I actually really like my AVR255. Got a lot of connections and easy to use, especially when you pair it with a Logitech Harmony to get rid of that annoying, oversized remote!
Having read the magazine review of the HK255 I was not even considering purchasing one but whilst auditioning the Yamaha 836 ang Onkyo 606 the retailer asked if I wnted to listen to the HK, boy am I glad I did, after a prolonged audition against the Onkyo and Yamaha which took over half a day I came away with the HK.
It was so much clearer and detailed with the bass powerful and controlled when playing music, the high output current of the amp really controlled the speakers well even at high volumes, the surround sound effects were as good if not better than both the Yamaha and Onkyo, the remote control is well laid out and easy to use (unlike the Yamaha's) and the on screen menus are a doddle to use
I'm not sure why the magazine dose not seem to rate any HK kit and all others in this blog do, but I would strongly recommend an audition.
Don't know about you, but to my ears the HK is better than Yamaha, Onkyo & Co. I've tested in on Dali Ikon 5.1 set, B&W683 and some Infinity HCS speakers and the sound was much much warmer, musical and pleasant than with Yammie and Onkyo. Yamaha and Onkyo were somehow hard, cold and a little aggressive to my ears. I've tested AVR255 with stereo and 5.1 music and sound was spectacular.
I agree with you that for movies the HK is a little too warm, but with 5.1 Dolby and especially DTS music DVD's the sound is much more pleasant than on every other japanese receiver.
So I'm very dissapointed with your review.
You see, I sell Yamaha, HK, Dali, Tannoy ... and so on and belive it or not, most of my customers almost always prefer HK receiver in comparison demonstrations. Also, many online revievers praise very high HK receivers (look the review for AVR355 on Areadvd.de for example)...
I also hope that reviewers didn't use the harman's Ez Set's EQ function because it's the worst imaginabile auto EQ. The distances an levels are measured in most of the times OK, but EQ is trully horrible. The first 255/355 didn't have the option to turn off the measured EQ after auto calibration - you must install the new firmware to get this option.
Oh yes, and with latest firmware, the sound quality was also improved. But I don't believe that What Hi-Fi will re-test 355 with new firmware.
Yes, I also agree that HK 255 & 355 is way better than Onk and Yamahas. You see, I sell this stuff and in our store the sales of AVR 255/355 are (after costumers audition, of course) way higher than for example Yamaha RX-V 663 or 863. It's like 6 : 1 ratio for HK (seriously!).
Go and hear the HK in the shop, instead of dropping it off because it got bad review in What Hi-Fi.
Yes, Johnny, tell them... Harman is the ultimate in the
5.1 music. All other japanese receivers are maybe good for movies, but they all sound thin, cold and agressive with music. Right now I'm having the Yamaha 3900 at home. It's not nearly as good as half priced Harman 355 in 5.1 DTS Music...
And now your editor will said that I just wanna sell Harman , he, he....
I don't think this HK AVR255 is the ultimate as I only ever got to compare it with a Onkyo TX-SR606.
It is just that the review from WhatHifi for the Onkyo was so much better than the HK. I was disappointed in the Onkyo for my CD Music. Could I have had a dud Onkyo mabey?
I'm with frodo1 on this one. I brought a Onkyo 606 and
Focal 706V speakers. I was so disappointed in the sound of my music once I got it home. In the shop they had the Cambridge Audio running the focals and it sounded great. I brought their well used focal demo speakers so they were definitely run in. After a week I took the focal speakers back and got B&W 784 speakers. Still sounded average. I read quite a few forums in the USA and so many people thought the sound from the new HK AVR255 was awesome. So I just went out and picked up the HK and was absolutely impressed with the sound. It was like getting a AMP with twice the power. Music came alive.
Had a few mates over to compare the sound and all thought the HK was a lot better.
Did you by any chance have the Dynamic compression set to on?
Another option I like is while in 2CH mode the subwoofer still works. Is this the same on all amps?
I brought this cos I couldn't get hold of the £400 Yamaha anywhere, probably due the to 5 star review!
I have to say, I love the look of it, and it sounds great, but can anyone justify whether it runs soo hot, nearly too hot to touch? I have about 4cm of clearance above the unit.
I was actually planning on buying a HK AVR347 this week. At the moment I have a Yamaha RX-V450. Can someone tell me if it's wise to replace my yamaha with a AVR347? The most of the time I'm watching movies with DTS. I've got Jamo S 606 speakers.
Comments
I actually really like my AVR255. Got a lot of connections and easy to use, especially when you pair it with a Logitech Harmony to get rid of that annoying, oversized remote!
