplay is soo easy. And at the sub-200$ price point, unbeatable.

All of my movies come from my computer via HDMI and it is flawless, great picture and the receiver figures out how to make the sound intensely immersive. I find the logic 7 not that great for music,but a must have for movies

I just purchased a Harman Kardon AVR1700, and would like to know if anyone knows of a cheap option for a Infrared Extender since my receiver is just on the other side of the wall. I would prefer to just get a cable if that is even possible. The receiver has an "IR Out" jack, and was hoping just to plug something in that and then take the extender cable through the wall and stick the new IR receiver on the TV. I have talked to HK cust. support and they refer me to their extender which is $100. I most def. dont want to spend that much and dont need anything that fancy either.

Thanks in advance!!
Bryan

I tried in that order. No issues (with HDMI control off). Tried it in reverse order. No issues again.

I can't always replicate it. In fact, I watched numerous hours of TV today without a problem AFTER I turned HDMI control to "OFF" in the OSD system menu. Now, that's not to say that I wouldn't walk downstairs and experience the issue with "HDMI control off" right off the bat.

EDIT: The "handshake"/flickering issue doesn't always happen upon changing inputs/powering up devices/changing resolutions, etc. When my wife noticed it last night on the PS3, she didn't experience it until about five minutes into the program and then it happened at random intervals after that. Such was also the experience I had with "Behind Enemy Lines".

Thanks for trying to help.
Edited by U2Edge - 1/17/13 at 8:10pm

Search for IR extender in monoprice or amazon.

Beeback19, you have a smart phone or tablet? If so just use the free Android or iPhone apps as a remote. Free is good and u don't need a line of sight.

Can anyone definitively answer the following?:

1. Can running HDMI through the AVR 1700 (or AVRs in general for that matter) result in any loss of picture quality? I have tried testing it by switching back and forth with the same movie scenes, and I can't be sure but it seems there might be additional blurring of image with motion, especially fast motion, but very little to no difference in a still picture; I also thought I noticed a slight increase in the delay/frozen picture when changing cable television channels - do either of these sound possible or even likely? Has anyone experienced this? The fact that I can barely notice a difference suggests I might be looking for something where there's nothing and also that, if there is loss of picture quality, it obviously is not very noticeable. Still would bother me a little knowing I might not be getting the best possible picture.

2. If I do NOT run HDMI through the AVR, but instead go directly to the TV (Samsung Smart LED TV) and run an optical audio cable back out of the TVto the AVR, is it true that I will NOT be able to get true surround sound? I've seen conflicting opinions, and I have tried both ways and I'm unable to tell the difference (complete novice when it comes to home theatre and audio systems).

My preference would be to run HDMI for cable, Blue Ray, and PS3 directly to the TV but I don't want to lose the surround sound.

3. For now I have settled on HDMI through the AVR, and I can't seem to get 5-channel stereo for basic cable stations - am I missing something?

That's it for now. Apologies for the novice-type questions, appreciate your thoughts.

i use the android remote for when i'm in the office listening to music from the living room
the app won't turn the avr on but it will control the vol, mute and vtuner wirelessly from the office
though i wouldn't mind a little feedback from the remote similar to the one line screen on the receiver
it may turn the avr on from standby but i usually put the avr in eco standby