Harman Kardon AVR 340

Big, Chunky and Macho, that's what the HK AVR 340 (RRP $1499) looks like, it also has the sound to match. HK are a funny company (not funny Haha) in that they actually tell the truth in their specifications. Whereas the AVR340 is rated at 55 Watts per channel, the competition from most other manufacturers would be quoting 100 per channel (or 150 from Sony or Onkyo in some of their literature), the truth is, when all channels are driven, they all end up around 45 - 55 Watts per channel as most quote power with only one channel driven. HK's output is quoted with all channels driven. Lesson #1 - specifications mean bugger all without a reference.

They call it a high current amplifier, I'm yet to understand what this actually means as current and power are inextricably linked (P=EI) so if the current was higher, the power would be higher (Duh!) Anyway, the ad agency probably knows. What's it got? Well, it hasn't got HDMI (that will be remedied with the release of the 347) but it does have 3 assignable component inputs with up-conversion, it has multiroom facilities by re assigning the two rear surround channels, blah blah, yeh, I know you stopped reading 'cause all receivers in this price range have the same basic facilities so we don't buy the unit for what it does, more for how it does it and how it sounds.

So how does it sound? Stupid question really 'cause the resultant sound is more dependant on the speakers and room acoustics than the amplifier but lets assume we're comparing in the same room with the same speaker set up (Paradigm Studio 100 mains) as the opposition, in this case Marantz SR5001 (Denon - same horse, different jockey) and Yamaha RX-V861. For stereo music reproduction, the Marantz is fairly laid back whereas the Yamaha is way more lively and dynamic. The HK lies smack bang in the middle. It's probably the safest choice if you don't know what you like - similar to ordering your steak medium to well done rather than rare (as it bloody well should be).

Movie soundtracks give the HK it's head (so to speak) as it gets up and boogies, it probably beats the Yamaha in overall grunt - even thought he Yammie is rated 105 watts per channel (I trust you took note of my earlier comments) although at normal listening levels, there's not much in it. Both the Yammie and HK tend to be more dynamic than the Marantz which would benefit from a harsher sounding speaker such as Klipsch or JM Labs (it would tame them a bit). The only real downside of the HK (and Marantz) is that in normal stereo mode using digital connections, the subwoofer is unceremoniously dumped, and I LIKE MY BASS! I guess that's one of the main reasons I use the Yamaha RX-V2700 at home.

The remote control is about as useless as tits on a bull - I couldn't figure out where anything was and what it did when I eventually found it. I must confess, however, the Marantz and Yamaha remotes aren't much better - that's why I use the Harmony 785 Universal Remote in both my A/V rooms at home. If you're smart, you'll do the same. At least the front display is large and easily read from a distance, the volume knob's a bit wonky though. Generally, the build quality is very good however. The long and short of it is that the HK AVR 340 is a very good, musical A/V receiver with as much, if not more power, than it's more highly specified opposition. If HDMI isn't on your agenda, then it's certainly worth putting on your short list of A/V receivers under $1500.