Harman Kardon HK3485 High Current Stereo Receiver
By: Harman Kardon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 22
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 On: 2008-05-23
I was looking for a powerful reliable receiver for my stereo system. Every expert I spoke to recommended the Harman Kardon. I went with the HK3485 model for the extra power. I am glad I did. This is a great product at a great price.
On: 2008-04-29
This is a wonderful receiver system that is not only visually appealling, but is a quality piece of equipment as well. It would enhance any media collection, and it is well worth the price. Would absolutely recommend!!
On: 2008-04-14
This receiver is exactly what I wanted. The sound quality is full and well defined at lower volumes. I am hearing details in old favorites that I never noticed before. The price seems quite reasonable for a unit of such quality.
On: 2008-03-25
I THINK THIS IS A EXCELLENT 2-CHANNEL RECEIVER FOR THE MONEY. THE SOUND IS REALLY CLEAN.ONLY CON I HAVE WITH IT YOU HAVE TO USE THE REMOTE TO PROGRAM YOUR FM STATIONS IN,BUT DONT LISTEN TO FM THAT MUCH ANYWAYS. SO THIS IS NOT A BIG ISSUE. HAVE A PAIR OF KLIPSH RB-81 BOOKSHELFS HOOK TO IT,AND ALSO A PAIR OF KLIPSCH KG 5.2 ALSO USEING A PAIR OF ANALYSIS PLUS OVAL 12 FOR MY SPEAKER WIRE AND THE SOLO CRYSTAL OVAL INTERCONNECTS TO A SONY XA20-ES CD PLAYER. WOW REALLY CLEAN AND DETAILED SOUND. THE SUDWOOFER OUT ON THE RECEIVER WORKS GREAT AND THE MANUAL RECOMMENDS USING THE RIGHT CHANNEL FOR SINGLE LFE HOOKUP. USING A RW-10 KLIPSCH AS MY SUB. BUT USING THE TONE CONTROLS ON THIS RECEVIER FOR BASS AND TREBLE WORK GREAT ALSO. A POWERED SUB GIVES IT A LITTLE MORE PUNCH. SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS STEREO RECEIVER FOR THE MONEY YOU CANT GO WRONG. HAVENT HEARD THAT NEW 2 CHANNEL OUTLAW RECEIVER BUT IT COSTS TWICE AS MUCH AS THIS ONE,IF NOT A TAD MORE. JUSTED ORDER SOME KIMBER PREAMP JUMPERS TO TWEAK THE MAIN IN AND OUT BY REPLACEING THE FACTORY JUMPERS THAT IT CAME WITH,ON THE BACK OF THE RECEIVER. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RECEIVER TO ANYONE.
 On: 2008-03-21
*Buyer beware*
Dont buy the iPod Bridge for this unit.
This receiver is fine. But it does not attach to the Bridge (iPod docking station).There is no input for the custom Bridge cable, so you cannot possibly play them together, despite Amazons selling them together.
 On: 2008-03-16
First and foremost, the sound is as good as other reviews promised. FM sensitivity however was surprisingly weak and I ended up installing a roof top antena to get local stations in stereo. It also took me a while to figure out how to program station presets since the manual didnt give detailed instructions.
Amazons pricing was much better than my local large box retailer but I wish I had looked at competing models first. ONKYOs model offers iPod input and control with an optional base. HK is better suited for old school audio inputs.
And if you are in the market for external antenna go to [...].
On: 2008-03-08
I bought this unit a year ago and i am very pleased with the quality and the power this unit provides, i have a marantz amp and this one is equally no a tad better than that .... add a subwoofer and get the full range music or connect 4 speakers to get the same awesome effect! a really good stereo experience! i have good floor standing speakers that give enough bass out of them and the clarity that this amp provides is really good. overall love this product. recommend to anyone who wants a low cost but really good power handling stereo amp. (can be hooked with 4 speakers a sub to give a thumping experience!)
On: 2008-03-02
My 31 year old Yamaha 100 watt receiver finally bit the dust last month and I started looking for a replacement. Im a stereo guy and really had no need for a surround sound system. I still use my B&O turntable and cassette deck as well as CD player. I needed phono inputs that would play my turntable and the options are pretty limited today.
After visiting every stereo shop within 30 miles, I found a limited number of receivers that fit my needs. They ranged in price from $250 to over $5,0000. After considering the pluss and minuss of each (including price) I settled on 4 receivers. I purchased a Rotel based on the sound in the store and their reputation for quality and warranty. I got it home and it didnt work. Nada, no sound. Called the store and they couldnt figure it out. Back it went. On a lark, I decided to purchase the HK 3485. It was the lowest priced unit in my short list but had almost all the features I wanted. It also looked pretty cool.
