Top Notch 5.1 Audio/Video Receiver
Written: Jun 21 '03 (Updated Jul 13 '03)
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Pros: Excellent Sound Quality, Styling, Logic 7 Processing, Universal Remote
Cons: Not As Many Options As The 325 & 525
The Bottom Line: Excellent Receiver With Superb Audio Quality, Plenty Of Features, And Attractive Styling.
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| jonwes's Full Review: harman/kardon AVR 225 5.1 Channels Receiver |
Pre-Purchase Considerations
I was in the market to upgrade a Kenwood receiver I had been using in my bedroom for several years. It was a surround receiver, but only had Dolby Pro Logic decoding. Several months ago I bought a Harmon Kardon AVR-525 for my home theater system downstairs and I was very impressed with the features, sound quality, and styling of the unit. Several weeks ago, a friend of mine called me up and mentioned that he was looking at an ad for Fry's Electronics that had the AVR-225 for $299, normally $499. I quickly convinced myself that it was time to upgrade! At this pricepoint, it was hard to refuse, I must admit. I checked out the specs on-line and decided that the 225 would be perfect for use in my bedroom as a 5.1 Dolby Digital receiver. Off to the store I went!
Initial Impression
I noticed right away that the 225 is a much lighter unit at 27 lbs, than it's big brother, the 525 at almost 45 lbs. I attributed the discrepancy to the 525 being a 7.1 unit with additional amps and most likely a more heavy duty power supply. Regardless, most 55 watt receivers in the market place come in at or below the 20 lb mark, so the extra weight on the 225 was welcome. I should definitely take a minute to mention that in my opinion, the whole audio industry (particularly lower end manufacturers) has brain washed people into believing that more watts is better and is the standard for all to be judged against. Definitely not the case. My 525 has significantly more power at 70 watts per channel than any Kenwood or Sony I've ever heard at 100-110 watts per channel. The reasoning behind this has to do with HK's high current amp design, that can draw in excess of 30 amps when necessary. At every volume level, I've found HK's receivers to outperform its competitors.
The AVR-225 comes packaged with a universal remote, owner's manual, AM/FM antennas, and batteries. I'm a big fan of the current HK receivers (225,325,525), and they fit in perfectly with the decor in my home.
Setup
Getting the 225 up and running was much easier than my previous job with the 525, simply due to far fewer connections. I'm only running a Mitsubishi 32", Sony VCR, Sony DVD, JBL surrounds, Infinity FL/FR, and a Celestion center channel in the bedroom. Within an hour I had the old receiver unhooked and the 225 ready to go. HK has color coded the speaker connections in their new receivers which makes setup even easier than before.
Specifications
Number of Channels 5.1 (Dolby Digital®, DTS®)
Remote Control Learning, Keypad
Main Speakers Power 55 x 2 Watts
Max Surround Pwr 20Hz - 20kHz: Main - 0.07% THD, 55W. Center - 0.07% THD, 55W. Rear - 0.07% THD, 55W.
Harmonic Distortion .07%
Analog Inputs 5.1 channels
Rear Audio Inputs RCA: 6, Coaxial: 2, Optical: 2
Rear Video Inputs Composite: 4, S-Video: 4
Rear Aud. Outputs Coaxial: 1, Optical: 1
Rear Vid. Outputs Composite: 3, S-Video: 3
Front A/V Connections 1 x Headphones, 1 x S-Video, 1x Optical, 1 x Coaxial, 1 x Composite, 1 x Couple RCA Jack
Tuner Presets 30 Channels
Tone Controls Bass & Treble
THX Certification No
DSP Modes Movie, Music, Emulation, Logic 7 C, Logic 7 M, Dolby 3 Stereo, Theater, Hall 1, Hall 2, VMAx Near, VMAx Far, 5-Channel Stereo, Surround Off (Stereo), Stereo-Direct (Bypass), Stereo-Digital
Exterior Color Black
Warranty 2 Years Parts and Labor
Dimensions
Depth 15.4 in.
