Harman/Kardon AVR 10 AV-receiver
Exceptionally serious "black box" of this receiver immediately attaches. Surely, like every "Harmon/Kardon", it has a big handle of motorized volume control (with the firmed green rectangular led) and its signature double control buttons - "swing". These buttons, turning on and off two receiver's functions (depending on what end of the button - lower or upper- you pressed), are the integral feature of the design of all company's audio equipment. I have to say that there is no a definite opinion about its convenience or inconvenience; we can see a complete diversity of opinions: from rave reviews of some experts and users to categorical rejection of their opponents. However, you can't blame the company's designers for the originality. Multi-functional display is quite clear, but it could be a bit bigger and wouldn't have looked so lonely on the wide front panel of the receiver. From the back AVR 10 inspires no less respect than from the front. Firstly, it has the excellent screw clamps for the front loudspeakers and for the loudspeaker of central channel. The receiver has two outputs for connection of external active subwoofers, outputs of the pre-amplifier and inputs of power amplifier, connecting by jumpers made very carefully and efficiently. When you turn off these jumpers, you have the possibility turn on any additional devices between the pre-amp and final power amplifier or connect more powerful and qualitative power amplifier to the pre-amp.
Other features of the receiver include the ability to change the brightness of the display (3 modes) and the availability of front AV-input and slip-timer, programming (with a step of 10 min) turn-off time of the receiver. The remote control manages not only the receiver but all other components of Harmon/Kardon if you have any in your house. And let us also remark that tuner's configuration buttons "+" and "-" on the remote control and program selection buttons on the receiver's front panel are located conversely that is not very convenient.
Let's now rate our receiver on board. Its first test is broadcast reception in FM range. When the antenna was connected the receiver noticeably livened up and caught everything that was on the air that day. Reception of the programs was confident but not very clear and slightly muffled with inactive timbres. Such character of sound illustrates well the famous statement that the disadvantages often become a continuation of the merits. In this case the perfect receiver's bass "grab the biggest piece of the pie" and subjectively creates the feeling of tonal imbalance. The setting of the HF timbre on "14" hours immediately balanced the sound from tonal balance side. The receiver sounded velvety in FM range but not crystal clear. AM-reception also happened to be. In general, AVR 10 earned a solid "good" for the radio. At work with CD-player AVR 10 sounded just fine: tonal balance is excellent, basses are clear and deep, high frequencies sounded thin and loud and at the same time they didn't have "metal in voice" and were not too shrill. We couldn't also find fault in the middle of the frequency's range. Note only that the sounding of the receiver became definitely more interesting in Surround mode. We especially liked it in 3-Stereo mode at setting the option of central loudspeaker in the Normal option. The receiver sounded exceptionally impressive in Pro Logic mode but its sound was a bit artificial. As a basis of home theatre Harmon/Kardon was great: the sound was everywhere and the characters were bodily and almost tangible. Spatial effects and channel separation are flawless. Applause! The curtain! Merited "five" for artistry and performance quality.
