HK AVR645 / 745 available sometime in June, mine is on order... official thread?

Good Luck Serge. I think a decent 3 channel will be just what the doctor ordered allowing the 645 preamping to shine even more.

Paul

Serge,

Due to wordiness...sent you a PM.

If there are other 635 ownership areas or Old HK/New HK comparatives you would like me touch upon just let me know.

In a previous thread about these receivers it was thought the 645 would be out much later than the 745. Were you told differently? Also it was stated that only the 745 would have EQ for 2 subs.

I'm also curious about the HDMI upgradability. It is my impression that a hardware upgrade is necessary for new versions so are they saying that you will send the receiver in to be upgraded?

More info please.

Serge,

Allow me to officially amend my Treble comments in the PM to reflect it is in fact my ears. I spent the entire day listening to my most demanding and familiar material, one disc after another and I can say with confidence the TI processor is simply being more accurate. It just takes some getting used to when the Crystal series is what I've grown accustomed to for some years now. YMMV.

I hope the 645 comes out soon because this is stupid how long we have been waiting.

I also would like to see HK make a REAL flag ship receiver to replace the AVR7300, IMO the AVR745 is a complete joke for the $2999 price.

I looked at getting a 645 but the differences between that and the 635 wasn't much. I'd never use the XM, Ipod, dual sub stuff. And I'd figure I'd just buy the 635 for 600 bucks and use it for a couple years while all this HDMI and HD formats settle down. THEN I'll spend big bucks on a new Reciever.

That's what a lot of us are doing...sounds like a popular plan.

**Cabinet warning**:

In my experience the 635 can run hot, considerable hotter than my old x10 series, even only in preamp use. So pay attention to ventilation or run fans if space is close.

I had a 635 for 2 weeks at Xmas and returned due to scratches and the door problem. It only got just slightly warm to the touch after a couple hours. I had it sitting on the tile in front of my rig. It was not enclosed in any way. I have read that the 7300 can get real hot, but this 635 did not. It got a little warmer than my top-gun Tandberg 2075 stereo receiver does, but still nothing remotely approcaching "hot". The sound is rich and wonderful, almost identical to the Tandberg. The 635 has a concert hall mode or something that does open the sound out with a very slight echo or something. This opens up reel-to-reel Barclay-Crocker tapes nicely and I quickly stated to listen to them that way. The 635 is a handsome beast. It has the words "Harmon-Kardon" across the top of the case in some sort of hologram which is good looking. It's heavy too. The flat remote has a big, flat round button for the volume. You can sit it on your sofa facing the receiver and it's like having a volume control built into the sofa. The volume goes from -80 Db down to zero, the lower being the loudest. I got it clear down to about -15 or -10 and it was loud, but not deafening. That was with two big speakers driven. How loud it would be driving 6 speakers I do not know, but I was surprised that I could actually stand having almost as loud as it would go. You dont turn the Tandberg up more than the "2" mark out of 6+ marks or risk melting the speakers. So, I wonder what you are doing differently than me to make your 635 run hot.

Because it is in a cabinet. Sorry if that wasn't made clear.

My old 510 and 310 never ran this hot in a similar cabinet with similar space. And they were used mainly as pre/pros as well most of the time. There may simply be subtle design differences in cabinetry which may account for this but I doubt it. If I leave the receiver-side cabinet door fully open the unit still gets hot, just not as hot as with it closed.

The cabinet is fully vented all around, the doors and sides have fabric covered metal mesh and the rear has several large openings at the top and center of the panels. I think I will go with a quiet fan setup for longevity.

Don't misunderstand. I love this beautiful beast. Just want it to last me awhile.

Hmm. I guess Serge was just pulling our chain since he hasn't returned with any more details...

What details are you looking for. Some specs are in the preorder page for the 645 and 745 on J&R's site.

Just what I asked above about the original poster's statements.

I guess not what you're looking for, and probably everyone's seen this info already, but unless you're an HK employee, any other info is probably a guess:

http://www.harmankardon.com/compare4...Submit=Compare

and HK's spec sheet for 645:

http://www.harmankardon.com/specific...R%20645&sType=

I think Serge is likely off doing something else. I sent him a lengthy PM a few days back and haven't heard anything in response, which is uncharacteristic of him.

I'm sure he'll pop up shortly.

