Frustrated with Harman Kardon!

[bjornb17]

LOL you are totally right.

My dad has a Sony receiver that he bought right when got back from Vietnam... around 1969 or 1970, and it works perfectly. It can also play ear-bleedingly loud, even though its rated for only 10 WPC i think. It sounds much better than his Sony receiver that is only a couple years old (and is being replaced with the AVR230 today )

Also, he has a Sony CD changer that he bought in the mid 90s right as CDs began to become mainstream, and it has had 0 issues. Same can be said for his tape deck which is about 25 years old. I've noticed that his older electronics tend to weigh a lot more too, i guess they were just built more ruggedly.

[kexodusc]

Some companies still build incredibly durable electronics, others choose to give up a bit of durability for features and performance. Everything costs money. I don't think any brand excels so much in one are over another compared to its competitors that it becomes the definitive brand for people looking for characterstic X.

Sooner or later everyone builds a lemon....the real test is in how they deal with their customers after. Looks like H/K is treating you right, and standing behind their product. Kudos to them.
You now have a lifetime warranty. Not bad.

[bjornb17]

Some companies still build incredibly durable electronics, others choose to give up a bit of durability for features and performance. Everything costs money. I don't think any brand excels so much in one are over another compared to its competitors that it becomes the definitive brand for people looking for characterstic X.

Sooner or later everyone builds a lemon....the real test is in how they deal with their customers after. Looks like H/K is treating you right, and standing behind their product. Kudos to them.
You now have a lifetime warranty. Not bad.

Not bad at all I am really impressed that they're not trying to wiggle their way out like most other companies i've delt with. Its support like this that will make me go back and strongly consider them for my next audio upgrade.

i was thinking of getting an AVR230 with two monoblocks, but after looking on their website, a remanufactured AVR335 with the EZset automatic room EQ for $400 seems like a cost effective alternative. Do any of you know how well EZset works?

[kexodusc]

Used EZset once when setting up a friend's HT. Seemed to work as well with delays and level setting as anything else. I dont' believe this unit has a built in Parametric EQ, or if that even matters to you.

[bjornb17]

Used EZset once when setting up a friend's HT. Seemed to work as well with delays and level setting as anything else. I dont' believe this unit has a built in Parametric EQ, or if that even matters to you.

do you just push a button and let it calibrate itself? Does it also change bass and trebble, or just the overall volumes?

[SlumpBuster]

When my mother in law wanted a HT in her new construction house in 1994, I ordered for her all HK components with Sonance inwalls and Yamaha sub (She liked the look of those tall slim Yamahas). Those HKs are still going strong despite 12 years and one move. However, when I went to get a new receiver last summer, I got totally turned off by HKs because of that chinzy blue volume knob. "What the F?" I thought. It looks good, but it feels weak.

[bjornb17]

When my mother in law wanted a HT in her new construction house in 1994, I ordered for her all HK components with Sonance inwalls and Yamaha sub (She liked the look of those tall slim Yamahas). Those HKs are still going strong despite 12 years and one move. However, when I went to get a new receiver last summer, I got totally turned off by HKs because of that chinzy blue volume knob. "What the F?" I thought. It looks good, but it feels weak.

I've realized that in heavily-used HK units (such as store demo models), the volume knob seems to be loose and worn down. I think i only used my volume knob once, because i use the remote all the time. There's really no need to touch anything on the receiver once it is all setup. Plus i wouldnt want to get fingerprints on the nice reflective facade.