Harman Kardon HK3480 Stereo Receiver
By: Harman Kardon Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 65
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 On: 2008-05-30
I never used the "vmax" on purpose, but with the difficulty of seeing the controls mentioned by others, I turned it on by mistake a couple of times. If the 2nd speakers were also on, the unit would shut down, and it was tricky getting either the speakers or vmax off before it shut off again.
Last week, 12 days short of a year after I bought it, it went "pop" and died. Warehouse Deals has yet to answer my requests for information, but Amazon politely told me there was nothing they could do. My local repair shop told me that multiple printed circuit boards were blown out and it was essentially toast; Ive bought an inexpensive replacement receiver for less than the repair would have cost.
Im disgusted with Harmon Kardon and glad to have a simple receiver that plays my tunes and doesnt try to light up the room.
 On: 2007-11-19
First off, Since I bought this receiver, whenever you turn on the power or switch either the A or B speakers theres a static pop from the right channel. Though it hasnt gotten any worse its annoying. The remote sucks big time, an idiot must have designed it. The preset stations are NOT next to the volume, their in the middle of the clump of other buttons, Absolutely STUPID!!!!! Next, you can adjust the brightness of the display on the receiver from the remote from the comfort of your chair but if you want to adjust the bass, treble or balance you have to get up and go to the receiver!!!! How FREAKIN stupid is that !!!!!! One thing I will give this receiver is its clean sound. Its clean at any volume though I wish it had the bass punch my old Pioneer gave me.
On: 2007-11-03
Ive had the HK3380 for about a year and generally liked it but Ive had an intermittent failure of the low power side (all inputs). They (including the line outputs) will drop out for a few seconds to a few minutes. This happens once in a while but when it starts happening it keeps doing it for an hour or so. This unit is heading for the local electronics recycler and Im looking for a new (non-HK) unit.
 On: 2007-09-19
i tried to order this harman kardon. but they call me right next they to tell me that it was sold out ... dont have to wait for it ... get a another model ... good service so far ...
 On: 2007-09-17
I have been using high-end separates for about thirty years, and they
have deteriorated to the point where they had to be replaced. Since I am
also thirty years older (77) I knew I didnt need a 200 watts per channel amp,Yamaha preamp and tuner any longer. All were sounding their age, with problems. About two weeks ago, I found the Harman-Kardon 3480 at Amazon and decided it would do what I needed. I was right...it sounds great with my old, and much loved AR-9 speakers.
Now, heres the hate part: who on earth designed the teeny, tiny type
on the front of the receiver? And the worst of it is the remote control
which is completely illegible. H-K has enough experience in making quality components to have avoided this blunder.
I have taken off one star in the rating for the annoying illegibility
but the 3480 is a happy solution.
Ed Buxbaum, San Diego, CA
On: 2007-08-05
for an non-true audiophile this is an excellent unit. produces a very nice 4 speaker sound for my big screen tv and handles classical music on the same speakers with a great deal of clarity. the remote really doesnt present a use problem even tho the print is small and the word color doesnt stand out.
On: 2007-07-26
After more than 30 years of purchasing hi-fi equipment, I finally tried Harmon Kardon after a couple Sonys, a Sansui (quad!) and Luxman.
Briefly, this is a superb receiver for the price. It delivers crisp, clear, clean and powerful sound with ample inputs and attractive styling. It certainly matches well with my Cerwin Vega VE-12 speakers, clearly outperforming my Sony that just died.
On: 2007-07-23
They didnt have the item when I ordered so they sent an equivalent item. It took them over a week to send the item even when it appeared in stock and shipping within a day or two. I never got any kind of confirmation, whether email or phone. If I hadnt called (2 times) I only would have learnt of the replacement (and date of shipment) when I received it. Fortunately, I was OK with the change and delay wasnt a problem. Pro: the item arrived promplty after it was shipped and costumer service reps were courteous. Con: despite good intentions, their process doesnt seem to be running smoothly (and return policy seem difficult). I would use them again because of price and quality, but although people are OK, service needs to be improved.
On: 2007-07-04
i bought the harmon kardon 3480 because my 22yr old pioneer died and the 3480 sounded good but i made one mistake i didn,t get new speakers. when i hooked up the 3480 and turned it on bang that was a wake up call so i ordered some new speakers and wow this receiver put out such clear sounds and also brings in all the fm stations i couldn,t get before and my c/ds play so great i just sit mesmerized by the sound.
On: 2007-06-30
I replaced a Sony, and can not beleive the sound quality differance. This receiver realy kicked my Bose up a notch
On: 2007-06-08
I gave this HK to my uncle and in his words "It blew my mind"
He was expecting a tiny receiver made out of plastic and held together with spit and toilet paper, and what he got was a solid piece of equipment.
He loves it.
A great bargain for the price.
Dave
On: 2007-06-05
This receiver is perfect for my application. I needed a receiver for my back yard. I set it up with two sets of speakers and I am just amazed with the clarity and fullness of the sound from this exceptional two channel receiver. It is powerful enough to wake up all my neighbors and sublte enough to play the most discriminating classical pieces.
GREAT UNIT for the price I paid!!
VERY SATISFIED
 On: 2007-06-02
It works, but there are quite a few annoyances:
1. You can connect 2 pairs of speakers, but there is only one volume control so what is the right loudness in one room wont be in the other.
2. The remote is loaded with buttons, but several dont work with this item, you have to buy other HK products.
And they dont work with anything else I have.
I now have 4 remotes in front of me, TV, VHS, CD/DVD, and now receiver.
Cant they make it programable so I could use it on the other items?
And a button Id like to have is for the "balance", if youre not sitting equal distance from each speaker you want one louder.
You cant use the remote to adjust that, you have to go to the receiver
and GUESS what the right adjustment will be.
3. The blue on light is really too bright.
4. You need to put your face right up to the receiver to read what the buttons on the front do.
5. The dial for volume on the receiver is hinky, simple turning left or right doesnt give predictable results. Better to use the remote.
On: 2007-05-08
The reciever looks very sharp for the first 5 minutes then the blue lights get to be a bit on the annoying/distracting side. I used a piece of black tape over the power button to solve the problem. For a basic reciever it does fine. Sound Quality is nothing spectacular but it gets the job done. For the money I am satisfied with the product. The one thing that was a bit dissapointing was that there was not a way to track shipment although it arrived in a timely manner.
by: ldomash On: 2007-05-06
Excellent sound, immediate improvement on the old beast I replaced, and all the controls and inputs one would expect. And a bargain. I combined with a pair of Sony speakers top rated by Consumer Reports which were remaindered at Radio Shack for $59.. so for about $275, a really good stereo system..