I brought it home and everything was there and it worked. I did a 72 hour burn in on the unit and then decided to see how it really sounded. After listening to it over 2 days, I liked the highs and midrange but the bass seemed a bit weak. On a lark, I increased the bass and treble inputs from neutral to three oclock. WOW!!! My speaker came alive! The bass appeared to be perfect and the highs were much clearer. The richness of the sound was so warm it could melt cold butter! I checked the FM, the phono and the CD and all were improved. The sound was better than my Yamaha and I heard things in my favorite CDs that Id never heard before.
I would recommed this receiver without reservation to anyone wanting a true high quality stereo. Another reviewer mentioned the weak base but the fix is easy. Change the bass settings on the receiver. And with the price I paid for this, I feel like I stole it!Harman Kardon HK3485 High Current Stereo Receiver
On: 2008-03-02
Great receiver for the price and then some. Love my new upgrade. Looks good as well...very stylish. I know I will enjoy this receiver for years to come. Was looking at old school receivers on eBay but needed inputs for my HDTV and iPod so after researching for a few months I decided on the Harman Kardon and Im very happy with my choice.
 On: 2008-02-17
The HK3485 is an awesome looking receiver. The blue accent lights along with the silver finish looks amazing. The system has exceptional clarity and extremely low distortion ( I have not heard any distortion whatsoever and I have taken the volume past half way). Highs and mids are excellent. Okay, now for the low end frequencies or the bass. This receiver is really bass shy. The low frequencies can be heard and are present, but even with the bass knob turned all the way up, the receiver sounds really anemic in the bass department. I have tried different speakers from 8" woofers to 12" woofers and I get the same result- NOT ENOUGH BASS AND LOW-END). It is really a shame, because this system produces 120 Clean Watts per channel, and yet the low end is anemic. I first bought the 3385 which has 80 Watts per channel. After not getting the low end I wanted, I thought I would opt. for the 3485 with more watts per channel, but still, no difference. Now I am stuck with having to use a subwoofer. That is the good thing about this receiver, you have two subwoofer outputs, so you can make up for the lack of bass with that. I on the other hand, really hate having to use a subwoofer for fine music listening. Subwoofers can rarely ever match and synchronize properly with the main speakers and are not recommended for listening to detailed music. When I say detailed, I mean being able to hear every guitar string and piano chord the way the producer wanted you to hear it. Many will be able to use a subwoofer and would have no problem with the sound. But, for those who listen to classical and jazz music, you know what I am talking about. To wrap things up, this is a great receiver with subwoofer ouputs that will help to compensate for the receivers weak bass output.
On: 2008-02-15
Harman Kardon has been making receivers for over 30 years, and they still have it. After looking at reviews for receivers at or below this price range, this was my choice and I am happy with it. Excellent FM reception, easy to set up, and plenty of power for 4 speakers. Crystal sound, nice appearance and a great buy.
On: 2008-02-14
I was looking for a simple receiver for our bedroom but really wanted one with a subwoofer output because I happened to have some bookshelf speakers that need some extra oomph and a subwoofer to go with them. I didnt want a full surround receiver since it was much more than I needed and I wanted the focus to be on just good stereo sound--not all the bells and whistles of a home theater receiver.
Its installed now and Im very pleased with the performance. I care about some details, such as having treble and bass adjustments since speaker designs are not all the same and I have come to have my own taste for what sounds "right". The set up and control of this unit is quite simple and pretty standard, the remote is also standard, so it all works just as expected. The front panel display is sleek and fairly clean lined, as you can see from the product photo, and they added a nice touch (particularly since were using it in our bedroom) which is the ability to adjust the brightness of the display to three different levels:
- At full brightness the blue power light is on, the information display is clear and crisp, and the volume dial has a kinda cool bright blue interior lighting (inside the big silver ring you can see in the photo).
- At medium brightness, the volume dial light is off, the info display is dimmed to a subdued level, and the power light is on.
- At low brightness, the volume dial light is still off, the info display is completely off, and just the power light is on.
Aside from that, it seems to have a fine build quality, it has plenty of power to get your two speakers--and that woofer--really rockin, and it has the usual old set of two speaker outputs (Speaker A & Speaker B), so you can drive a second set of speakers from this unit. It even has a subwoofer L and R output, which I dont completely understand the dynamics of, but you could probably drive a second sub as well for your Speaker B set of speakers. Overall, I have no complaints and I love the sound--5 stars!
