Harman Kardon AVR 110 Audio/Video Receiver
Harman Kardon AVR 110 Audio/Video Receiver
Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The AVR 110: the new standard in Dolby Digital/DTS receiver value. Harman Kardon takes the lead in digital home theater with the introduction of the world's first audio-video receivers with built-in MP3 decoding and a wealth of innovative features and technologies.
Harman Kardon's new receiver, the AVR 110, aims to redefine home-theater performance and value, and features Harman Kardon's new, elegant industrial design.
The Harman Kardon AVR 110 sets a new price-performance benchmark in high-performance AV receivers. It offers both Dolby Digital and DTS decoding along with Logic 7 and VMAx processing for exceptional surround-sound versatility, along with a wide variety of performance and convenience features, including MP3 decoding capability. The AVR 110 provides 40 watts into 8 ohms (20Hz-20kHz, less than 0.07 percent THD, all channels driven) to each channel (50 watts x 2 in stereo), and includes S-video and composite-video switching, front- and rear-panel optical and coaxial digital inputs, optical and coaxial digital outputs, and many additional advanced features that make it ideal for a broad range of high-quality home-entertainment systems.
Significantly expanding its functions beyond the traditional capabilities of an AV receiver, the AVR 110 features MP3-decoding capability for compatibility with the latest in audio technology.
When connected to a computer with a compatible coaxial digital-audio output jack or Harman Kardon's new CD-R 30 CD recorder or DVD 50 DVD video changer (via their coaxial or optical digital inputs), this exclusive Harman Kardon innovation enables high-quality playback of MP3-encoded CDs or Internet-delivered "streaming media" programs on their home-entertainment systems. (Compatibility with playback of MP3 files directly from a computer may require additional, optional software drivers for proper formatting of the data output. Harman Kardon cannot guarantee MP3 playback with all computers and/or sound cards.)
The AVR 110 receiver also features 24-bit, 192 kHz audio capability using multiple, latest-generation Crystal Semiconductor 49326 DSP processors and 4392 DACs (digital-to-analog converters) for the highest-resolution audio playback available today. As an added benefit, feeding the digital output of most CD players (with lower than 24-bit/192kHz resolution) to the AVR will provide dramatically better sound quality than you'd hear playing back through standard 16-bit, 44.1 kHz DACs.
The receiver also features the highest-quality surround-sound audio performance, using not only Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel decoding, but two proprietary Harman audio technologies, Logic 7 and VMAx, which take surround-sound and stereo audio reproduction to new levels of sonic realism.
Developed by Lexicon and available exclusively in AV receivers from Harman Kardon, Logic 7 is a sophisticated DSP system that provides better multichannel derivations from matrix-encoded and two-channel stereo recordings than what was previously attainable via Harman's two Cinema and Music listening modes.
Logic 7 reproduces two-channel recordings through a multichannel speaker system with superior imaging, separation, and directionality, along with a greater sense of envelopment. Logic 7 also improves playback of any matrix surround-encoded material (such as Dolby Pro Logic), for a wider front soundstage and smoother and more accurate pans (movement of sound) between front and rear.
Harman Kardon's patented VMAx Near- and Far-Mode VirtualTheater audio processing is a DSP (digital signal processing) method of simulating realistic, high-fidelity, three-dimensional surround-sound audio in 360 degrees using just two loudspeakers, as in a traditional stereo playback system. VMAx works astonishingly well thanks to its proprietary, sophisticated processing algorithms and vast processing power.
VMAx accepts a Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro Logic multichannel output and processes it into two channels in such a way that listeners believe they are listening to sounds from five speakers: left, center, and right front as well as left and right surround. Conventional two-channel-stereo program material is also improved to provide a much wider and deeper soundstage, one that extends well beyond the locations of the loudspeakers. The listener can choose from both Near and Far modes for an up-close or more distant listening perspective.
Of course, this receiver features Harman Kardon's high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier topology with discrete output devices to reproduce digital movie soundtracks and music with unmatched sonic accuracy and dynamic power. The receiver's high-current capability enables it to effortlessly drive even difficult loudspeaker loads, while ultrawide bandwidth provides far superior phase linearity, lower distortion, greater high-frequency headroom, and more accurate frequency response in the audible frequency range.
The receiver drives equal power into all five main channels, especially important for clear, accurate reproduction of discrete, full-range 5.1-channel Dolby Digital and DTS movie soundtracks--not to mention discrete multichannel music discs with full-bandwidth, rear-channel program material. Banana plug-compatible speaker terminals grace the amplifier outputs, facilitating the use of audiophile-quality speaker cables.
Harman Kardon's Advanced Digital Bass Manager, the most versatile multichannel bass-management system available, is another standout feature. This system lets the receiver route the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel to the left and right front speakers as well as the subwoofer, if desired, to provide more available bass, and employs a fourth-order low-pass filter, rather than the commonly-used second-order filter, for a smoother transition between higher and lower frequencies.