On: 2007-05-03
Para el que busque buen sonido, potencia, calidad y solo dos canales, este es el Receiver indicado, el H/K 3480 es perfecto para escuchar musica, incluso para ver una pelicula en DVD pero debes estar claro en que no es Dolby, 5.1 o 7.1, tampoco tiene entradas opticas, digitales, HDMI ni nada por el estilo, es solo un Receiver de 2 canales, con radio AM/FM, con un excelente sonido y una gran potencia, es de lo mas sencillo, pero es lo que yo estaba buscando, en lo particular el principal uso que le voy a dar sera para ver videos musicales en DVD, y este equipo es mas que suficiente para realizar esa tarea, el sonido es sobresaliente y la potencia es mas que suficiente, ademas el precio es magnifico, apenas 228$ y free Shipping, en BrandMarts esta en 348$ es decir 120$ mas. Yo acople a este Receiver 2 pares de JBL Control 1X y un SubWoofer Infinity PS-12, con un reproductor DVD multizona Philips y un Proyector Canon LV-X6, con lo que logre con un presupuesto limitado obtener, una gran calidad de sonido e imagen para uso domestico. En lo que se refiere a la funcion del V-Max, no creo que sea de las mejores caracteristicas que ofrece este equipo, pero de seguro que existira alguien a quien le apasione esta funcion, yo realmente no la encuentro necesaria. Por el precio, la calidad de sonido y del equipo, y si solo necesitas 2 canales estero pero de buena calidad, esta es la mejor opcion!
On: 2007-04-09
I see this as a secondary, or bedroom unit for a two speaker ensemble. I am using it with a Bose Acoustimass 2 alongside a TV. I have no need for the tuner or phono input,so I cant remark on those. ( I get my FM from a cable box). The amplifiers are clean and efficient. The box is both rugged and remarkably handsome and upscale. A spare European look that reminds one of the early Bang and Olafson receivers. This is one big heavy box,about 24 pounds. The warranty is two years. Overall, I think it is a great buy for the money after three weeks regular use.
One feature not common is the bridged pre amp and amp, allowing addition of an equalizer or other signal processor device. Nice little touch.. The LCD screen has large volume decibel numbers,easy to see. And the remote will let you cut the illumination down (necessary for sure) in two stages. That still leaves a large undimmed blue LED on the power switch, which I have had to block out for late night sleep dimming...First unit was DOA but Amazon took rapid and great replacement care of me. This can be considered a Best Buy for its modest price. I have no feeling one way or another for the VMAX pseudo surround effect,but mostly I keep it turned off. No regrets with this buy from Amazon.
On: 2007-04-04
I replaced a vintage amp/tuner set up with the HK3480 about 1 month ago. Sound is excellent, circuitry is quiet, FM is superb. I also like the design, although tastes vary. A great receiver for any 2 channel system.
Here are the caveats:
>The remote control is poorly designed. Infrequently used buttons are hidden behind a sliding panel which doesnt slide open or closed easily.
>No loudness control...if that matters to you.
>vMAX surround sound effect is dreadful. Synthesized simulated surround sound says it all...
On: 2007-04-03
I am a novice at buying stereo equipment and I pretty much relied on the reviews of this receiver before making the purchase. I also purchased the Bose Acoustimass speakers and the Sony HDMI DVD/CD player. I waited awhile and researched and read all the reviews I could find on my purchases and after hooking it all up, I could not be happier with the sound. I love all types of music from rock to classical and the sound is symphonic for sure. I wish I had my whole house wired for sound because Id like this kind of sound to be piped through the whole house using one system. Installation was a breeze, and being a woman, I thought I would have to have a man do it, but I did it! All things are still working smoothly without a hitch.
On: 2007-03-23
I purchased the receiver back in February to replace an ancient (1980s) vintage JVC receiver. The receiver is used in my home office (about 16 x 30). I have a pair of Axiom Audio M3s and the combination is perfect. The controls to me are very simple and straight forward. The remote is not backlit, but unless you listen to your music with the lights out it shouldnt be a problem. There are more than enough inputs for all your auxiliary components, such as CD/DVD players, sub woofer, VCR, cable and TV. The connections are all clearly marked for easy hook-up. The appearance is somewhat plain compared to some other receivers, though personally I like the look with my other components. The unit is fairly large, so make sure to measure cabinet space before you find out the hard way that it wont fit. For the money, you would be hard pressed to find a better receiver.
On: 2007-03-21
The large circular knob should be the tuner, which I expected it to be. Instead it is the volume control. Thats what I mean by mis-cued. The tuning function is located inappropriately in a row of unlighted push-buttons. Any hi-fi buff will tell you the large circular knob should be the tuner control, to allow you to spin through the stations quickly, and then go back and fine-tune the one youve decided on, after which the AFC, or automatic frequency control, kicks in, unless you opt to switch it off. The on/off switch, digital readouts, and volume control are lighted, but none of the other control buttons on the unit face or remote control.
On: 2007-03-20
Right out of the box I found this unit extremely easy to use and setup. I do a LOT of audio and vido conversion for website streaming and I did not need one of the "high end" digital receivers. This unit has just the right number of in/out ports with extras. The A/V in/outs are terrific for what I needed. I was able to hook up my old Turn Table, Tape Deck, DVD/VHS unit, Cable TV, input from my HD Digital Cable Box via an S-Video/audio and my PC. Everything works great. Just make sure your speakers are 8 ohms so you dont run into any other problems. I really like this unit!
On: 2007-02-20
The receiver handles all kinds of music with clarity and power. I live about 50 miles from most FM stations I listen to, and the receiver is sensitive enough to bring most of them in with just the wire antenna. The remote did not work when delivered. I contacted Harman Kardon and the customer rep sent another one to me. It works, but the keys are small and the colors of the keys, labels, and basic unit make using it harder than I would like.
On: 2007-02-15
Wow!! What a VD gift for myself. The HK 3480 matched to Polk speakers. The receiver is plenty powerful enough for smaller listening environments. Multi-inputs and outputs (yes, one can bi-wire the speakers), minimalist front panel features. Remote is ok, not backlit or glow-in-the-dark. I think Im going to love the VMax feature. Have tried it on Mannheim Steamroller-"Classical Gas", Queen Latifah-"Dana Owens Album" really has depth from the crystal clear highs, deep, non-rumbling lows and her voice and the brass-wonderful! Have tried it with Linda Ronstadts "Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind" , Nina Simones "The Blues" sounded like I was in the studio with her. Triple-level lights and panel are appreciated when one doesnt want a big glowing machine in an otherwise darkened room. Im looking forward to trying this with a Deadwood DVD or maybe dig out the Matrix. My listening expectations are rising by the minute.