On: 2008-02-02
Excelent product for the price.Anyone who appreciates good stereo sound will be happy with this reciever.Your not paying for bells a whistles with this one.Quality power supply,output stage, and amplifier section. Easy to operate and good looking too. Can drive a 4 ohm load and has dual sub outputs. Great sound, good price.
On: 2008-02-02
Was looking for a component to replace a JVC amplifier and tuner. If you are looking for something that doesnt need to be hooked into your home theatre, this is a great solution. Its elegant and the quality is outstanding.
On: 2008-01-23
This unit temporarily replaced a very high end amp/preamp and it sounded so amazing that it is now my permanent rig. Stunning drive, control, and transparency. I have shocked fellow audiophiles with this unit. It is that good. Dont overlook this unit even if your speakers cost thousands (as mine do).
On: 2008-01-18
I purchased this receiver to replace a formerly faithful technics that had developed a short. well, this harman kardon is a fine piece of stereo equipment. well worth the money. elegant to hear and look at. i have it pushing two Bose 301s and a pair of old 3-way Centrex speakers, with 10s" as their bass. audio heaven. if you need to upgrade your receiver, this is the one to go with.
On: 2008-01-17
I purchased this receiver to replace a formerly faithful technics that had developed a short. well, this harman kardon is a fine piece of stereo equipment. well worth the money. elegant to hear and look at. i have it pushing two Bose 301s and a pair of old 3-way Centrex speakers, with 10s" as their bass. audio heaven. if you need to upgrade your receiver, this is the one to go with.
On: 2008-01-07
I just received my new HK 3485 stereo receiver last week and after many hours of critical analysis I am convinced that this is the best receiver I have ever owned. Prior to this new acquisition I have owned a late 80s model Pioneer 120 watt receiver, a Yamaha natural sound XR 750 160 watt receiver, a Harman Kardon HK 3470 160 watt receiver, and lastly the new HK 3485 240 watt receiver. I enjoyed all of the previous receivers but this new 3485 is hands down the cleanest, most powerfull stereo receiver I have ever owned. It drives 2 pair of Klipsh speakers; one pair being Klipschs KFL30 floor standing speakers (two 12" drivers and two horns approx. 120 lbs ea.) and the other being their older, smaller KG 3.2s. Additionally I run an older, very clean graphics EQ, and loop through a BBE Sonic Maximizer to keep things ultra-clean though the 3485s effects loop.(pre-out/main-in) The sound quality is nothing short of amazing. I just cannot believe how loud I can push this system without experiencing any distortions whatsoever. With the right recording (like Dream Theaters new Systematic Chaos) I can literally shake my house on its foundation causing things to rattle and fall from above with again no distortions. Its utterly amazing.
I consider myself somewhat of an audiophile, and as a musician I like to think I know good sound when I hear it. I must admidt that this is about the closest thing to perfection I have ever heard in reproduced music. I briefly owned Onkyos TX-8522 receiver and promptly sent it back. The new HK 3485 completely decimated the Onkyo. I also really love the appearence of this new unit. Its stylish and the volume knob with its inner lit blue ring appears cresent like depending on your position while viewing it. The build quality is typical for HK which is excellent. Lastly when you consider the cost of this product one cannot but help but be overwhelmed by the value. Through my research I found this HK 3485 to be the best buy out there.
On: 2008-01-06
I just received my new HK 3485 stereo receiver last week and after many hours of critical analysis I am convinced that this is the best receiver I have ever owned. Prior to this new acquisition I have owned a late 80s model Pioneer 120 watt receiver, a Yamaha natural sound XR 750 160 watt receiver, a Harman Kardon HK 3470 160 watt receiver, and lastly the new HK 3485 240 watt receiver. I enjoyed all of the previous receivers but this new 3485 is hands down the cleanest, most powerfull stereo receiver I have ever owned. It drives 2 pair of Klipsh speakers; one pair being Klipschs KFL30 floor standing speakers (two 12" drivers and two horns approx. 120 lbs ea.) and the other being their older, smaller KG 3.2s. Additionally I run an older, very clean graphics EQ, and loop through a BBE Sonic Maximizer to keep things ultra-clean though the 3485s effects loop.(pre-out/main-in) The sound quality is nothing short of amazing. I just cannot believe how loud I can push this system without experiencing any distortions whatsoever. With the right recording (like Dream Theaters new Systematic Chaos) I can literally shake my house on its foundation causing things to rattle and fall from above with again no distortions. Its utterly amazing.