Height 6.6 in.
Width 17.3 in.
Weight 26.8 lb.
Performance
The AVR-225 is a strong performer. I immediately noticed that the audio quality surpassed my previous receiver without question. It takes some time to go through each of the individual inputs setting them up, but I love the ability to be able to do exactly that. Many receivers will universally change settings to effect all inputs, which doesn't allow for customization. With the 225, you can adjust speaker gains, surround decoding options, large/small speaker settings, and many other options for EACH individual input. Therefore, if you want to up the center channel with a gain of +2 in DVD mode, you can do so without affecting any of the other modes. This is a real asset for any audio enthusiast. I did notice that the 225 doesn't have the crossover settings that the 525 incorporates. Clearly, there has to be some variance to justify the much higher price of the 525. Fortunately, sound quality is not one of the compromises in the 225. Rich, full, and lifelike all come to mind when I try to find adjectives to describe this unit. Whether you're playing music or home theater, this receiver delivers. It is very evident that it's not ever straining for power. Again, HK's high current design. With regard to volume, as some may be curious, volume begins at -80, and I can rarely get the 225 beyond -40 without fear of upsetting the neighbors. Again, perfect for a bedroom.
I found AM/FM performance to be above average, but I live in an area right by the foothills in Southern California, so reception is definitely a trade off to living here. Presets are easily made and an internal backup provides for two weeks of retention in the event of a power outtage.
I'm very pleased with the surround modes on the 225. Fortunately, HK's own Logic 7 decoding is included, which turns a two channel source, such as CD, into a 5.1 experience. I personally flip flop between Pro Logic II and Logic 7, each having its own advantages. Bass response seems to be somewhat better with PLII, while you'll find more of an emphasis on vocals with Logic 7. The few DSP modes included (Hall1, Hall2, Theater, etc.) are well balanced without too much reverberation. I've never been a big fan of DSP, which has steered me away from Yamaha in the past.
The front panel display of the 225 is well laid out and gives you a visual indication of what settings you're currently using, including the input, what channels are being fed, and the decoding mode. I personally find the HK displays to be the most attractive of any currently available. I shouldn't forget to mention the on screen display provided by the 225. Very helpful in setting up the various functions of the receiver. Even the amount of time the OSD remains up can be modified in the settings.
Remote Control
I hear mixed reviews about the remotes included with the new line of HK receivers. Aside from the buttons being somewhat small, I don't have a problem with them. You can customize the remote quite a bit. Assign the volume keys to function with one component, regardless of which input you're currently operating. Assign the channel keys in the same fashion. It's universal, so it can be programmed to operate a wide variety of televisions, VCR's, DVD players, cables/satellite boxes, etc. An "EZ-Set" feature is included that works off of an SPL meter built into the remote. The idea is to run the feature from your listening position, and the remote will raise or lower speakers to provide the best listening experience. The good news is that it will make you aware if any of your channels (speakers) are in need of a gain boost. The bad news is that it's not quite as good at lowering speaker volumes as it is at raising them, and you will probably need to modify the settings after you're done with the automated routine. I found that it raised my front left speaker by 4, but only raised the front right by 3. Both should really be 4, so I manually changed them when complete. The bottom line here was that both of my front right and left channels were in need of boosting, and I may not have picked up on that without the use of this feature.
Conclusion
I have quickly become a BIG fan of Harman Kardon receivers. With the much improved reliability of their new "x25" line, I can't find a reason why someone would settle for anything less, particularly with the price of units such as the AVR-225 dipping as low as many of the lower end manufacturer's models. The difference is amazing, to say the least. You definitely feel you are buying quality when it comes to Harman Kardon. The AVR-225 is perfect for a bedroom or a small family room, but it would be better to look at the more powerful 325 or 525 for larger rooms. More options, higher power output, etc. Overall, I'd HIGHLY recommend the AVR-225 to anyone in the market for a Dolby Digital 5.1 receiver, especially when it can be had at a great price!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 299
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jonwes
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