Each to his own. You're entitled to your opinion, we're entitled to ours.
Having read the magazine review of the HK255 I was not even considering purchasing one but whilst auditioning the Yamaha 836 ang Onkyo 606 the retailer asked if I wnted to listen to the HK, boy am I glad I did, after a prolonged audition against the Onkyo and Yamaha which took over half a day I came away with the HK.
It was so much clearer and detailed with the bass powerful and controlled when playing music, the high output current of the amp really controlled the speakers well even at high volumes, the surround sound effects were as good if not better than both the Yamaha and Onkyo, the remote control is well laid out and easy to use (unlike the Yamaha's) and the on screen menus are a doddle to use
I'm not sure why the magazine dose not seem to rate any HK kit and all others in this blog do, but I would strongly recommend an audition.
Don't know about you, but to my ears the HK is better than Yamaha, Onkyo & Co. I've tested in on Dali Ikon 5.1 set, B&W683 and some Infinity HCS speakers and the sound was much much warmer, musical and pleasant than with Yammie and Onkyo. Yamaha and Onkyo were somehow hard, cold and a little aggressive to my ears. I've tested AVR255 with stereo and 5.1 music and sound was spectacular.
I agree with you that for movies the HK is a little too warm, but with 5.1 Dolby and especially DTS music DVD's the sound is much more pleasant than on every other japanese receiver.
So I'm very dissapointed with your review.
You see, I sell Yamaha, HK, Dali, Tannoy ... and so on and belive it or not, most of my customers almost always prefer HK receiver in comparison demonstrations. Also, many online revievers praise very high HK receivers (look the review for AVR355 on Areadvd.de for example)...
I also hope that reviewers didn't use the harman's Ez Set's EQ function because it's the worst imaginabile auto EQ. The distances an levels are measured in most of the times OK, but EQ is trully horrible. The first 255/355 didn't have the option to turn off the measured EQ after auto calibration - you must install the new firmware to get this option.
Oh yes, and with latest firmware, the sound quality was also improved. But I don't believe that What Hi-Fi will re-test 355 with new firmware.
Yes, I also agree that HK 255 & 355 is way better than Onk and Yamahas. You see, I sell this stuff and in our store the sales of AVR 255/355 are (after costumers audition, of course) way higher than for example Yamaha RX-V 663 or 863. It's like 6 : 1 ratio for HK (seriously!).
Go and hear the HK in the shop, instead of dropping it off because it got bad review in What Hi-Fi.
Yes, Johnny, tell them... Harman is the ultimate in the
5.1 music. All other japanese receivers are maybe good for movies, but they all sound thin, cold and agressive with music. Right now I'm having the Yamaha 3900 at home. It's not nearly as good as half priced Harman 355 in 5.1 DTS Music...
And now your editor will said that I just wanna sell Harman , he, he....
I don't think this HK AVR255 is the ultimate as I only ever got to compare it with a Onkyo TX-SR606.
It is just that the review from WhatHifi for the Onkyo was so much better than the HK. I was disappointed in the Onkyo for my CD Music. Could I have had a dud Onkyo mabey?
I'm with frodo1 on this one. I brought a Onkyo 606 and
Focal 706V speakers. I was so disappointed in the sound of my music once I got it home. In the shop they had the Cambridge Audio running the focals and it sounded great. I brought their well used focal demo speakers so they were definitely run in. After a week I took the focal speakers back and got B&W 784 speakers. Still sounded average. I read quite a few forums in the USA and so many people thought the sound from the new HK AVR255 was awesome. So I just went out and picked up the HK and was absolutely impressed with the sound. It was like getting a AMP with twice the power. Music came alive.
Had a few mates over to compare the sound and all thought the HK was a lot better.
Did you by any chance have the Dynamic compression set to on?
Another option I like is while in 2CH mode the subwoofer still works. Is this the same on all amps?
What I mean't by dynamic compression on the HK it is a setting called "night mode"
Did you have this on by any chance.
Also the Speakers I got were the B&W 684's. My room size is 8m x 5m.
What speakers were used in your testing?
I brought this cos I couldn't get hold of the £400 Yamaha anywhere, probably due the to 5 star review!
I have to say, I love the look of it, and it sounds great, but can anyone justify whether it runs soo hot, nearly too hot to touch? I have about 4cm of clearance above the unit.
I was actually planning on buying a HK AVR347 this week. At the moment I have a Yamaha RX-V450. Can someone tell me if it's wise to replace my yamaha with a AVR347? The most of the time I'm watching movies with DTS. I've got Jamo S 606 speakers.