On: 2007-02-11
The first unit that I got lost its output (no sound at all) after one week of deliberately intensive use. So I requested a replacement (good service from Amazon, by the way). So far after one week, the second one is doing well. Sound quality is good and the power output is adequate. In general this is a well-priced receiver with good features and gave me what I am looking for. The simulated surround sound effect (VMax) is actually quite good. The high-tech design of the front panel is also quite impressive.
The QC of HK may be questionable because of the first defective unit.
On the other hand, the remote control is awful. The material is very cheap and worksmanship is bad. The buttons are extremely small and not color coded. The pull-out cover is flimsy and hard to slide open. It is not a well-designed product overall. Moreover, it is not really a universal remote as it cannot control any of my other audio video components even though the manual claimed that it does with most of them. Quite disappointed. So I basically shelfed this thing after I programmed the radio stations (you can only do the preset from the remote).
On: 2007-02-07
Love the stereo, this model is a 2 channel but has clear power and is a great backup or 2nd receiver. The look is the best feature and has a great name. I would suggest the HK 3480, the price was right, they have other modles but are more expensive.
Escondido, CA
Curtis
On: 2007-01-29
Excelent sound from my pioneer speakers, The VMax feature is a waste, love the A/V interface.
On: 2007-01-27
One star for Amazon and their 3rd party seller, Electronics Expo. The original purchase was delivered in timely manner from EE although it arrived
DOA with the "Protect" readout on. After numerous emails and several calls to EEs supposed customer service number and no reply from them for a return number, I turned to Amazon for help. Their A to Z guarantee finally worked in getting a credit to my card. It still took several days of "investigation". This is the 1st time in many years of purchases that I have had any trouble with an item through Amazon. Amazon is falling down greatly by not using more reputable third party sellers when an item they offer is not in stock. Check out EEs customer feedback. I wish I had. After all the good reviews on this receiver, I finally purchased this item from the Harmon Kardon website as a re-manufactured item. FIVE STARS for HKs service, shipping, and tracking. Re-manufactured?? Beats me.
The receiver arrived without a scratch and works beautifully. It was packed as if a new one, with all the accessories and manual. It has a wonderful rich sound with great bass and clear highs. It is all the previous reviews have noted. A great purchase at a far more reasonable cost than buying from Amazon or their 3rd parties. Only 335 days til Christmas, so I will be buying another for my brother and family.
On: 2007-01-26
One star for Amazon and their 3rd party seller, Electronics Expo. The original purchase was delivered in timely manner from EE although it arrived
DOA with the "Protect" readout on. After numerous emails and several calls to EEs supposed customer service number and no reply from them for a return number, I turned to Amazon for help. Their A to Z guarantee finally worked in getting a credit to my card. It still took several days of "investigation". This is the 1st time in many years of purchases that I have had any trouble with an item through Amazon. Amazon is falling down greatly by not using more reputable third party sellers when an item they offer is not in stock. Check out EEs customer feedback. I wish I had. After all the good reviews on this receiver, I finally purchased this item from the Harmon Kardon website as a re-manufactured item. FIVE STARS for HKs service, shipping, and tracking. Re-manufactured?? Beats me.
The receiver arrived without a scratch and works beautifully. It was packed as if a new one, with all the accessories and manual. It has a wonderful rich sound with great bass and clear highs. It is all the previous reviews have noted. A great purchase at a far more reasonable cost than buying from Amazon or their 3rd parties. Only 335 days til Christmas, so I will be buying another for my brother and family.
On: 2007-01-11
I bought this receiver for an "old school" simplistic design, to replace an old Teac I gave to my son. It is exactly what I wanted. Performs, sounds, and looks great. I added a home made subwoofer with 200w rms drive to bring out the lows in the music I listen to, and use two older KLH 4 way floor speakers driven by the Harmon Kardon directly.
I would definately recommend this to anyone looking for a no frills hi performance receiver.
On: 2007-01-11
Harman Kardon HK3480 does provide what I need. It does not add extra colors to original sound as others does - though, you may not like my taste :) -. Only complaint I have is a cheap looking remote control. I dont like both color and design of it. Although, I love the color and design of the HK3480 unit itself.
On: 2007-01-11
First of all, service was great. The supplier sent out my receiver immediately and it arrived on my doorstep 2,000 miles away within 2-3 days in excellent condition.
This was one of the few tuner-receivers that included a phono jack and it replaced a "best-buy" Harmon Kardon from 1976. Although it took a couple of false starts, I was able to hook up my 20-year-old turntable, 15-year-old TV, 8-year-old VCR, and 3-year-old DVD so I can play any one of them through my speakers. I cant tell about the tuners quality because we live in a "black hole" and do not have cable or satellite radio. I have the strong impression, though, that I could easily overpower the little speakers I have. (Next step is upgrading the speakers.)
Now Im looking for a remote that can handle all my components - right now I have 4 controllers laid out side-by-side on top of my turntable.
On: 2007-01-06
My new HK3480 Harman Kardon Receiver serves as radio reception from cable, input from a CD player, input from a wireless room-to-room A/V sender, and input from a stereo cassette deck. I like the receiver except for two issues. As a senior citizen who uses reading glasses I find the thin black letters on the dark grey background of the remote control very hard to read, even in full light and with my brand new glasses on. Equally difficult to read are the labels on the front of the unit. Bigger and brighter letters would be nice. The other issue is amplification of higher frequencies. The treble control of my new unit just does not seem to be as effective as the one in my old Calibre 240 unit, using the same speakers, wires and ears. I do not think my hearing has suddenly changed because I can detect the difference if I play the units side by side. All in all, I am happy with the new Harman Kardon and recommend it highly to those who do not require reading glasses.
On: 2007-01-05
My new HK3480 Harman Kardon Receiver serves as radio reception from cable, input from a CD player, input from a wireless room-to-room A/V sender, and input from a stereo cassette deck. I like the receiver except for two issues. As a senior citizen who uses reading glasses I find the thin black letters on the dark grey background of the remote control very hard to read, even in full light and with my brand new glasses on. Equally difficult to read are the labels on the front of the unit. Bigger and brighter letters would be nice. The other issue is amplification of higher frequencies. The treble control of my new unit just does not seem to be as effective as the one in my old Calibre 240 unit, using the same speakers, wires and ears. I do not think my hearing has suddenly changed because I can detect the difference if I play the units side by side. All in all, I am happy with the new Harman Kardon and recommend it highly to those who do not require reading glasses.
On: 2007-01-05
This is a good receiver with the capability to play LP Stereo records with all the new developments for automatic tuning, remote control, etc yet have the ability to interface with my older equipment. It is easy to connect and provides great sound and reception. I was not looking for a system for surround sound and theater capability and this was a good replacement for my older (sick) stereo receiver. I am well satisfied with my choice.
