AVR 125 best for starving audiophiles
Written: Dec 23 '07 (Updated Dec 23 '07)
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Pros: clarity, ease of use, spdif digital audio connections, THD .07%
Cons: big? too many unnecessary lights?
The Bottom Line: the best receiver in its price range, even 4 years after its release to the market.
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| james318's Full Review: harman/kardon AVR 125 5.1 Channels Receiver |
I bought the AVR 125 used for $110 from my local area craigslist and I have to say it was the deal of the century. My old sony unit (which had higher wattage ratings) crapped out on me, so i replaced it with this unit using the same sony speakers. The difference was more than noticeable. In analog mode, the sound is above decent, with a nice balance of frequencies but still a bit muddy (but as good as analog can really do). Using the digital/spdif connections is when this unit really shows what its made of. The sound that this little unit makes is incredible and comparable to units $500 and up. The sounds out of the tweeters are sharper and crisper than ever, and the bass is clear. Watching movies and my atsc digital tv tuner is awesome, as the units spdif mode recognizes 5.1 channels if it is output by your device. This means that the unit receives seperate pure digital signals for each speaker instead of getting a stereo signal and decoding it for use in surround sound.
The options for choosing your surround sound type are endless and you are sure to find one that sounds awesome in your theater setup. The remote control is easy to use and learn, although i have noticed it takes a little work for the unit to recognize the remote is sending a signal but it may be that my coffee table is in the way.
Anyways, an incredible unit for the price with more than enough inputs and outputs to manage your home theater setup. You will be pleased, guaranteed.
Also, it may be important to note that my receiver is set up in a very small room (approx. 15x15) and the sound is very loud for the wattage setting, but its nothing that your neighbors will be able to hear. This thing can get pretty loud, but the clarity and lack of harmonic distortion is so ridiculous that it really doesn't matter to me that it wont shake the whole house.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 110
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Epinions.com ID:
james318
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Location: Marietta, GA 30068
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 0 members
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