A wealth of additional performance and convenience features include a greatly expanded complement of digital and analog inputs (including front-panel digital inputs to accommodate high-performance game consoles, which often offer digital outputs for multichannel audio), and S-video down-conversion (which converts an S-video input to a composite video output for greater video-source component connection and switching flexibility).
Additional features include an improved onscreen menu system, a Listener Preference System that lets you set specific speaker-channel level settings for each program source and DSP format (for example, the subwoofer level can be set differently for two-channel CD music listening and multichannel Dolby Digital DVD movie viewing), an icon-based front-panel display that provides ready indication of all functions, and much more.
Product Description:
The AVR 110 audio / video receiver is the ideal solution for those who seek the benefits of home-theater surround sound and digital technology at an affordable price. The AVR 110 includes many of the same features as Harman's other receivers, including Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, Logic 7 and VMAx processing, playback of MP3 files and front-panel digital inputs.
Average customer rating: 
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Harman Kardon AVR 110 Audio/Video Receiver
Manufacturer: Harman Kardon ProductGroup: CE Binding: Electronics  Stereo Receivers
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ASIN: B000051SDQ |
Product Description
The AVR 110 audio / video receiver is the ideal solution for those who seek the benefits of home-theater surround sound and digital technology at an affordable price. The AVR 110 includes many of the same features as Harman's other receivers, including Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, Logic 7 and VMAx processing, playback of MP3 files and front-panel digital inputs.Customer Reviews:
Best receiver out there for the money!.......2001-11-18
I really didn't want to spend too much on my receiver and this receiver was right at the max. Denons have very good reputations, but A: They look cluttered with all the buttons on the front, and B: I found their interface somewhat confusing.
This unit on the other hand, is VERY simple. I skimmed the manual, which is not the best I've seen, but as I said, this receiver is not brain surgery. The front of the unit has 5 buttons to select different tuning options and then a few sets of scrolling buttons for surround sound modes, source select, etc. I was up and running with all the channels and speakers calibrated to my liking within an hour.
Logic 7 is quite lovely for movies, TV, or video games. It uses the rear speakers and gives you some nice depth. 5ch stereo is another nice feature, but just sends the same sound out of all 5 speakers. I haven't played with the other modes much (except for DD and DTS, which I use all the time for movies), but they are Hall, Theatre, Vmax (far and near), Prologic, Prologic 3-Stereo, and, ofcourse, just regular stereo :)
The binding posts on the back for the speakers are a blessing and the fact that there are S-video jacks for every video input.
Other reviewers have commented on the remote, which I'll admit, isn't great, the buttons are too close together. If you do get another remote, make sure its one that can learn fuctions (such as the Sony RM-VL900 like I have). There is a button on this remote that I haven't been able to access from the front panel of the unit. That function is: night mode. This "night mode", brings more detail to Dolby Digital and DTS sound tracks when you're listening to them at lower volumes.
Note: there's an AVR-120 out now, that is the same as this, but offers I believe 5 more watts per channel and has Dolby Pro-Logic II which is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread. I'll find this out when I get my AVR-520.
A 2 thumbs up receiver..........2001-11-02
It's may be a little too high in price but it's worthy for every single of your peny. REMEMBER, you get for what you pay & don't !!!...
Mine lasted 5 months ... but replaced by HK.......2001-09-22
Well Engineered, Top Quality.......2001-05-16
The power is more than adequate for a pair of Bose bookshelf speakers, and there is no need for a subwoofer, at least for the type of classical music I enjoy, in a room measuring about 20 x 35 feet. At low to moderate volume levels, this amplifier uses less current than my 27-year old Panasonic, which delivered only 20 watts to the speakers. The controls are easy to use, and the control panel always lets you know what inputs are being used, and which speakers are in operation. The remote control does have quite a few buttons, but it is not all that difficult to use, and it can be programmed to run virtually anything else in the system that uses a remote.
At the volume levels which I am using, background noise, hiss, and distortion are virtually nonexistent. At some point, I expect to use the surround sound features, but at present I'm using only the two Bose bookshelf speakers. In short, the AVR 110 gives thoroughly satisfactory performance and has enough versatility to accommodate future additions of speakers and other components. The sound is natural, smooth, and to tell the truth, I've never heard some of my old LP's sound as good as they do with this system. This unit may be overkill for some, but if you need what is probably the most sensitive FM tuner on the market today, this should be your first choice.
5 Star Performance at a 3 Star price.......2001-03-01
WHY SHOULDN'T YOU BUY IT? If you like bells and whistles (DSP sound fields and unlimited tinkering ability) than buy one of the Sonys (but be prepared for lots of hiss). If you need unbridled power with lots of KICK - buy Yamaha (and deal with a little hiss).
THE DARKSIDE OF THE AVR-110: Okay number one - the remote sucks. You will throw it away (or throw it into the wall). Number two - the instructions suck. It will take you a day to get it to do what you want.
SUMMARY: This is the best value for great Home Theater and state-of-the-art CD sound reproduction (including dts). It is a pain to get started, but once you do have it running... Well there just is no comparison in this price range. I know, I did my homework before I bought it.
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