On: 2006-12-13
Handsome unit, but remote is defective, which had the positive effect of informing me of just how remote dependent it is. For example, there is no way to preset the FM stations w/o the remote! Lose the remote, or like me get a defective one and many functions are crippled. Also, HKs customer service/technical support sucks. They still have not responded to my fax which complied in all respects to the requirements spelled out on their pre-recorded 800 number -- no humans!
Even if it worked, the remote has a very cheap feel -- when the sliding cover is opened it is loose, rattles and feels like it is going to fall off
Another feature I dont like is the freewheeling volume control. To turn the volume way down or up, it takes many spins of the knob. And, since the knob freewheels, there is no easy visual reference as to the volume setting; for this you are dependent on the db display, which goes out shortly after the volume is adjusted.
On: 2006-12-12
i recently bought the 3480 after my old jvc receiver started acting up. it was one of four or five i was looking at, including an onkyo and denon 2 channel receiver. after researching all the other receivers i settled on the 3480 because of the price. i got it for just under $250. theres nothing fancy about the reciever, but the sound is great, and thats what matters most. very nice.
On: 2006-12-09
I use this to run Bose 901 and 301.When you want music only?Forget the AV units. Always use a quality surge protector.
On: 2006-11-12
The Harmon Kardon HK3480 is an excellent stereo receiver in build and sound,, and simple to use. An added plus is the fact that it has two subwoofer outputs, for both the R and L channels. Excellent remote design.
On: 2006-11-11
THE HK is the quality stereo receiver at the low,reasonable price I wanted.The AM is a better quality than I hoped for and the FM is outstanding! The amplifier gives amazing reproduction to CDs,etc. I got quality and price I had hoped for.
On: 2006-11-11
Stereophile Recommended Component Class D. Reviewed November 2004. Stunning appearance, especially with blue accents when powered on. Every feature you will need, including a sub out connector. Sounds impressive through my NHT Superones. FM performance is also excellent, as long as you use a Terk FM Pro, Pi or external antenna. Using the auto preset feature, it found 30 stations at only 95.5. It would easily pick up 30 more if it went to 107.9 before maxxing out. FOR THE MONEY, $246, YOU CAN NOT BEAT THIS STEREO RECEIVER. Few of these stereo only receivers are available today. Get this one and you will not be disappointed. Other than a HK Citation 23 tuner, this is my first HK product. I love it and it comes with a good warranty. Only complaint I have is that the remote is plain and boring and can not be programmed to operate my Sony ES cd player. It only works HK components. Great amp for the bedroom or a second system. Has all you need.
On: 2006-11-10
I did a lot of research to find out that the HK3480 does everything that I need: it updates my stereo system, powers a new pair of high end speakers, and gives me great enjoyment from, yes!, my phono record collection as well as my new CDs. I do not have a home theatre system so I didnt want to have the four channel sound which I would not use. Its just a great replacement -and- upgrade like "wow" having pre-programmed stations easily switching from FM to AM radio with the remote! My old Harmon Kardon receiver is now relegated to the basement.
On: 2006-11-08
I bought a 3480 about six months ago, and almost as soon as I hooked it up, it began making dreadful noises, and the "protect" light would come on. I fixed it partially by
unscrewing the cover cases a great deal, but frequently it didnt want to start. With sufficient banging on the side, however, it would eventually start, with noises.
I got tired of this behavior (it was nearing speaker-damaging levels) and got a 3380, which, as it turns out is in pretty much the same case, and, for my purposes (classical stuff) works just as well for a hundred bucks less.
Perhaps this problem is unique to me. I suppose I could have sent it back, but I thought $199 was worth it to fix
the problem. The 3380 works perfectly (so far!)
Jerry ODell
On: 2006-11-04
awsome receiver,great power, good looks, easy to use, lots of switching, love the sleep timer and the panel dimming. this unit sound like the best high end home audio, i should know i used to sell high end home audio, and i used this unit to replace a nad preamp and a hafler power amp.
On: 2006-10-31
This sounds as good as anything Ive owned, very nearly as good as my old favorite Nakamichi RE-3 (not quite), which I keep in the office and intend to be buried with. One peeve - the blue lights on the panel are too bright. Yeah, you can dim them, but you have to do it every single time, the dimming function doesnt "stick". The on-off button is so annoying I covered it with black tape. No biggie. Also, the expansion mode built in is no good, but who cares, the PC sound card has all the modes you could ask for anyway and then some.
Something I learned. The sole use for this is to play music MP3s off my X-Fi sound card (why else would you own a two channel receiver in this day and age?). I couldnt use the TV surround system because I have a Canopus box driving the PC (functioning as a 500 gig video recorder) and it was setting up a feedback loop I couldnt work around. Anyway, the HK is driving Ascends and a small Sony subwoofer, and as soon as I turned it on, I immediately had a problem with the bass being muddy and distorted, really awful. I tried to troubleshoot everything, but it wasnt until I brought the RE-3 and my office speakers home that I realized it wasnt in the hardware. After doing some research with Creative I found out the problem was I had the volume set way too high on both the MP3 software (Winamp) and the Soundblaster panel. Set the volume on both in the 50-75% range and control the volume with the amp. That totally solved the problem, it sounds superb now.
Stereo still lives . . . barely. No doubt the last receiver Ill own, a dinosaur, but a very well evolved one.
On: 2006-08-22
I just recently purchased this receiver mostly for the design being focused on music. The sound quality is beyond my expectations and have been very satisfied with the performance under any music style.
The funtion VMAx was a pleasant surprise. Come on, surround sound through a stereo set-up, what else could you ask for(I cant compare to authentic surround). The connections for the speakers and other audio equipment (i.e. CD and DVD players) was very simple and easy to set up. The remote is handy for switching between all of the inputs and most of the other functions offered.
All in all, this is a high-quality piece of technology for any music and movie fan. Worth every penny.
On: 2006-08-21
This receiver has good audio performance, but poor reception on FM frequencies.
On: 2006-08-18
Excellent. Perfect for all genres of music. It brought back missing lustre and depth to my music collection. FM is outstanding.
On: 2006-08-09
I have owned this receiver/amp for almost a year and half now, and I am thrilled with its performance for music (CDs and records). Im a musician and love to be able to hear the musical nuances of my CDs - Im one of those people who rips music in lossless formats because I want to make sure Im not missing anything! Id recommend this to anyone who wants to hear music the way it was recorded but cant afford $10,000 systems.
I have this amp paired with 2 JBL Studio Series S38II speakers. It sounds terrific with a deep, detailed soundstage, singing highs (clear but not harsh), and solid, tight lows. It also gets vision-impairingly loud in my small room 35 notches below max volume (Ive never tried max).
I also love all the inputs - I have my CD player hooked up to CD, my computers (one is a music server, the others is for movies) hooked up to VID1 and VID2, and a spare 1/8" jack hooked up to VID3 for when a friend wants to play something for me from his/her iPod.
