Harman/Kardon AVR-147

Harman/Kardon has always built high quality audio gear and offered it at fair prices and this is one thing they don't seem to be in a hurry to change. There are many A/V receivers on the market for less than $500, but few boast the high-end audio quality that the AVR-147 can deliver.

For more than 25 years harman/kardon has been making high current amplifiers and this receiver follows along that same design path. Don't let the meager power rating of this receiver fool you. The 40 watt x 5 rating is for all channels driven simultaneously. And while many make such claims, not many actually deliver it. The actual truth is this receiver is just as powerful as some manufacturers' 90 or 100 watt receivers. Harman/Kardon has always been conservative with their amplifier ratings and a quick look at the 21.3 lbs this unit weights gives some indication of  how robust the amplifier section is. This receiver is 4 lbs heavier than many quality 100 watt receivers.

In addition to a hearty amp section, the AVR-147 is fully loaded with other features too. These features include Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby virtual speaker, Dolby headphone, dts, dts 96/24 and dts Neo:6, and Logic 7 DSP. Dual independent power supplies for front and surround channels, a 24-Bit/twin-core Cirrus Logic CS 49510 DSP processor with 32-bit post processor and 192kHz/24-bit D/A conversion.

The AVR-147 also has HDMI switching, one button EzSet/EQ auto calibration, and is "bridge-ready" for an optional iPod docking station (dubbed "The Bridge"). The receiver also has an RS-232 port for future software upgrades - but these typically never happen. On the input side there are enough to satisfy most as well. Along with host of S-video, composite, TOSlink and coaxial digital connections, the AVR-147 also has two component inputs and one output, and two HDMI inputs and one output. There is also a six-channel analog input for players with internal decoders. Lacking are a set of preamp outputs for use with an external amplifier, but that is typical at this price.

With the included microphone and the EzSet feature, setup will be a breeze. Also, the manual is very good which is not common at any price. For under $500 this receiver is going to be hard to beat.