As to one of the outstanding questions, I think the PDF for the 640 (which is the same as the 645) states pretty clearly that the 2-sub support is only for the 745:


http://www.harmankardon.com/news_rev...nouncement.pdf

and this from the HK 3/22 press release:

"The model number changes are being made to achieve naming consistency in Harman Kardon's audio/video
receiver lineup. Other than the model number changes, all specifications and features for the AVR 745,
AVR 645 and AVR 445 are identical to those announced for the AVR 740, AVR 640 and AVR 440."

ditto


I'm probably going with a 635 at this point. It already doesn't have enough inputs for me, but I have some remote-controllable switchers I have which can remedy this for the most part.

ditto, ditto.

Although I'm fine with the 635 inputs. I have yet to be impressed with HDMI in terms of any function. Now, after months of not having this problem, it seems every time I put my HDTV in standby I lose sync with the stupid cable DVR. Requires a full power down of both units and a repeat handshake protocol to get back into sync. Ridiculous

Since I do not like to rely on receiver video switching and prefer to run direct, HDMI is something I can wait a good long time to settle out. Using a separate switcher is probably better in the long run anyway.

Confused.. do you have a 645 already?

In case he runs off on another fishing trip ...I believe Serge has it on pre-order somewhere.

Well, I just heard back from HK. The 645 will have HDMI 1.1 but will only support 1080i. HDMI upgrades are "unlikely". This is very dissappointing as I thought this would be the one. I guess I will have to wait longer for something else...

HDMI implementation is a pisser, pure and simple. To do it properly and with decent %'s industry-wide will take more time than you think. I guess that's why Patience is considered a virtue.

FWIW I don't really blame the manufacturers for hedging down. This is a real juggling act, even for units on the top end. I read complaints there too.

Not sure if this has been posted before, but for you future owners of the 645.Here are the specifications for the 645.


Audio
Stereo Mode
Continuous Average Power (FTC) per Channel 90 Watts per channel, 20Hz - 20kHz, @ <0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohms
Seven-Channel Surround Modes, Power per Individual Channel,
All Channels Operating at Full Power
Front L & R Channels 75 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz - 20kHz into 8 ohms
Center Channel 75 Watts @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz - 20kHz into 8 ohms
Surround Channels (L & R Side, L & R Back) 75 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz - 20kHz into 8 ohms
Input Sensitivity/Impedance Linear (High-Level) 200mV/47k Ohms
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF-A) 100dB
Surround System Adjacent Channel Separation
Dolby® Pro Logic® I and II 40dB
Dolby® Digital 55dB
DTS® 55dB
Frequency Response at 1W (+0dB, -3dB) 10Hz - 130kHz
High Instantaneous Current Capability (HCC) ±50 Amps
Transient Intermodulation Distortion (TIM) Unmeasurable
Slew Rate 40V/µsec

FM Tuner
Frequency Range 87.5 - 108.0MHz
Usable Sensitivity IHF 1.3µV/13.2dBf
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Mono/Stereo 70dB/68dB
Distortion Mono/Stereo 0.2%/0.3%
Stereo Separation 40dB @ 1kHz
Selectivity ±400kHz, 70dB
Image Rejection 80dB
IF Rejection 90dB

AM Tuner
Frequency Range 520-1720kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 45dB
Usable Sensitivity Loop 500µV
Distortion 1kHz, 50% Mod 0.8%
Selectivity ±10kHz, 30dB

Video
Television Format NTSC
Input Level/Impedance 1Vp-p/75 Ohms
Output Level/Impedance 1Vp-p/75 Ohms
Video Frequency Response
Composite and S-Video 10Hz - 8MHz (-3dB)
Component Video 10Hz - 100MHz (-3dB)
HDMI Version 1.1 with audio processing

General
Power Requirement AC 120V/60Hz
Power Consumption 120W at Power On, idle; 1272W at rated power output (7 channels driven)
Unit Dimensions
Width 17.3" (440mm)
Height 6.5" (165mm)
Depth 17.1" (435mm)
Carton Dimensions 20.1" x 10" x 22.2"
(510mm x 254mm x 565mm)
Unit Weight 41 lb (18.6kg)
Shipping Weight (System, Accessories, Packing) 47 lb (21.4kg)


645 will be avaiable for HK employees in August. 745 will be available in July

Yeah, I just don't see a early bug ridden technology worth the 700 bucks to upgrade from the 635.

Serge,
You are aware or clear on the fact that the 645 (per what HK has said in their press releases so far) will NOT have the EZeq II, and that only the 745 will have this? See the link above that I posted. Are you thinking or aware of the fact that the EzEQ in the 645 is any different than that in the 635?