- This amp is designed for stereo sources. Since all CDs and most records are mixed in stereo, any "surround sound" amps are actually fiddling with the signal to try to split it into more speakers. In the studio, the producers listen on only 2 speakers. This amp reproduces that stereo sound - no more, no less. This is NOT the amp for you if you want artificially-created "surround" music. Only DVDs are recorded in surround, and for that you should buy a 5.1/6.1/7.1 receiver, not this.
- Theres a difference between loud and strong. My alarm clock is loud, but thats because its a piercing, high frequency. This amp has the strength to move things around on your shelves - Id like to see that from an alarm clock. I almost never turn the volume up past -30dB for fear of neighbors. It goes to +10dB.
- This amp is quite heavy, but heres why: it has power capacitors the size of soup cans. What does this mean? Well, heres where the "high current" comes in. Amplifiers drive speakers by changing the voltages on the speaker wires. The voltage (which is like pressure on a pipe) makes electric current flow through an electromagnet, which in turn moves the speaker cone. However, low-frequency sounds need a LOT of current from the amp, which on many amps can make the high sounds get thin whenever low loud notes play (or, high notes can make the low notes weak). The capacitors in this amp, though, store enough reserve power to play those low notes AND high notes at the same time. So, unlike cheaper amps, this can provide short bursts of current (for bass drum, etc.) that are even more than the amp is drawing from the wall outlet, so one loud instrument in the recording doesnt prevent you from hearing other, softer instruments.
- The headphone jack on this receiver provides much better sound than portable CD players. I prefer to run my CDs through this amp, and listen that way. Youll really notice the difference if you compare with nice headphones.
- In my opinion the only use for the VMAx feature on this thing is for movies. It really messes with the tonal balance, bringing vocals forward and overemphasizing the bass. I have a 12" 100W sub that I have set up for music, so its earthquakey with VMAx. This is NOT a loudness feature like the STC (Selective Tone Control) on Onkyo receivers. STC makes up for frequency ranges that get hard to hear at low volumes, and it works well for music. VMAx just puts it in "movie mode," and does not sound great with music.
In conclusion, Im happy with this amp (when used with decent speakers and headphones), and if youre looking for a good STEREO system I bet you will be too.
For comparison, Ive also heard the comparably-rated Sony, Onkyo, and Denon products. The Onkyo is great (although maybe less stylish), the Denon is possibly clearer (but for a lot more money! and not quite as powerful), and the Sony doesnt quite cut it for low-impedance speakers in my opinion.
On: 2006-08-08
I have owned this receiver/amp for almost a year and half now, and I am thrilled with its performance for music (CDs and records). Im a musician and love to be able to hear the musical nuances of my CDs - Im one of those people who rips music in lossless formats because I want to make sure Im not missing anything! Id recommend this to anyone who wants to hear music the way it was recorded but cant afford $10,000 systems.
I have this amp paired with 2 JBL Studio Series S38II speakers. It sounds terrific with a deep, detailed soundstage, singing highs (clear but not harsh), and solid, tight lows. It also gets vision-impairingly loud in my small room 35 notches below max volume (Ive never tried max).
I also love all the inputs - I have my CD player hooked up to CD, my computers (one is a music server, the others is for movies) hooked up to VID1 and VID2, and a spare 1/8" jack hooked up to VID3 for when a friend wants to play something for me from his/her iPod.
- This amp is designed for stereo sources. Since all CDs and most records are mixed in stereo, any "surround sound" amps are actually fiddling with the signal to try to split it into more speakers. In the studio, the producers listen on only 2 speakers. This amp reproduces that stereo sound - no more, no less. This is NOT the amp for you if you want artificially-created "surround" music. Only DVDs are recorded in surround, and for that you should buy a 5.1/6.1/7.1 receiver, not this.
- Theres a difference between loud and strong. My alarm clock is loud, but thats because its a piercing, high frequency. This amp has the strength to move things around on your shelves - Id like to see that from an alarm clock. I almost never turn the volume up past -30dB for fear of neighbors. It goes to +10dB.
- This amp is quite heavy, but heres why: it has power capacitors the size of soup cans. What does this mean? Well, heres where the "high current" comes in. Amplifiers drive speakers by changing the voltages on the speaker wires. The voltage (which is like pressure on a pipe) makes electric current flow through an electromagnet, which in turn moves the speaker cone. However, low-frequency sounds need a LOT of current from the amp, which on many amps can make the high sounds get thin whenever low loud notes play (or, high notes can make the low notes weak). The capacitors in this amp, though, store enough reserve power to play those low notes AND high notes at the same time. So, unlike cheaper amps, this can provide short bursts of current (for bass drum, etc.) that are even more than the amp is drawing from the wall outlet, so one loud instrument in the recording doesnt prevent you from hearing other, softer instruments.
- The headphone jack on this receiver provides much better sound than portable CD players. I prefer to run my CDs through this amp, and listen that way. Youll really notice the difference if you compare with nice headphones.
- In my opinion the only use for the VMAx feature on this thing is for movies. It really messes with the tonal balance, bringing vocals forward and overemphasizing the bass. I have a 12" 100W sub that I have set up for music, so its earthquakey with VMAx. This is NOT a loudness feature like the STC (Selective Tone Control) on Onkyo receivers. STC makes up for frequency ranges that get hard to hear at low volumes, and it works well for music. VMAx just puts it in "movie mode," and does not sound great with music.
In conclusion, Im happy with this amp (when used with decent speakers and headphones), and if youre looking for a good STEREO system I bet you will be too.
For comparison, Ive also heard the comparably-rated Sony, Onkyo, and Denon products. The Onkyo is great (although maybe less stylish), the Denon is possibly clearer (but for a lot more money! and not quite as powerful), and the Sony doesnt quite cut it for low-impedance speakers in my opinion.
On: 2006-08-06
I recommend this for any one looking for good quality 2 channel unit. The only negitive is 2 of the speaker connections broke so I used banana jack connection instead. I dont know what HK was thinking when they put dark grey text on a grey background on the remote. Its very hard to read but it function is good. I would have given a 5 rating if not for those 2 things. Love this HK sounds great.
