Harman Kardon AVR 635 7.1 Channel Surround Sound Audio/Video Receiver
Harman Kardon’s AVR 635 7.1-channel audio/video surround receiver includes the company’s latest features and technologies on top of near-universal surround-format compatibility. Internally, the receiver is engineered for extraordinary sonic performance, featuring a discrete-output amplifier section that delivers seven channels of high-current (+/- 50 Amps), ultrawide-bandwidth amplification–7 x 75 watts into 8 ohms, 20 to 20,000 Hz with less than 0.07 percent THD–in addition to state-of-the-art 192 kHz/24-bit audio digital-to-analog converters and a high-power Texas Instruments 32-bit DSP processor. Take a closer look at the AVR 635’s connections. You can also view the unit’s front panel and remote control in detail. Th (more…)
Tagged with: Audio/Video • Channel • Harman • Kardon • Receiver • Sound • Surround
Filed under: surround sound receivers
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Forget the Watts… this baby delivers more punch (at a greater clarity) at 75 watts than any 100 watt receiver you find from dennon, sony, or kenwood (especially since it is high current). Where the AVR 635 really shines is in the combination of ease of setup and flexibility of configuration.
Usually a receiver is either easy to setup, but ties you into a fairly ridgid configuration, or it is very flexible, but terribly difficult to get setup correctly.
Setting up your AV channels is a breeze, you simply select what video source goes with what audio source and give it a name, and you’re done. That said you have the ability to fine tune any of this configuration, as you see fit.
Balancing audio for the room is even easier, you plug the microphone in (ships with the unit), hit setup, and you’re done. Instant room EQ.
I’ve had the unit for a month or two now, and haven’t had time to dive into the finer features, because it does everything I really need it to right out of the box.
Plan on spending an hour, read the instructions, go to the setup, and you will be enjoying the best sound money can buy.
(P.S. if you’re thinking about the 7300, go with the 635, it’s a better value, and you’re never miss those other 25 watts.)
This is a beautiful sounding and powerful AVR receiver/Amp. The sound is clear, strong, and has great depth. It is not a harsh (overly revealing) amp like the Denon can be when matched with bright speakers. This amp has a very deep spatial clean sound which is warmly revealing, strong, and quality all of the way. It seems to make the instruments sort of float and stand out in the musical space. It is more of a warmer analog sound without having to go to tubes (less bussy like some of the solid state digital amps which often induce listener fatigue). I auditioned this amp in my house with a Denon 2805 and an Arcam Amp and liked this one the best with my B&W speakers. Because of the high current level of this amp, it sounded with 75 watts per channel much more powerful than me Denon 2805 or the Arcam with more listed wattage.
Note: total output is equal to roughly watts X current – a good analogy is a hose. The watts is the speed of the water out the end of the hose and the amps is the size of the hoze. Obviously a garden hose (small diameter = low amps) with a spray nozzle high velocity end (high watts) will not equal the overall power (total water output) of a fire hose (wide hose = high amps) with less velocity of water out the end (lower watts).
This amp will also put out 90 watts per channel in 2 speaker mode. Forget about rating the HK amplifiers by the watts. Because of its high current, I would pit this amps ability against a 150 watt Sony any day (no contest).
By the way, if you aren’t into dolby and want to just listen to your movies and music with only two speakers, Harman Kardan has a wonderful amp/receiver with even more power at about 1/3 the price. The HK 3480 puts out 125 pure clean powerful high current amps. It is also attractive. The long row of small round option buttons that look a tacky silver in the demo picture are actually an attractive black and the silver seen is simply from flash reflection.
This amplifier is my amp of choice over two highly touted high end ampifiers (Denon & Arcam).
I recently bought a plasma tv which I was powering with an older model JVC surround receiver and inexpensive Panasonic DVD palyer through fairly nice Infinity speakers and an Infinity powered sub. After some research, and soul searching, I decided to upgrade to the AVR-635 and DVD-22. I have to say that I never expected the increase in both video and audio performance that I got from these units. While I’m not an audiophile, my eyes and ears work just fine. Any benefit that I thought I got for just upgrading my tv was far outweighed by the subsequent a/v upgrade. I’m watching each movie I have as if it’s the first time I’ve seen it.