I consider myself somewhat of an audiophile, and as a musician I like to think I know good sound when I hear it. I must admidt that this is about the closest thing to perfection I have ever heard in reproduced music. I briefly owned Onkyos TX-8522 receiver and promptly sent it back. The new HK 3485 completely decimated the Onkyo. I also really love the appearence of this new unit. Its stylish and the volume knob with its inner lit blue ring appears cresent like depending on your position while viewing it. The build quality is typical for HK which is excellent. Lastly when you consider the cost of this product one cannot but help but be overwhelmed by the value. Through my research I found this HK 3485 to be the best buy out there.
On: 2007-12-31
I love this receiver very classy looking and high quality,highly recommend if you are looking for radio receiver with mp-3 outlet.
On: 2007-12-30
I love this receiver very classy looking and high quality,highly recommend if you are looking for radio receiver with mp-3 outlet.
On: 2007-12-24
This amp is cool to look at, it is much better than the previous one where the volume was motorized. That was hard to get the volume to stop where you wanted it, also it was made in Korea and the quality is better in this China amp. It doesnt drive long RCA output loads real well. Its output impedance must be 1200 ohms or more, so its not as high quality as the older Apt/Holman stuff. Has a nice power output and not much in the way of gimmicks. I would buy it again.
On: 2007-12-23
This amp is cool to look at, it is much better than the previous one where the volume was motorized. That was hard to get the volume to stop where you wanted it, also it was made in Korea and the quality is better in this China amp. It doesnt drive long RCA output loads real well. Its output impedance must be 1200 ohms or more, so its not as high quality as the older Apt/Holman stuff. Has a nice power output and not much in the way of gimmicks. I would buy it again.
On: 2007-12-16
120 Watts of pure, undistorted, unaltered music. Mated to (2) Polk RM101 and Sony SA-W2500 10" sub-woofer - I can turn it up as loud as I can stand with NO distortion, and very clean sound with any kind of music! For the price, I feel like a thief. This is the 4th receiver in my house, and by far the best. Educate yourself on receiver specifications and compare to others, and youll find this a bargain - or just buy it, and have fun!
On: 2007-12-15
120 Watts of pure, undistorted, unaltered music. Mated to (2) Polk RM101 and Sony SA-W2500 10" sub-woofer - I can turn it up as loud as I can stand with NO distortion, and very clean sound with any kind of music! For the price, I feel like a thief. This is the 4th receiver in my house, and by far the best. Educate yourself on receiver specifications and compare to others, and youll find this a bargain - or just buy it, and have fun!
On: 2007-12-11
I got exactly what I wanted with this HK3485 stereo receiver. I was not interested in having a full featured home theater setup since I like to play my music independently of my TV. This is a good, full-featured receiver with all the inputs/outputs that I needed for my cd, phonograph, and satellite radio.
On: 2007-09-11
I bought this receiver to replace a PHILIPS AMP that had a lot of power and clean sound that I bought 22 years ago. The HK is not my primary amp in the house its in my den along with my 3000 plus LPs. The sound is great the looks are good and plently of hook ups. There only are only a couples of things that bugged me about this amp and its not the electronics.. HK places a sticker on the front panel that says remove before playing. Its was a real pain to remove, the glue left scuff marks on the front panel. The other is the cover for the front jacks.. dont bother using its real hard to take off. Again this is a good reciever and would recomend it to any body.
On: 2007-08-29
I bought this unit to replace an aging TEAC AG-D9100 whose output stage had malfunctioned. The TEAC unit was excellent. It included a whole host of features not found on the HK3485 (i.e. Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby 3, plus an array of surround effects). TEAC no longer markets the AG-D9100, or anything closely resembling it (sadly), and so I settled on the HK3485 as an alternative. Comparing the two (a totally subjective, unscientific exercise on my part to be sure), I find the clarity and definition of the HK to be a bit better than the TEAC, but the low-end power not quite as booming as the TEAC (surprising, given some of the reviews I had read). Guess its time to drag out my old graphic equalizer. Aside from that, the HK is perfect for what I use it for (CDs, FM radio). And as I say in the title, for the price, you cant beat it.
On: 2007-05-31
I love this receiver- it powers my indoor and outdoor speakers with ease and looks great doing it!
On: 2007-05-30
I love this receiver- it powers my indoor and outdoor speakers with ease and looks great doing it!
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