On: 2006-04-20
I decided that all I needed was to listen to 2 channels and that Dolby surround sound was a nice trick that didnt mean much too me to justify the cost. This Harman Kardon HK3480 receiver allows listeners to have a very capable and powerful amp at a very very low price. Typically, surround sound receivers will cost at least three times as much and give you much less power per channel. For instance, I had a Denon 2805 which I paid over $800 for which had 7 channels of surround sound at 100 Watts per channel or listed as 135 Watts when playing two channel. When I compared its two channel ability to this Harman Kardons 125 Watts per channel the difference was night and day. With the Denon the bass through my audiophile speakers - by my ears better than B&W can be purchased at discount used at Audiogon.com) was grainy and distorted. With the HK the bass became clear accurate and deep. With the Denon the highs by my ears were slightly harsh and digital, and with the HK they were natural and warm yet still open. Apparently Denon overstates their power and HK understates theirs. The HK Amp will drive small and large speakers with warm deep clear sound and precision (it is low powered amps with distortion not high ones with clear sound that blow out speakers). If you dont need Dolby surround sound and if you are on a budget or not and just want strong clear warm sound dont look any further. This amp is for you.
This HK easily bested the Denon 2805 Home theater receiver falsly advertised at more Watts at about 1/4 the cost!
P.S. The row of small round buttons that look a gaudy silver in the photo are actually black and attractive. My only complaint style-wise about this otherwise attractive receiver is the open gash with RCA plugs on the front pannel. An optional cover would have been nice - but afterall, it is already competing with their much more expensive receivers!
(One additional speaker note, if you want some bookshelf speakers with audiophile grade sound and plenty of bass at a great price, the Onix Reference 1 in the low 500 range at less than half price new on at Audiogon.com is the way to go. Wonderful sound with a natural rosewood veneer.
On: 2006-04-18
Ive had this HK receiver for a couple of months now and I really am enjoying the clean natural sound of the audio. I was looking for a reasonably priced receiver with a phono input. Tuner works well and the remote is easy to use.
Unfortunately, the video portion leaves a lot to be desired. I use this unit in my mostly listening room, but I also wanted to hook it up to my second TV. I have two problems with the video setup, the first is just a design flaw and the second is just a dumb design decision.
As for the first problem it seems that the unit is just incompatible with my DVD player. When I hookup my DVD player to any of the inputs the brightness and contrast are horribly out of whack, though the picture is fine when the DVD player is connected directly to the TV. Whats puzzling about this is that my dish satellite receiver output works fine on any of the HK 3480 inputs. The DVD unit is actually a recorder with the brand name of Balance. This was purchased a little more than a year ago. I tried swapping cables and get the same result. Ive also tried connecting the DVD directly to a total of three TVs as a test with the video working just fine. Im sure its probably a capability issue, probably an impedance mismatch on the RF front end of the receiver...very disappointing performance.
As for the second problem, there is an A/V output labeled video 1 output. I would expect that the video1 output would pass whatever is on the video 1 input regardless of the source selected. In other words it should act as an active splitter to pass the video 1 input source such as a satellite receiver to a recording device to avoid having an external A/V splitter box. However, it doesnt work this way. If you wish to use the Video 1 Outputs, you cannot have Video 1 selected as the source. Since the unit does not work as a Tape Monitor, you can only send out a signal when not using that specific source. The Video 1 output should pass any video signal being sent into the receiver, but, will NOT pass the Video 1 output when this source is selected. For example, when video 2 is selected, that source that will be present on the video 1 output. The same is true for the video 3 source. I find that the video 1 output is basically useless since you cant view through the recording device to make sure its recording properly. I find it extremely odd that an output would be labeled video 1 when there is no way you could ever view the video 1 source through the video 1 output...very strange. The manual also dont come close to explaining this operational abnormality. By the way, the unit operates correctly otherwise; each source when selected is properly displayed on the video monitor output and the correct audio present at the speaker outputs.
HK technical support concurs and sympathizes with the above issues, but say that this is how the unit was designed and there is nothing wrong with the unit I have. So for what its worth, you basically have a good audio receiver.
On: 2006-03-25
Ive had this for about a year and Im mostly satisfied. The sound is very good for the money. I think that the bass is very punchy despite what I had read in some reviews. Most importantly for me, spoken voices are very natural sounding. I use this primarily as a TV amplifier.
I may be a little overly critical here but I was still somewhat disappointed to see hear how much better my Marantz 5000 sounded with the same speakers. I understand that the Marantz costs $400 more but the difference is quite astounding. So I guess Im just cautioning buyers that even though HK is a really good name in amps, this is still a relatively inexpensive receiver. Its a bit of a compromise.
Still for the price, I dont think that youll find a better stereo receiver. It has been completely reliable. Its attractive. The sound is quite satisying. But if youre really into the sound quality of your music, you are probably better off spending the extra money for a higher quality receiver. Even if you are primarily interested in "stereo only", my experience is that a higher quality surrond sound receiver will deliver better stereo results.
On: 2006-03-22
We purchased this receiver after doing a lot of research. This is a good value for the money. The sound is just right for us as we use it only for music. The clarity is much better than sets costing more money. We are very happy with our purchase and enjoy music every day.
On: 2006-03-03
Like many of the other reviewers, I am pleased with the
sound from this receiver. I bought it to replace a 15-
year-old NAD receiver, which was considered quite good
at the time I bought. The HK3480 is a much better receiver.
It has a very crisp sound. I listen to folk, classical and
jazz, and have found it very good for all three. It has
power to deliver to my Advent speakers on the big
pieces, and sounds great for solo and small pieces.
There is not the overcompensation in the bass you find in
lower end receivers. The controls are easy to use and well
laid out, paricularly the ones on the remote. The FM reception
is good, but I dont think it is more sensitive than my NAD.
It is smarter, however, about deciding when a station is too far
out of range for stereo and when to switch to mono. The only
quibbles I have is that FM preselect was a little awkward
to program and the unit has a strong plastic smell (which I
assume will go away).
When the receiver arrived, I discovered that the FM connector
was defective and I couldnt plug in my FM antenna. I sent
email to Amazon about this and they had a replacement shipped
by UPS in less than 12 hours! Returning the defective unit
was a breeze. Amazon sent me a link to print a prepaid label
on my printer and I dropped off the box at my local UPS store.
My hat is off to Amazon customer service. They are best Ive dealt with.
On: 2006-02-22
The sound is definitely cleaner, reveals more detail, and is more exciting to listen to than the old $150 Technics receiver I had--and at $280 it doesnt seem too pricey. I dont have anything else to compare it to so take take this review for what it is worth.
On the downside -- the thing seems unnecessarily large, but you know that going in.
On: 2006-02-17
Has lots of power so its easy to keep our neighbors awake if they live near by. (You can also blow out your speakers if your not careful.) It works very well but it is not quite what its adveretised to be. It is listed as having phono input and surround sound capability. The phono input is there but it is not surround sound. It has jacks for rear speakers but no center speaker connections. Its basically a stereo receiver with connections for a couple extra speakers. Given the price I cant really complain as its priced a couple hundred dollars cheaper than a true surround sound receiver would cost. The people who make these things arent stupid. Theyll give you surround sound without a phono input for a reasonable price andf theyll sell you a stereo amp for a reasonable price, but if you want both the price skyrockets up to 700-800 dollars. Given the fact that the phono input adds maybe $30-50 to the cost, they really know how to screw us old folks who still have vinyl records. Incidentally, the sound quality is quite good.
On: 2006-02-16
Has lots of power so its easy to keep our neighbors awake if they live near by. (You can also blow out your speakers if your not careful.) It works very well but it is not quite what its adveretised to be. It is listed as having phono input and surround sound capability. The phono input is there but it is not surround sound. It has jacks for rear speakers but no center speaker connections. Its basically a stereo receiver with connections for a couple extra speakers. Given the price I cant really complain as its priced a couple hundred dollars cheaper than a true surround sound receiver would cost. The people who make these things arent stupid. Theyll give you surround sound without a phono input for a reasonable price andf theyll sell you a stereo amp for a reasonable price, but if you want both the price skyrockets up to 700-800 dollars. Given the fact that the phono input adds maybe $30-50 to the cost, they really know how to screw us old folks who still have vinyl records. Incidentally, the sound quality is quite good.
On: 2006-01-24
This is an incredible unit for the price (purchased for under $300). Replaced my old Sony receiver and hooked up my iPod to the CD input. The sound was amazing, full and clear coming out of my mid grade JBL bookshelf speakers (cant wait to actually hook up a CD player!). The unit is also very attractive which is important as it will be out for display, the glow on the volume knob is very cool.
I agree with the other reviewers that the Vmax is a waste, if youre buying this unit, youre purchasing for the best stereo sound, if you want cool effects for your music, buy a surround sound receiver, theyll have much more options.
I had been looking at the Onkyo and Denon stereo receivers in this price range and decided to go with the HK, because the Onkyo does not have a subwoofer hookup (huge drawback) and the Denon was much more expensive with less power.
On: 2006-01-02
Recently I needed a replacement for my old preamp (HK6100), and narrowed it down to a choice between the similarly priced HK3480 and Onkyo TX8511 receivers. A salesman gave the advice that the HK has better sound, so I went with it, and I am pleasantly surprised with the sound, noticable more clear than my old HK preamp.
One of the main deciding factors was that the Onkyo amp reportedly has a bright (irritating green) and non-dimmable display light, while the HK has a 3 stage dimmable one (cool electric blue). These little features make a big difference in the long run.
The attractive and sturdy unit was easy to set up with plenty of hookup jacks on the back (multiple tape, video, speaker, subwoofer and phono jacks). The 2X35 watt channels give plenty of volume, with nice precise digital (in 1dB increments) control. The FM receiver is powerful (able to pick up several channels in this remote mountainous area), and tunes in .1 MHz increments. The proprietary optional VMax mode is interesting at first (expands the sound to be a more spacial surround-like sound from only 2 speakers), but is not for every listening situation; it works best for instrumental and acoustic music since it mostly expands and loudens the bottom end and, especially at higher volumes, can make vocals too distant to understand (a subwoofer makes VMax seem unnecessary as well).
Mostly what makes me happy is the pristinely clear and clean audio quality (oh yes, and the remote!). Im very glad I went with HK again.
On: 2005-12-10
I bought the HK3480 to replace a 25-year-old HK receiver that was losing steam. I was floored to hear how much music I had missed hearing over the last few years, especially with the Klipsch RF3 speakers Ive had for about 3 years. Its as if the HK was designed to go with Klipsch, pure, clear, yet mellow high end and plenty of bass for my ear. The volume control is excellent, it rises in 1dB increments. This would be a sensible buy at the list price, but at the discount price I feel like Im stealing it. Delivery was quick and hassle free. 5 stars all the way.
On: 2005-11-30
the old receiver i was using prior to the HK was and is JVC rx-309 which i scored at a yardsale for 25 bucks!!!! it is a 110 watt two channel receiver, now onto the HK, i love music so i thought it would be a real treat to have a great receiver and so getting a harmon kardan would be be like upgrading from a timex to rolex or so i thought, i liked the sale price that it was retailing for 440 but selling for 280, so when it came in the mail i hooked it up to my two infinity reference 2000 125watt speakers, and tinkered with it all day, when it got it going i thought i had it hooked up wrong surely there must be some button i press to make it sound like a 440 dollar receiver should sound , meanwhile my 25 dollar yard sale receiver was smirking at me quite amused at the situation, onto its features the vmax is horrible sounds better with it off, the amp is clean and average but the base tone was not as deep and resounding as the jvc, it was very wide and didnt fit into my audio cart, the buttons to navigate the controls are hard to read so you have to grope like a blind man to change the function from radio to cd to video, and i dont want to ever hear about this high circuit amp crap, this thing at 120 watts does not match the power of my 110 watt jvc receiver, so all and all it is not that this receiver it bad , it is just that is sounds very comparable to receivers half its price , or in my case 1/10th of its price, i didnt want to pay the shipping to return this item allthogh i regretted the purchase of it , i ended selling it to my father for the price i bought it and he is happy with it, but i still feel vaguely cheated having bought it.
On: 2005-08-20
My dilemma began when my old NAD receiver began getting wonky in one channel. I started to research repair costs and quickly moved on to new alternatives in receivers and was overwhelmed by the choices and complexity of setting up these new receivers. After much thought and analysis, I realized that I really only need a two-channel setup. I have a good set of Klipsch speakers that still sound great and delivered excellent sound from the old receiver. Also, I was always pleased with the movie viewing experience when I hooked my DVD player through the old two-channel receiver. This realization greatly simplified my search as there are not many two channel receivers made anymore.
So, enter the HK 3480. This is one sweet receiver. Very reasonably priced. Good connectivity. A functional remote (though VERY hard to read in lower light!). The sound is clean and ample, powers my Klipsch 4.2s very well). I highly recommend this receiver, but remember if you are looking for surround, THX, etc, this is not the one for you. Excellent value AND performance, such an odd combination. It also looks very good if that is a concern. Be sure to buy HK products from an authorized reseller like Amazon (see HK site for others) in order to have a valid warranty...
On: 2005-04-27
I would have given this 5 stars except for the fact that youre paying for the Vmax 360 degree concert hall surround....blah, blah, blah....it just doesnt work. Sounds terrible and my wife and I never use it. However, the amp itself is terrific. Pure clean power. My cds never sounded better. Lots of punch in the bass and no coloration whatsoever. We set the tone controls dead center and forget it. Nothing fancy, just pure clean power. Very pretty blue lights on it too. Nice to look at. Plug a sub into the back of it and enjoy old fashioned stereo. Its getting hard to find a good 2 channel stereo amp with a sub output. Everything sold nowadays is multichannel receivers. This one is terrific and the price is good, even though it could have been lowered by eliminating the useless Vmax feature.
On: 2005-02-10
I expect a few things of a receiver: sound, ease of use, with style a low 3rd. the sound is ok. not much difference from my 20 year old low end receiver which I got for about the same price (20 years ago); This is not a high end receiver. Its solid in the middle/low-middle. It comes with VMX which makes music sound either like you are in a tin can or in a bad music hall. Its nightmarish for punk, techno, rock. Merely annoying for Mahler. The system is not easy to use. There is a manual - you will need to memorize it unless all you do is listen to CDs. You also get a large remote control device that you must use for every thing you want to do. Want to listen to FM go get the remote. Changing from CD to VideoAudio to Phono to FM get the remote or put post-its on the hard to read buttons. You can;t scan for FM AM stations w/o the remote. My box had a horrible plastic smell took about 1 week to disipate. Another issue is the power outlets are both Switched off when the unit is powered down. My 20 year old receiver works much better but it is only worth $25.00 ; I don;t think this is worth much more than that.
On: 2005-01-12
You would be hard pressed to find another receiver in this price category that can out-performed the HK3480. I have one of these powering two large PolkAudio speakers and Im thrilled with the quality of the sound.
On: 2004-08-28
I had picked up an older HK AV 5-channel receiver for video use a couple of years ago, and have always been impressed by how clean and clear the sound was, even when temporarily hooking it up to my better stereo system. After recently moving, I found myself wanting that HK in two rooms, so I retired my old NAD stereo amp and bought the HK 3480 for my main music listening setup. I have a Denon 2900 to play CDs, SACDs, and DVD-As, and the HK is driving a pair of Vandersteen 2ci speakers. To say it sounds great is an understatement! The detail and depth of the soundstage are remarkable, and it is possible to shake the house without any apparent effort. The only disappointment was the remote, which is not programmable, although for the price of this unit, Im not really complaining.
If youre looking for a high quality, great sounding stereo receiver for a reasonable price, I cant recommend this product enough.
On: 2004-08-27
I had picked up an older HK AV 5-channel receiver for video use a couple of years ago, and have always been impressed by how clean and clear the sound was, even when temporarily hooking it up to my better stereo system. After recently moving, I found myself wanting that HK in two rooms, so I retired my old NAD stereo amp and bought the HK 3480 for my main music listening setup. I have a Denon 2900 to play CDs, SACDs, and DVD-As, and the HK is driving a pair of Vandersteen 2ci speakers. To say it sounds great is an understatement! The detail and depth of the soundstage are remarkable, and it is possible to shake the house without any apparent effort. The only disappointment was the remote, which is not programmable, although for the price of this unit, Im not really complaining.
If youre looking for a high quality, great sounding stereo receiver for a reasonable price, I cant recommend this product enough.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-29
yes two channel stereo still lives if you want to build a plain stereo system this would be a place to start. I have one I like very much. The heart of the systems would be your ears you pick out the speakers sound your ears like I did this in the 80s I picked up a pair of Polk SDA speakers, the sound that came out of them there is still nothing like them today to bad polk stopped making the SDA series but they are not small 70 lbs a speaker and what was driving them in the show room was a yamaha R-9 receiver I was doing fine until the middle of may we where going to be moving the next day the movers where coming and the R-9 up and died in the middle of wacthing a dvd could not be revieved but at a cost so I saved it until after the move and when I was hooked up to the internet again I went looking for a 2 channel reciver to replace the old one this HK has the same specs as the R-9 plus 2 more viedo hook ups and a subwoofer out if you need one at this price cheaper than having the R-9 repaired and yes the speakers sound as good as before solid sound stage which gets bigger with more power you apply like the old days pick out single instrutments where they are when you close your eyes this is what these speakers where about before surround sound became the norm like I said 2 channel stereo nothing wrong with it when you find your speakers you have to find the power source for them and this HK filled the bill here like the old yahmaha never went away but came back with a few extras I have been listenig to music today as it just came now to hook up the dvd and vcr the old system is whole again
On: 2004-05-26
A couple of months ago my old and very simple Sony equipment started to give up on me after years of use. So I started to look for a good replacement for it.
Since this was meant to be a replacement to be located at my bedroom and mostly for music playing, my first idea was to look for one of those popular mini-systems with everything integrated on them. I found some interesting products from Onkyo and Denon but, although their sound was quite nice (especially Denons), I found that their power was somehow limited.
Then, I decided to look for some of those "Home Theater in a box" systems that are so popular nowadays, even if I would use it primarily for music reproduction! I tried Sony, Kenwood and Denon. I found an interesting Denon system, but before buying it I decided to bring along a couple of my own CDs in order to try it out with my own music!
The next day I took a couple of my favourite CDs with me to try them with the Denon. I chose Mahlers Symphony #3 (with Boulez), Andreas Scholls "Ombra mai fu", some Dead Can Dance and Airs "Moon Safari". It really sounded nice but since I had those CDs with me I decided to make a last visit to the department store where I had seen the Denon and Onkyo mini-systems before making a final decission.
An hour later I visited this department store and went to their audio department. Instead of looking for the mini-systems I went directly to the high-end audio area. Among the various Onkyos, Marantz, Denons and Yamahas I noticed Harman Kardons new HK-3480, and I immediately liked the looks of its new design! Then, I contacted a salesman and after telling him that I mostly listen to classical music (although my other musical tastes are quite varied), he suggested me to give the Harman Kardon a try!
I was able to compare the Harman Kardon with the Denons (both the mini-system and the Home Theater options). After some listening I was convinced that a nice stereo system was more than enough for me. The power and sheer clarity of sound of Harman Kardons HK-3480 was immediately noticeable!
We first tried it with a couple of Yamaha speakers, then with Cerwin-Vega, Infinity and finally with Polk. Boy oh boy, what a beautiful sound the Polks have, cristal clear and absolutely gorgeous!!! Besides, they look so sharp! We finally added an Infinity subwoofer and there it was, the perfect setup for me! I was really ready to make a final decission! I bought Harman Kardons HK-3480 reciever along with H-Ks FL-8385 CD player, a pair of Polks RTi8 speakers and Infinitys PS10 subwoofer. What a difference from my old and humble Sony setup! By the way, if you choose Polk speakers like I did, get the black ones, they look great along Harman Kardons silver and black design!
The HK-3480 receiver works great! There are more than enough connections inputs on it, including several for audio/video and a phono input too (now Im also thinking about replacing my old Technics for a brand new turntable). The HK-3480 is surely a great receiver for those who want top quality stereo sound, but it should me mentioned that with the VMAx feature on this receiver you can have simulated surround sound too when you need it!
I now feel that all of a sudden my CD collection doubled in size since every single CD in my collection sounds so much better now! Im rediscovering music that I bought 10 or 15 years ago! What a joy!!!
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